The Top 50 Moments of Star Wars Celebration Anaheim

Like the Star Wars universe itself, Celebration Anaheim is too vast for anyone to fully comprehend or imagine what takes place. But that doesn’t mean we can’t try.

In the following slides, we’ve gathered what were the best moments throughout the convention, from our favorite cosplayers to the funniest jokes and asides made by Star Wars fans and creatives. Inside, you’ll find a stormtrooper proposing to his girlfriend, an entire cosplaying group dedicated to an ice cream maker, and a look at what Han Solo and Princess Leia should look like in The Force Awakens.

You’ll find the biggest news that came out of this past weekend, like the new villains featured in Episode VII and how Disney is planning to approach the standalone films.

And most of all, you’ll find every reason why we love a galaxy far, far away, and why it’s impossible not to be excited about the franchise’s past, present and future. Enjoy.

Next: A Stormtrooper Proposes to His Girlfriend

50. A Stormtrooper Proposes to His Girlfriend

One of the ways this year’s Celebration set itself apart from past events is the introduction of a livestreaming option. For fans who couldn’t attend or who simply didn’t want to miss their favorite panels while waiting in line, the official Star Wars site offered a continuous feed of what was happening around Celebration, featuring some of the biggest panels as well as smaller one-on-one interviews and moments.

This adds an interesting element of tension to the proceedings, as the notion that you’re watching the convention live means something unexpected could happen at any moment. And that’s what happened when Eric Pfeifer (sp?) surprised his girlfriend Savannah during a Her Universe segment by proposing to her at the cantina set.

Thankfully, she said “yes.” And although I know this probably would’ve made things awkward, part of me wishes she had said “I know” instead to make it the perfect Star Wars proposal.

Next: Carrie Fisher Fulfills a Fan's Dream

49. Carrie Fisher Fulfills a Dream Shared by Millions of Star Wars Fans

While we learned a lot of things about Disney’s upcoming plans for the Star Wars franchise (which the following slides will go into more detail on), the convention also shed some light on the personalities of the cast and crew who helped build this universe together. And that included a few surprising revelations.

For example, Princess Leia is actually a party animal.

During her speech to fans on Friday, Carrie Fisher did away with the twin buns and let her hair down, putting all of her endearing and quirky personality on display. She called herself “a space slut” after watching a video of all of her kisses from the movies and other venues. She dropped a few F-bombs. And she even shared a story about how she got drunk at a Monty Python actor’s house with the Rolling Stones, and showed up to set the next morning still drunk.

But by far the best part of her panel was the moment she fulfilled a fan’s dream, which is no doubt shared by millions of other Star Wars fans both young and old, by giving him a big kiss onstage. Turns out Fisher has plenty of diplomatic skills herself.

Next: Anthony Daniels Goes the Extra Mile for Fans

48. Anthony Daniels Goes the Extra Mile for Fans

When it comes to fan service, no Star Wars cast member has a better reputation than Anthony Daniels. The C-3PO actor takes after his onscreen role and always manages to be polite and accommodating to fans while going the extra mile for them.

While waiting in line Friday morning to get into the convention center, I got the chance to see Daniels when he walked down the aisle between the rows of fans, stopping to say hi to children and obliging a few selfies. That wasn’t the only day he came either, as I saw him again on Sunday in the same spot.

Photo courtesy of SlashFilm’s Peter Sciretta.

Next: The Desert Planet That Isn't Tatooine

47. The Desert Planet That Isn’t Tatooine

One of the first tantalizing pieces of information about The Force Awakens came just before the trailer premiered on Thursday during the panel with J.J. Abrams and Kathleen Kennedy. Abrams threw a curveball at fans by letting slip that the desert planet we’ve seen so far is in fact NOT Tatooine, but a new planet called Jakku.

This is the location seen in the first shot of the new trailer, which shows a Star Destroyer and an X-Wing decaying in the desert sands. Even if Jakku bears some strong similarities to Tatooine, to me this is a good sign for the franchise, as it shows Abrams and Co. want to explore new territory both literally and figuratively while avoiding rehashing the same story threads.

Plus, I like the subtle deception that the filmmakers pulled in letting us THINK it was Tatooine the whole time. What other surprises are in store for us that are already right under our noses?

