Page 11 - Star Wars Insider #176

LAUNCHPAD

ELSEWHERE
AT THE EXPO…

• A presentation on Disney’s
upcoming animation slate
offered a sneak peek of a
hilarious sequence from
Ralph Breaks the Internet:
Wreck-It Ralph 2 that’s
packed with witty nods
to Star Wars.
• The Oh My Disney Stage
provided the backdrop for
an appearance by Ashley
Eckstein (Ahsoka Tano) in
conversation with The Star
Wars Show’s Andi Gutierrez,
as well as an impressive
demonstration of Propel’s
Star Wars Battle Drones.
• Mark Hamill joined the
Disney Legends 30th
Anniversary Panel, which was
moderated by fi lm critic and
historian Leonard Maltin.
Presented by D23: The
Offi cial Disney Fan Club
—which takes its name
from 1923, the year Walt
Disney left Kansas City for
Hollywood and founded what
would become the Disney
Studios—the D23 Expo is
slated to return to Anaheim
in 2019, just in time for Star
Wars: Episode IX!

Tributes and Teases at D23

Disney’s biennial Expo gave plenty of love to Star Wars actors, movies, games, and attractions

tar Wars was front and center “This December, we will release and Benicio Del Toro, along with Mark
S at this year’s D23 Expo—a her fi nal fi lm, Star Wars: The Last Hamill (Luke), who praised the script for
three-day celebration of all
Jedi, and as always, she brought her
its “unexpected elements” and described

things Disney that took place trademark strength, her heart and the film as “a real game-changer.”
in Anaheim, California, in July. her humor to the role. It is a truly Johnson also revealed that Dern was
The event kicked off with the Disney legendary performance.” prone to making “pew!” noises while
Legends Awards ceremony, honoring The Last Jedi was the focus the firing her blaster, and Boyega promised

11 inductees into Disney’s hall of fame, following day. Writer/director Rian that, despite being unconscious in the
including Mark Hamill and Carrie Johnson appeared on stage, saying, film’s teaser, “Finn sees some action.”

Fisher. During a tribute to Fisher, Disney “I had the time of my life making this Another centerpiece attraction
chairman and CEO Bob Iger shared movie. And part of that is what Star was a vast scale model of Star Wars
a letter from Fisher’s daughter, Billie Wars means to me, and I think means Galaxy’s Edge, which is currently under
Lourd, and commented: “Carrie Fisher to a lot of us. A lot of that is also the construction at Disneyland Park in
was an original, and there never will be people I got to work with.” California and the Walt Disney World
another. We are very fortunate to have Without further ado, he was joined Resort in Florida. Walt Disney Parks
known her, to have honored her and on stage by actors Daisy Ridley (Rey), and Resorts Chairman Bob Chapek also
her work. Certainly we are fortunate to John Boyega (Finn), Gwendoline announced plans for an immersive Star
have worked with her. We are incredibly Christie (Captain Phasma), Kelly Marie Wars themed luxury resort at the Walt
proud to call her a Disney Legend. Tran (Rose), Laura Dern (Amilyn Holdo), Disney World Resort.

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