LOS ANGELES — Holly wood is preparing for what could be the largest movie premiere in its history Monday night, when the hugely anticipated “Star Wars: Episode VII — The Force Awakens” is screened for VIP audiences in three separate theaters amid tight police security.
At one of the Hollywood Boulevard locations — the iconic TCL Chinese Theatre, where the first “Star Wars” premiered in 1977 — fans are already camped out this weekend, eagerly awaiting their turn when the film opens for regular folks Friday.
One fan, Lavonne Dominguez, wasn’t interested in simply buying a ticket online to see the movie in her local movie theater. She and several friends who drove up from Orange County wanted an out-of-this-world experience.
“I need to see it in an epic place with people who are just as excited about ‘Star Wars’ as me,” said Domin guez, 32, who was among about 150 devotees in line at the Chinese Theatre on Friday, occasionally ducking under awnings to avoid a passing rainshower.
Several fans began holding court outside the theatre last weekend. Many of them previously lined up at the same location to be among the first to see the “Star Wars” prequel films, beginning in 1999. This time, the theater operator is allowing them to camp out on top of the theater’s famous celebrity handprints and footprints, instead of along the sidewalk out front.