Next: The Darth Maul Cosplay That Probably Would've Won a Competition

46. The Darth Maul Cosplay That Probably Would’ve Won a Competition

I was absolutely blown away by the cosplay at Celebration. I knew that Star Wars inspired some of the most fervent dedication and attention to detail of any fanbase, but I had no idea that said fans were so creative and determined to nail the depiction of their favorite characters.

This won’t be the last cosplay featured here, but it is certainly one of the best. There were plenty of Darth Mauls in Anaheim this past weekend, as expected, but none of them commanded attention on the floor like this guy.

Next: Rian Johnson Cracks a Self-Deprecating Joke on Twitter

45. Rian Johnson Cracks a Self-Deprecating Joke on Twitter

One of the key players of the new Star Wars canon was notably absent from the Celebration schedule. I figured that Episode VIII director Rian Johnson was busy working on other projects, but thanks to his surprisingly active and open Twitter, it turns out he did find the time to make it to convention. And in case you didn’t realize from the above photo, he is incredibly funny and self-deprecating.

Next: The Star Wars Trivia that Inspired a Weird Cosplay Group

44. The Star Wars Trivia that Inspired a Weird Cosplay Group

Just when you think you know everything there is to know about a galaxy far, far away, a group of men wearing orange jumpsuits rush past you carrying an arsenal of ice cream makers. After asking several fans just exactly who these guys were, I learned that they were playing an obscure character from a scene in The Empire Strikes Back who’s onscreen for maybe three seconds.

And if you haven’t figured it out by now, he is holding an ice cream maker in the movie.

Now that I think back on it, I just realized I went and bought a chocolate ice cream cone right after I saw those guys.

Next: Rogue One Director Gareth Edwards Is a Huge Star Wars Nerd

43. Rogue One Director Gareth Edwards Is a Huge Star Wars Nerd

While the panel for Rogue One on Sunday mainly served to introduce fans to the concept and purpose of the Star Wars spinoff films, it also allowed them to get acquainted with the newest director to join the Star Wars team. Director Gareth Edwards wasn’t shy about sharing his passion for Star Wars, and it turns out he has plenty of proof.

The filmmaker actually traveled to the set that served as Luke’s home on Tatooine for his 30^th birthday. He slept in the hut, watched the (single) sun set, and even dyed his milk blue, living out the fantasy of millions of other fans.

And plus, he also showed off a heartwarming moment he captured on his phone, when he told his mom that he was directing a Star Wars film. You’ve officially passed your Star Wars fan club test, Gareth.

Next: Effects Wizard John Knoll Dives into the History of ILM

42. Effects Wizard John Knoll Dives into the History of ILM

We all have undying love for Hamill and Ford and Fisher and the rest of the cast who gave us some lasting memories, but it’s easy to forget about the craftsmen behind the scenes who helped build this wonderful universe. Longtime Lucasfilm employee John Knoll is one of those magicians, and he’s recently broadened his resume to storyteller, as he came up with the idea for the Rogue One film.

I was lucky enough to attend a panel Knoll hosted on Saturday that dived into the history of Lucasfilm and its contributions to numerous milestones in the visual effects industry across multiple films. Knoll proved to be a good speaker who was incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about the industry, and it was enlightening to see how Star Wars both paved the way for and followed in the footsteps of numerous other films we know and love.

Next: John Boyega Goes Stealth on the Convention Floor

41. John Boyega Goes Stealth on the Convention Floor

Out of the three leads on The Force Awakens, John Boyega, who plays Finn, is clearly the one who’s having the most fun with his newfound superstardom. The actor took to the floor of Celebration disguised as a clone trooper, on a mission to purchase some coveted merchandise, and posted a wink-wink video on his Instagram. Even famous actors can’t resist the collecting urge, it seems.

Check out the full video here.

Next: Dave Filoni Gives a Little Girl an Exclusive

40. Dave Filoni Gives a Little Girl an Exclusive

This next adorable moment comes courtesy of Star Wars Rebels showrunner Dave Filoni, who was asked a question by a little fangirl at the Rebels panel. The child asked who does Chopper’s voice, and Filoni said he actually couldn’t reveal the answer to that question.

