The Hall H panel everyone was waiting for at Comic-Con just concluded, and no it wasn't Kevin Smith's Yoga Hosers (more on that in a moment). It was Lucasfilm's Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and it was a show filled with awe, nostalgia, and yes, some big surprises. Kicking things off were producer Kathleen Kennedy, director JJ Abrams, and writer Lawrence Kasdan, who talked about their mutual love for Star Wars and appreciation for the franchise George Lucas built. It was that appreciation which led them to choose practical effects over a ton of digital technology.
The floor was then taken by the cast including Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Domhnall Gleeson, Gwendoline Christie, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford, much to the delight of the roaring crowd. While there was no trailer, Abrams unveiled a touching behind-the-scenes featurette that had fans in the audience holding back tears.
"To see the way the technology has evolved and yet keeping one foot in the pre-digital world. It’s amazing. "You've been here, but you don't know this story," Mark Hamill says.
At the end of the show, Abrams announced that all 6000+ attendees would be treated to a free Star Wars fan concert nearby. Basically, they emptied out the entire Hall H with that move, meaning nobody was around for Kevin Smith's panel afterwards. Whomp whomp.
You can watch the Star Wars: The Force Awakens video below!
