There’s almost always been only one formal track at Celebration, the one for collectors, but the truth is there are usually several informal tracks, and I’ve collected a few on different subjects here. This isn’t meant to be a comprehensive list by any means, but if you’re still confused the schedule, consider these suggestions for Anaheim.
The Future of Star Wars
Obviously the big one this year is J.J. Abrams and Kathleen Kennedy, at which we’re expecting (at the very least) a second trailer for The Force Awakens. It’s so big there’s a whole page on how to line up for it. The runner-up is likely Conversations with Gareth Edwards and Josh Trank, at which the spin-off directors will (hopefully) give us a few tidbits about Rogue One and whatever’s next. For behind-the-scenes fans, there’s Creating the Creative Dream Team with Production Designers Rick Carter and Darren Gilford and concept artists Doug Chiang and Christian Alzmann. (Chiang also has his own panel on Sunday) Also worth a look is the Closing Ceremony – while we’re unlikely to get movie news here, we may learn about the next Celebration.
Celebrities
Always a big draw, this year brings Ian McDiarmid, Carrie Fisher, Anthony Daniels and a double feature with James Arnold Taylor and Mark Hamill to the big stage.
Rebels and The Clone Wars
There’s plenty for the fans of both cartoons: The Untold Clone Wars with Dave Filoni and Pablo Hidalgo, The Clone Wars “Bad Batch” Screening and Panel Discussion, Joel Aron Photography: The Look of Star Wars Rebels, Rebel Women Who Fought The Clone Wars, New Allies and New Villains in Star Wars Rebels Season 2, Composing Star Wars Music With Kevin Kiner, Star Wars Rebels Season Two Global Premiere Screening and Star Wars Rebels: Past, Present, and Future.
Behind the scenes
For fans interested in production details, there’s always a hefty slate. This year brings Star Wars Costumes: The Original Trilogy, Restored Music from The Empire Strikes Back with David Collins, Howard Kazanjian: Producing Jedi, Ralph McQuarrie: Star Wars Art, Secrets of the Mos Eisley Cantina, Dennis Muren: Legacy in VFX, and 40 Years of ILM Innovation with John Knoll
The Expanded Universe
There have always been panels about the books and comics, but this year may be the most I can recall ever seeing at a Celebration. My picks for the biggest would be One Big Story: Working Within the Star Wars Canon, the spotlights for Del Rey and Marvel, plus of course the Tribute to Aaron Allston. But there’s plenty more: John Jackson Miller’s Writing in a Shared Universe, Bringing Star Wars Novels to Life on Audio, Star Wars Insider, Drew Karpyshyn on the Nature of Evil and Villains, James Luceno on Writing About Bad Guys, Novelizing Star Wars and Christie Golden’s Things I Hate But Learned How To Do – And So Can You!
Fans and fandom
In addition to the entire podcast slate, fan-focused panels include Star Wars Journalism, The Hero’s Journey & The Power of Myth, Ladies of the Legion (there are a ton of costuming panels, actually, so check the schedule if that’s your thing,) What Princess Leia Means to Me, From a Certain Point of View, and Building a Thriving Local Fan Club. Those last two feature our own James, while I’ll be on the Journalism one.
What are your panel recs? Chime in the comments!
A big thank you for breaking down the schedule! Looks like it’s going to be a very eventful couple of days.
Oh, and I hope I’ll run into you and James at some point.
Oh, probably. ;)
Hhmmm…. the Star Wars Canon discuss on a Friday, the day most people drop news that is likely to be poorly recieved on. Interesting…
Maybe I’m reading too much into that though since it is a Thursday -Sunday event… but then again last year on that date we got the EU is now legends news if memory serves
I wouldn’t read much into it. I honestly doubt we’ll get any actual news at that panel, or if there is it’ll be something minor.