Continuing the whirlwind week of celebrations running up to Friday’s official opening, the cast of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” hit London in style on Wednesday night.
Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Adam Driver, Gwendoline Christie, Lupita Nyong’o, joined George Lucas and new director-writer J.J. Abrams for the extravagant European premiere at London’s Leicester Square.
The warm English welcome came hot on the heels of Monday’s epic world premiere in Hollywood, where Stormtroopers, droids and thousands of fans took over Hollywood Blvd., outside the TLC Chinese Theatre.
After wearing white on Monday, newcomer Ridley — who plays scavenger Rey in the film — showed off her own Dark Side in a glittering gown with side splits.
The premiere was actually a homecoming for some of the cast, including Ridley and Boyega (Finn), who are both from London.
“May the Force be with all of you,” Ridley told the crowd. “It’s particularly special because I’m from London, it’s good to be home.”
Princess Leia actress Fisher even took her dog, Gary — who is now a social media star in his own right — for the trip across the Atlantic, and she walked him down the red carpet holding hands with a Stormtrooper.
Ford is famously reprising his role of Han Solo and appeared to be having fun reuniting with Chewbacca actor Peter Mayhew, while an extra in a furry Chewie costume jauntily posed for cameras.
While the London location was the official European premiere of the sci-fi revival, there were also premiere events held in Dublin, Madrid and Berlin on Wednesday night, with classic characters standing in for the film’s main stars.
The Tate Britain art gallery was also invaded by “Star Wars” memorabilia and impressive lightsaber-inspired shows, while the Great Wall of China has already hosted 500 Stormtroopers along its historic walls.
Overseas fans will actually see “The Force Awakens” before it debuts in the U.S. on Friday. It opens Wednesday in key market Italy. Also: Philippines, Sweden, Switzerland, Denmark, Thailand, Netherlands, Belgium, Norway and Finland.
On Thursday it opens in more European countries, including the U.K. and Germany which should be very strong, as well as Korea, Mexico, Australia, Russia, Brazil, Taiwan, Austria and New Zealand.
On Friday, it debuts in Japan, Spain Venezuela. It’s unusual to roll out so widely at once abroad, in virtually every major market except China.