But the filmmaker also admitted that he doesn’t like disappointing children, so in a cute compromise, Filoni actually went over to the girl and whispered the answer in her ear. Smart solution, Dave, although I hope the other fans didn’t mob the girl after the show.

Next: This Amazing Photo from Convention

39. This Amazing Photo

There were plenty of stellar photos from this past weekend, but this one is without a doubt my favorite. The individual creativity and inventiveness on display in Anaheim was always impressive, but it’s doubly cool when cosplayers team up for something like this.

Next: Billy Dee Williams Opens Up

38. Billy Dee Williams Opens Up

Billy Dee Williams took to the stage on the last day of Celebration, and his speech was particularly interesting for how he downplayed his suaveness and charm that is such an integral part of his portrayal of Lando Calrissian. The 77-year-old said he always saw himself as “a pretty silly person,” so he was always struck by the reaction to his character.

Still, Williams doesn’t have to be too humble, as not only is he returning to voice his character for season two of Star Wars Rebels, but Marvel has announced a five-issue series for the character of Lando. This deal is actually getting better all the time.

Next: How Fans Reacted to The Force Awakens Trailer

37. How Fans Reacted to The Force Awakens Trailer

Perhaps this is a bit of a cheat, but it seems impossible to talk about what went on at Celebration without mentioning how fans around the world reacted. Not many fans will admit it, but there were plenty of tears shed by the time that final title card appeared at the end of the new trailer.

It’s still amazing to me how much of a cross-generational phenomenon Star Wars is, and these fan reaction videos prove it. No other franchise has such devotion and adoration across all age ranges without question.

Next: Matthew McConaughey Also Cried When He Watched the Trailer...Kind Of

36. Matthew McConaughey Also Cried When He Watched the Trailer…Kind Of

And speaking of emotional reactions, here’s a hilarious submission by a YouTube user who had a brilliant mashup idea. The video purports to show how Matthew McConaughey reacted to the new trailer, by using a key scene featuring the actor from Christopher Nolan’s sci-fi headscratcher Interstellar. One of the reasons I find this so funny is because it’s probably a lot closer to the truth than a lot of us will admit.

Next: Star Wars: Battlefront Tie-in Novel Announced

35. Star Wars: Battlefront Tie-in Novel Announced

The upcoming videogame Star Wars: Battlefront certainly made a splash at Celebration, but it’s also adding to the new Expanded Universe in another way with a special tie-in novel that was announced. The book will be written by Alexander Freed, who’s apparently a veteran writer for the MMORPG The Old Republic.

Freed’s novel will be called Battlefront: Twilight Company and focus on clashes between Rebel troops and stormtroopers across multiple planets, just like the game. It’s set for release sometime this fall, as is the Battlefront video game.

Next: Darth Maul's Still Got It

34. Darth Maul’s Still Got It

Along with Anthony Daniels, Ray Park has really embraced the adoration of his fans and recognized that his character is among the favorites of the entire franchise. So it’s always cool to see him indulge them a bit and show off his moves, which he did multiple times at Celebration, to the delight of many.

Next: J.J. Abrams Makes a New Friend

33. J.J. Abrams Makes a New Friend

“I’d just as soon kiss a Wookiee,” says Princess Leia in Empire Strikes Back. She may not have gotten her wish, but J.J. Abrams did when he played the Twizzler challenge with Chewbacca on the first day of the convention. Keeping with the pattern of goodwill that the Star Wars production team has fostered, the event helped raise money and awareness for autism research.

Next: R2-D2 Takes to the Skies

32. R2-D2 Takes to the Skies

The Japanese airline All Nippon Airways unveiled a model of this beauty at Celebration, featuring everyone’s favorite rambunctious droid. No word yet on whether it can do the Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs.

Next: Return of the Jedi Producer Howard Kazanjian Reveals Behind-the-Scenes Info

31. Return of the Jedi Producer Howard Kazanjian

It was one of the few panels at the convention where you could simply walk right in and take a seat rather than standing in line, but the fascinating session with Return of the Jedi producer Howard Kazanjian should have been standing room only.

