“How ‘Star Wars” John Boyega got Iron Man as a mentor

With popular films like “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” and “Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip” set to hit theaters soon, I have begun to debate how many times will I see “Force Awakens”, and maybe other films set to be released. But director J.J. Abrams promises it won’t be a nostalgic trip down memory lane. The movie opens in USA theaters on December 18, 2015.

ABRAMS: It’s a bittersweet choice. The following day, it goes on general release in the US.

It’s one of the biggest film events in years, the first Star Wars film in a decade, and it promises to be a must-see date in every fan’s diary.

The British-born actor wasn’t a complete unknown when he was cast, like his co-star Daisy Ridley, but it was a stratospheric jump to go from the 2011 cult favorite “Attack the Block” to suddenly being one of the key players in launching this new iteration of a multi-billion dollar franchise. “That’s what I’ve learned in this process”, he said.

“It’s gratifying to be part of this”, he added. “People are so annoying, they always stand on the left”.

Spending hours playing with a toy robot is encouraged, though.

Not to be forgotten are the beloved droids R2-D2 (Kenny Baker) and C-3PO (Anthony Daniels) as well as Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew), Han Solo’s Wookiee co-pilot.

The eager fans are waiting for the December 17 screening of the much-anticipated Episode VII, but it’s not all for the love of fandom; the organization behind this geek-friendly camping expedition LiningUp.net has partnered with the Starlight Children’s Foundation, and are gathering donations. The Jedi master is notably absent from the official poster and Hamill – who features in the film’s credits – did not attend Sunday’s press conference, building suspense.

AP: Lucasfilm’s creative executive Pablo Hidalgo helped you answer questions about the “Star Wars” universe during the making of the film. For me when I heard Obi-Wan say that the Force surrounds us and binds us all together, there was no judgement about who you were.

The actress did undergo months of physical training to prepare for her role, a regimen that included weightlifting, climbing and “staff training” – footage shows Rey running and fighting with a staff. How much different could a lightsaber be?