The highly anticipated Star Wars Celebration is set to return to Los Angeles, marking the 50th anniversary of Star Wars. This monumental event will take place at the Los Angeles Convention Center, a venue with historical significance, as it previously hosted the fourth edition of the convention in May 2007, which celebrated the 30th anniversary of Star Wars. The announcement was made on Sunday during this year’s Star Wars Celebration in Tokyo, Japan.
The 2025 edition will see the Star Wars Celebration return to Japan for the first time since 2008, marking just the second time it has been held in Asia during its 25-year history. The recent Tokyo event was a resounding success, selling out quickly and attracting over 105,000 attendees, a notable 8 percent increase compared to the 2023 convention in London. This demonstrates the global appeal of the Star Wars franchise, with 55 percent of visitors hailing from the Asia-Pacific region, including 47 percent from Japan and 31 percent from the United States.
Despite the sellout and increasing attendance, some fans expressed dissatisfaction, noting that this year's edition felt less expansive compared to the Star Wars Celebration in London in 2023. One attendee from Los Angeles remarked, “There are not enough vendors and not enough to do,” echoing sentiments shared by other veterans of the Celebration. Many felt that the variety of merchandise and the number of interactive installations were lacking, with fewer major news announcements. However, moments like singing “Happy Birthday” to Hayden Christensen, who portrayed Anakin Skywalker, brought joy to fans.
Hayden Christensen emerged as a fan favorite, with attendees lining up for over two hours for a photo opportunity with him, which cost around $208—a price significantly higher than other stars like Rosario Dawson and Diego Luna. Nevertheless, fans, both first-timers and veterans, were undeterred by the costs, viewing their attendance as a form of “geek tourism.” Sam Dungey and his fiancée Alisha, who traveled from England, shared their excitement about meeting Christensen, highlighting the emotional connection many fans have with the characters and stories.
The Star Wars Celebration showcased a vibrant culture of fandom, with attendees spending hours on elaborate costumes and makeup. One local fan dedicated two months to crafting a life-size AT-ST Walker from cardboard, a testament to the passion present at the event. Dawson acknowledged this dedication during a panel, showing appreciation for fans who invest so much effort into embodying their favorite characters.
This year’s Tokyo event featured over 26 hours of franchise programming across three main stages and approximately 100 hours of fan panels and podcasts. Major announcements included Ryan Gosling and director Shawn Levy unveiling the title and release date for the upcoming spinoff film, Star Wars: Starfighter. Additionally, Jon Favreau, Kathleen Kennedy, and stars Pedro Pascal and Sigourney Weaver presented the first footage of The Mandalorian & Grogu, while the cast of Andor premiered the first episode of its second season.
Fans were also thrilled to learn that Hayden Christensen would reprise his role as Anakin Skywalker in the second season of Ahsoka. Furthermore, Lucasfilm announced the upcoming animated series, Maul: Shadow Lord, set to debut in 2026, and the expansion of the critically acclaimed Star Wars: Visions anthology project.
Staging this year’s Star Wars Celebration in Japan was particularly meaningful, given the profound influence of Japanese cinema on George Lucas, especially the works of Akira Kurosawa. Lucas drew inspiration from Kurosawa’s The Hidden Fortress, which shaped the narrative and character archetypes of Star Wars. Elements of Japanese culture are interwoven throughout the franchise, from Darth Vader’s samurai-inspired helmet to the concept of Jedi being modeled after samurai warriors.
Carol Choi, executive vice president of APAC Integrated Marketing and Japan Managing Director at Disney, emphasized the deep-rooted connections between Star Wars and Japanese culture, stating, “Star Wars has drawn deep inspiration from Japan and introduced aspects of Japanese culture to global audiences across generations.” This ongoing cultural exchange was celebrated through various panels at the event, showcasing the lasting impact of both Star Wars and Japanese storytelling.