I had the fortune of listening to Kazanjian talk about what it was like coordinating the production of Episode VI. The movie gets a lot of flak, but Kazanjian is clearly still very proud of what they pulled off in the film, and he even showed off a few of his archived clips from behind the scenes back in the day.

Plus, he dropped a small nugget of film trivia when he revealed the reason why David Lynch turned down the opportunity to direct: The Twin Peaks filmmaker wanted to bring in his own replacements for Ben Burtt and John Williams.

Next: How Han Solo and Princess Leia Could Appear in The Force Awakens

30. A Look at How Han Solo and Princess Leia Could Appear in The Force Awakens

Perhaps giving us an idea of what the couple will look like in The Force Awakens, this adorable pair was one of the highlights of cosplaying at the convention, if only because it’s amazing to see that no matter how old you get, the Star Wars fever stays with you for life.

Next: The Skywalker Family Reunites

29. The Skywalker Family Reunites

Family photos are the best, even when you’re as messed up as the Skywalker clan. This photo was posted on a Mark Hamill Facebook fan page, and it’s easy to see why it blew up. It’s a last glimpse at the family that started it all, before a new era of Star Wars talent steps in to take the franchise in a new direction. Long live the Force family.

Next: The Strange Fate of Boba Fett

28. The Strange Fate of Boba Fett

It’s interesting to see that while Lucasfilm is surging full speed ahead when it comes to filling out the new canon with stories, they’re also still unsure about a few dangling threads when it comes to canonicity.

For example, in a panel with Pablo Hidalgo at Celebration that focused on how the Lucasfilm Story Group is approaching the new universe, the Star Wars creative made a very interesting statement in regards to the fate of Boba Fett, who fell into that Sarlaac’s mouth in Episode VI.

“Boba Fett is simultaneously alive and dead in that Sarlaac Pit until a story pulls him out,” Hidalgo said, leading some at the convention to appropriately label him “the Schrodinger’s Cat of the Star Wars universe.” Still, it only fosters hope for a spinoff film or some other property that will focus on the most feared bounty hunter of all time.

Next: Anthony Daniels Gets Personal

27. Anthony Daniels Gets Personal

As I said before, Anthony Daniels is one of the more accessible stars of the franchise, and that came through in his panel appearance on Friday. The actor admitted to getting a little tired of the character throughout his run, but he emphasized that he was energized about playing the character again after being cast in The Force Awakens.

He reiterated what others have said about Abrams staying true to the series’ practical roots with real-life sets, and even shared some humorous stories about unfortunate Star Wars product placements that he participated in.

Next: Dave Filoni Blown Away by Rebels Cosplay

26. Dave Filoni Blown Away by Rebels Cosplay

You always see cosplayers being admired by other fans for their commitment to a costume or creation, but what surprised me at Celebration is that many of the cosplayers simultaneously impressed the actual Star Wars creators who designed the characters in the first place.

Take for example Dave Filoni, who took time out of his day to chat with these two cosplayers portraying Zeb and Hera from Star Wars Rebels. Filoni was blown away by the costumes and told the cosplayers as such. It’s moments like these that really define what Celebration is all about.

Next: The Podcast Stage

25. The Podcast Stage

The podcast events at Celebration really emphasize the convention’s focus on community and fan interaction by giving the Star Wars faithful a platform to share their passions. While I didn’t get a chance to attend this part of the weekend (a running theme at Celebration), the panels featured the talents of numerous bloggers and writers who got the chance to feed off of each other’s love for the franchise.

Next: ILM Creative Dennis Muren Discusses Star Wars and Visual Effects

24. ILM Creative Dennis Muren Discusses Star Wars and Visual Effects

George Lucas may have came up with the idea for Star Wars, but it was special effects wizard Dennis Muren who helped give shape and focus to that vision. This panel reportedly focused on how Muren contributed to the revolutions in digital effects that Star Wars was a part of. Along with John Knoll, Muren is one of the visionaries that the franchise owes its popularity to.

Next: How to Become an X-Wing Pilot

23. How to Become an X-Wing Pilot

How could you not want to do this? Not only did this booth on the marketplace floor dress you up in a Rebel jumpsuit and put you in an X-wing, it also digitally inserted you into the Star Wars: Battlefront video game trailer. Well worth the wait in a two-mile line.

