New behind-the-scenes footage from Star Wars: The Last Jedi debuted Saturday at D23, and while it looks thrilling, what’s really amazing are all the cool, practical effects that the film employed.
During the live-action film panel, Walt Disney Studios Chairman Alan Horn joked that The Force Awakens left us at a literal cliff-hanger due to the scenery of its final moments.
To introduce a further look at the latest film, Horn ushered onto the stage writer and director Rian Johnson, and Last Jedi stars Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Gwendoline Christie, Kelly Marie Tran, Laura Dern, Benicio Del Toro. After some fun on-stage banter, it was the introduction of Luke Skywalker himself that set the audience up for the latest look at Episode 8.
After saying that there are a lot of “unexpected elements” in The Last Jedi, Mark Hamill let audiences analyze it all for themselves with the unveiling of a dramatic, behind-the-scenes featurette.
Daisy Ridley on location filming 'The Last Jedi.'
What we see are a series of incredible, slow-motion shots of timed explosions, elaborate sets, and exotic locations. It’s clear that Johnson (whose directing credits include Brick and Looper) put the utmost care into the execution of this film.
Director Rian Johnson inspects BB-8's head.
Real explosions of red goo!
More explosions!
Compared to Marvel fare — which relies heavily on green screens and CGI — the set-heavy, on location-style filming of The Last Jedi feels unique in 2017, and the footage released Saturday really impresses the scope of such a production.
No green screen here.
Johnson having a drink with Luke Skywalker in a very realistic cave.
That is one big animatronic prop.
Serious makeup effects.
More real explosions.
Star Wars: The Last Jedi will be released December 15. You can check out the behind-the-scenes featurette below.
