Stars, Fans, Turn Out In Force For 'Sith' Charity Premieres
POSTED: 8:51 am CDT May 13, 2005
UPDATED: 9:02 am CDT May 13, 2005
The upscale volunteer-charity crowd mixed with uber-"Star Wars" fans at last night's "Episode III -- Revenge of the Sith" premieres Thursday night in 10 cities across the U.S.The final chapter in the six-film "Star Wars" saga, "Revenge of the Sith" chronicles Anakin Skywalker's (Hayden Christensen) transformation into the evil Darth Vader.Some of the fans at the premieres came dressed as Star Wars characters including Darth Vader, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Luke Skywalker.Tickets cost as much as $500 to $2,500 with proceeds from all 10 of Thursday night's premieres going to charity.Princess Leia herself, Carrie Fisher, showed up at the premiere in Washington, while saga creator George Lucas was in San Francisco.Meanwhile, Samuel L. Jackson, who plays Jedi master Mace Windu in the prequel trilogy and Liam Neeson, Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn in "The Phantom Menace," were on hand for the benefit premiere in New York.
Special Section: Complete 'Star Wars' CoverageWhen Mark Hamill arrived at the Los Angeles premiere, fans burst into cheers.Hamill, who played Luke Skywalker in the original episodes, ran across the street to shake hands and sign autographs.Also on hand at the Los Angeles premiere were Jimmy Smits, who played Sen. Bail Organa in "Attack of the Clones" and "Revenge of the Sith," Billy Dee Williams, Lando Calrissian from "The Empire Strikes Back" and "Return of the Jedi" and John Ratzenberger, who played the small role of Maj. Bren Derlin in "The Empire Strikes Back.""Revenge of the Sith" opens in theaters nationwide May 19.
Special Section: Complete 'Star Wars' CoverageWhen Mark Hamill arrived at the Los Angeles premiere, fans burst into cheers.Hamill, who played Luke Skywalker in the original episodes, ran across the street to shake hands and sign autographs.Also on hand at the Los Angeles premiere were Jimmy Smits, who played Sen. Bail Organa in "Attack of the Clones" and "Revenge of the Sith," Billy Dee Williams, Lando Calrissian from "The Empire Strikes Back" and "Return of the Jedi" and John Ratzenberger, who played the small role of Maj. Bren Derlin in "The Empire Strikes Back.""Revenge of the Sith" opens in theaters nationwide May 19.Distributed by Internet Broadcasting Systems, Inc. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