Next: Mark Hamill Shares Some Secrets

22. Mark Hamill Shares Some Secrets

The Skywalker child opened up on stage on Saturday night about a lot of things, but the juiciest tidbits revolved around his role in The Force Awakens.

Among other things, Hamill says he felt “drafted” into the new film, partly because he expected plenty of fan backlash if he didn’t agree to the role. He also noted that he didn’t trust J.J. Abrams at first because of his affiliation with Star Trek, but he has since come around and has talked up how great a job the director has done.

Next: More Info on Lego Star Wars: Droid Tales

21. More Info on Lego Star Wars: Droid Tales

We got a taste of what exactly the new Lego Star Wars: Droid Tales will be about when it premieres on the Disney channel in July. The series will tell the entire saga through the eyes of R2D2 and C-3PO, who reminisce about their adventures following the battle of Endor. Interestingly, the series will consist of five episodes to cover the six films as well as sone of the Clone Wars, an unusual format for a retelling of the saga.

Next: The Best Cosplayer of All Time

20. The Best Cosplayer of All Time

There was simply no better costume at Celebration. None. I wish I had bought this guy a beer.

Next: Alan Dean Foster to Write The Force Awakens Novelization

19. Alan Dean Foster to Write The Force Awakens Novelization

Star Wars has always been obsessed with symmetry and poetic structure over the entire franchise, so it seems fitting that the writer of The Force Awakens novel will be Alan Dean Foster, who wrote the very first Expanded Universe novel Splinter of the Mind’s Eye, a non-canon adventure that took place between Episodes IV and V. Foster first ripped open the Star Wars universe to let in new characters, and now he’ll help bring fans into a new era.

Next: Marvel Hints at What's Next for Star Wars Comics

18. Marvel Hints at What’s Next for Star Wars Comics

Marvel’s line of Star Wars comics have been enormously successful, and it looks like that run will likely continue based on the talent that the company is bringing in. The Marvel Comes Home to Star Wars panel didn’t have any big announcements, but the creatives in attendance answered a few lingering questions about the upcoming slate.

Among the information they revealed is that they will eventually cover the period between Episodes V and VI and that they are looking to incorporate more references to the prequels in their stories.

Next: Unveiling of Unaired 'Bad Batch' Clone Wars Episodes

17. Unveiling of Unaired ‘Bad Batch’ Clone Wars Episodes

Building off of the longing for more Clone Wars episodes, Celebration featured the exclusive airing of a four-episode arc of the show that never made it to the screen. In fact, it was never completely finished.

The “Bad Batch” episodes focused on clone troopers teaming up with a ragtag group of defective clones who nevertheless had superior attributes. The plot involved the rescue of Echo, a clone trooper who appeared to have died during the show and was never heard from again.

It was an interesting look at where Filoni and Kinberg wanted to take the series, but it was totally bizarre to see unfinished animation after watching the polished product for so many years.

Next: R2-D2 Dances with Kid Confined to Wheelchair

16. R2-D2 Dances with Kid Confined to Wheelchair

It’s moments like these that really make the Star Wars fan community stand out from other pop culture followings. On Thursday, a fully functional R2D2 unit had a little dance with a boy in a wheelchair on the convention floor, in a meeting that quickly went viral on social media. Hopefully, you still have some tissues left over after watching The Force Awakens trailer.

Next: Ian McDiarmid Dashes Hopes of Palpatine Returning

15. Ian McDiarmid Dashes Hopes of Palpatine Returning

There were plenty of teases, hints, and sly winking comments as to the future of Star Wars characters at the convention, but Ian McDiarmid refused to participate in such speculation when it came to his own character.

“I’m dead. I’ve been dead for the past 30 years,” McDiarmid said, referring to the Emperor. At first, the actor indulged fans a little when he said it made sense that the Emperor would fashion a clone before putting himself in any danger, but he quickly negated his own theory, saying Lucas definitely closed that door years ago.

Next: The Force Awakens Actors Dish on Their Roles

14. The Force Awakens Actors Dish on Their Roles

It was great fun being introduced to the main leads of The Force Awakens, whom we can expect to be the faces of the franchise for millions of children for decades to come.

