Abu Dhabi To Host ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ Middle East Premiere
After hosting a portion of its shoot Abu Dhabi will also host the Middle East premiere of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” on December 16, prior to its launch via Disney in the region on December 17.
The exclusive red carpet gala to be held at Abu Dhabi’s sumptuous Emirates Palace will be attended by a host of as yet unspecified A-list Middle East stars but sans “Star Wars” talent in tow. Instead it is highly likely there will be props from the pic’s Abu Dhabi shoot in the Liwa desert, sources said.
In “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” Abu Dhabi plays Jakku, “a frontier desert planet in a remote section of the Outer Rim Territories,” according to StarWars.com.
“Having Star Wars: The Force Awakens screen in Abu Dhabi prior to its general release is a real validation for how successful the filming was whilst the production was here,” boasted Noura Al Kaabi, CEO of twofour54, the media and entertainment hub that is driving the film industry in the region. “To date, all of the trailers and TV spots for the film have included scenes from Abu Dhabi, which have generated unprecedented excitement around the globe,” she enthused. “We are very proud of our achievements and excited for audiences around the world to experience Abu Dhabi on the big screen.”
Shooting on the latest “Star Wars” installment in the Emirate took place in May 2014 with a crew of more than 650 working across two locations. Pic tapped into Abu Dhabi’s 30% rebate, applicable to below-the-line-spend and other benefits.
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