A tight embargo and strict security surround the press preview of the latest Star Wars film, Star Wars: The Force Awakens that will start showing in South Africa and several other territories a whole two days before its official release in the United States.
The latest 7th installment in the
archetypical science fiction blockbuster franchise set in that galaxy far, far
away will start showing in South Africa and several other countries from
Wednesday 16 December, 2 days before the film's official debut in the Unites
States where it had its official, star-studded red carpet premiere in Los
Angeles on Monday night.
While Disney is careful to temper
expectations for the movie, Star Wars: The Force Awakens will likely
shatter box office records in South Africa – especially for IMAX showings where
pre-ticket sales have soared – as well as internationally as well as in the
United States.
In South Africa, like in the United States,
there's been no advance press showings to the media and film critics of the new
movie as Disney and Lucasfilm are trying to keep the secrets and surprises of
the film under wraps.
In America only a few publications and
selected film critics are being shown the movie and in South Africa the press
screening of Star Wars: The Force Awakens takes place on late Tuesday
afternoon, less than 12 hours before the film opens to moviegoers locally.
Reviews for Star Wars: The Force Awakens
are embargoed for Wednesday, 16 December at 12:01 in the United States and for
Wednesday 10:01 in South Africa.
Disney is also requesting film critics to
limit their reviews of Star Wars: The Force Awakens to not include
spoilers as to keep the surprises of the film intact for fans and moviegoers.
It means that film critics have to refrain from spoiling things like why the
Millennium Falcon crashes, what happened to Luke Skywalker, who Rey really is
and why C-3PO has a red arm.
As in America, and as has been done before
for certain high-level security film, no recording devices are allowed for
press screenings and South African film critics like their US counterparts will
have their cellphones collected beforehand and only returned afterwards.
The new event film helmed by J.J. Abrams is
already breaking movie records in South Africa which is setting a new benchmark
for ticket pre-sales for IMAX.
Moviegoers clearly want to see the latest
Star Wars film on a really big screen and it represents the most advance
bookings of any IMAX title in the country before.
Advance bookings to see Star Wars: The
Force Awakens at IMAX and 3D venues across South Africa have already
reached record levels.
More than 34 500 tickets have already
been sold to watch the film at Ster-Kinekor cinemas in the country alone.
Meanwhile Nu Metro is also showing the film at its 4DX cinema at the V&A
Waterfront in Cape Town.