The actors also revealed a bit about their characters: Daisy Ridley plays Rey, a scavenger marooned on the planet Jakku; John Boyega plays Finn, a stormtrooper who may be a good guy or bad guy; and Oscar Isaac plays Poe Dameron, “the best frickin pilot in the galaxy,” according to the actor himself.

Next: Ray Park Wants to Play Darth Maul Again in a Standalone Movie

13. Ray Park Wants to Play Darth Maul Again in a Standalone Movie

The athletic Sith shared his hopes for a Darth Maul standalone film one day after his character took an early exit courtesy of Obi-Wan in Episode I. Although he got something of a revival on The Clone Wars, Maul still got the short end of the lightsaber in the minds of many fans. Park says he’d be thrilled to get to play the character again, and he even offered to go on a strict diet regimen and tattoo his whole body for the chance to do a standalone film.

Next: Unusued Concepts from Clone Wars

12. Unused Concepts from Clone Wars

Clone Wars may have been a great show, but it’s agonizing to think of how much further the creators could have taken the franchise if it hadn’t been canceled by Disney. Besides the “Bad Batch” episodes, we got another glimpse at what could’ve been with some unused concepts and storylines displayed at a panel on Thursday.

These included ideas such as a rivalry between Cad Bane and Boba Fett that involved the two bounty hunters interacting with Tusken Raiders on Tatooine. Filoni also showed off some animation depicting the Indiana Jones influence on Ahsoka Tano, a battle involving Wookiees and clone troopers, and an epic duel between Count Dooku and countless bounty hunters.

Next: J.J. Abrams Buys Pizza for Fans Camped out for Premiere

11. J.J. Abrams Buys Pizza for Fans Camped out for Premiere

Celebration offers a lot of Star Wars fans the chance to show off just how dedicated they are to the franchise, as shown by the line that was six parsecs long to get into the J.J. Abrams panel. That’s why it was heartwarming to see that fandom rewarded when Abrams and Kathleen Kennedy bought pizza for all of the fans camped out in the Anaheim Convention Center basement all night long. That must have been quite a tip they left for the pizza boy.

Next: Star Wars: Battlefront Extended Preview

10. Star Wars: Battlefront Extended Preview

EA provided an extended preview of some Star Wars: Battlefront gameplay at Celebration, as long as you were insane enough to wait three hours in line, like I was.

There was no recording allowed, as the studio wants to keep building anticipation for the game, but the footage itself looks phenomenal. It’s basically a rehash of the trailer from the perspective of a Rebel foot soldier, with a surprise appearance at the very end. I’ll share some more thoughts on it later this week.

Next: Trailer for Star Wars Rebels Season 2

9. Trailer for Star Wars Rebels Season 2

With the bar set high by the first season of Star Wars Rebels, Season 2 appears all set to exceed expectations, based upon the trailer that premiered on Saturday. It offered plenty of looks at what we can expect this fall, including the re-introduction of the 501^st Legion as well as some new Inquisitors.

Next: Fan Favorites Set to Return for Star Wars Rebels

8. Fan Favorites Set to Return for Star Wars Rebels

The nostalgia for the Clone Wars animated TV series was palpable at Celebration, but it soon dominated the atmosphere when Filoni and crew revealed that some fan favorites were returning for Season 2 of Star Wars Rebels. We already knew Ahsoka Tano would be back, but fans are probably even more excited for the homecoming of Clone Captain Rex and pirate Hondo Ohnaka.

Next: London to Host Star Wars Celebration 2016

7. London to Host Star Wars Celebration 2016

That’s right. The next Celebration will take place July 15-17 across the pond in London, the second time the city will host the event and the fourth time it’s relocated outside of the United States. The announcement was made during the Closing Ceremonies of Celebration Anaheim. Start saving up your credits now.

Next: The Force Awakens Exhibit Hints at the Larger World of the Film

6. The Force Awakens Exhibit Hints at the Larger World of the Film

In another example of Disney’s novel method of unveiling information about the upcoming movies, Celebration hosted an exhibit of props and costumes from The Force Awakens exclusive to attendees.

