PHOTO BY ALENA KUZUB
Kevin McKernan of Marblehead poses at the premiere of “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” at Warwick Cinema on Pleasant Street.
By LEAH DEARBORN
MARBLEHEAD — Fans were out in full “Force” for the premiere of “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” despite frigid temperatures on Thursday.
“I’m an incredible Star Wars fan,” said Jobian Day, while waiting in line at the Warwick Cinema on Pleasant Street. “I watched the movies 500 times before my fifth birthday.”
Day agreed that the cold weather might discourage some viewers from coming out for the movie’s first showing.
“I parked my tauntaun outside,” he joked, referring to the snow lizards from the Star Wars universe.
Mariel Fulghum, 14, said she was excited to see the film and that the trailers for it “looked really good.”
Warwick employee Susie Mace, who worked at the theater’s box office throughout the day and during the premiere of “The Force Awakens” last December, said both movies drew a wide mixture of ages.
“When I was four I saw the Star Wars movie ‘A New Hope’ on VHS and that was it,” said Lynn native Tyler Richard about his longtime Star Wars fascination as he prepared to attend a screening of the film in Braintree.
Richard is a member of the 501st Legion of New England where he acts as a Stormtrooper commander in the local unit of an international costume fan club.
The 501st takes part in events in the area like Boston Comic Con. Richard said they were also contacted by numerous Showcase Cinemas locations around the state to appear in costume for the premiere of “Rogue One.”
Richard said he loved “The Force Awakens” when it debuted last December, but wasn’t completely sold on “Rogue One” until he watched the extended trailer for the movie.
“I was hooked,” he said.
Now in his 40s, Darren Goldman, manager of Newbury Comics at the Northshore Mall in Peabody, said he went to all the original Star Wars movies as a kid and that the store was setting up some merchandise in preparation for the premiere.
“I think everyone is looking forward to a fresh run of ideas,” said Goldman about the newer Star Wars films.
Alena Kuzub“Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” premiered at the Warwick Cinema on Pleasant Street in Marblehead.