The props ranged from mock-ups of the new X-wing and Millennium Falcon, as well as Kylo Ren’s lightsaber and even BB-8. But the most scrutinized information actually came from the placards accompanying the displays, which hinted at organizations called “The First Order” and “The Resistance.”

Next: BB-8's Entrance Stuns the World

5. BB-8’s Entrance Stuns the World

It’s one thing to say you’re going to focus on practical effects. It’s another to actually prove it in front of millions of fans, and that’s exactly what Abrams and crew did when they brought out a working, real-life version of BB-8, the droid that’s already captured fans’ hearts.

There’s actually a pretty interesting story behind how this little wonder was actually created, which involves Disney CEO Bob Iger recruiting a company to design a functioning spherical machine.

Nonetheless, the droid’s introduction served to convince fans that maybe, just maybe, Abrams and his team have really captured that magic of the original trilogy once again.

Next: Star Wars: Battlefront Trailer Premieres

4. Star Wars: Battlefront Trailer Premieres

I don’t think I’d be far off in saying that Star Wars: Battlefront is the most anticipated console game this year. Its trailer, which premiered on Friday at Celebration, gave us a peek at the possibilities of the game.

You’ll be able to lead skirmishes against Rebel factions, fire rockets at Imperial walkers, snipe stormtroopers with laser rifles, and much more. Plus, we’ll finally be taken to the planet of Sullust, a volcanic, desolate planet that hasn’t made an appearance in the new canon yet.

Hopefully, those stormtroopers will finally be able to shoot with some accuracy.

Next: Disney Reveals Plans for Anthology Films and Teases Rogue One

3. Disney Reveals Plans for Anthology Films and Teases Rogue One

Image from screencrush.com

Of course everyone’s excited about the new trilogy, but I’m almost more curious about how Disney will handle these standalone movies, which they’re referring to as “anthology films.” It’s essentially lifting the Expanded Universe to the big screen, and we got our first taste of what that might be like with the Sunday panel with Rogue One director Gareth Edwards (which was also supposed to feature Josh Trank, who was a no-show).

Edwards premiered a teaser for his upcoming movie that consisted of one gorgeous shot, a title card and some mystifying audio. The film will follow the story of the rebel faction that steals the Death Star plans, in a hybrid of a heist film and a war movie.

Edwards says he will attempt to add some gritty realism to the Star Wars franchise, which he proved by showing a still from the photo that recalls images from horrific war films like Saving Private Ryan.

If all goes to plan, this could be the first step in Disney transposing the franchise’s hallmarks in new, interesting ways.

Next: Exclusive Premiere of Star Wars Rebels Season 2 Opener

2. Exclusive Premiere of Star Wars Rebels Season 2 Opener

A lot of fans were skeptical that Disney could take its own animated Star Wars series and match the standards set by The Clone Wars, but those doubts were erased by the first season of Star Wars Rebels. And the premiere of the show’s second season, “The Siege of Lothal,” which doesn’t have an air date yet but was shown exclusively in full at Celebration on Saturday night, will take the story in an even more thrilling direction.

The episode surprised by fan expectations by diving right in to some of the more anticipated confrontations that were hinted at in the trailer, including a battle between Ezra, Kanan and Darth Vader, as well as the Sith Lord’s revelation of Ahsoka Tano’s existence. Check out my full review here, and stay tuned for more details as to when you can see it on Disney XD.

Next: The Force Awakens Trailer Shuts Down the Internet

1. The Force Awakens Trailer Shuts Down the Internet

“Chewie, we’re home.”

Those words were the perfect way to end that trailer, which may or may not have broken the Internet. The Force Awakens will finally take fans back home to a galaxy far, far away, and it’s preparing us for when we find out that things aren’t quite the same as they were 30 years ago. They neither can nor should be.

But the seventh episode appears to be designed to soften that blow for fans by including just enough nostalgic elements to help us accept that the franchise is moving on and growing up, just as its fans have. It may not be easy, but ultimately, it’s all part of a much brighter, more inclusive future for the galaxy.

What were your favorite moments from Celebration?

Next: A Closer Look at Kylo Ren and His Lightsaber