40 Years: A ‘Star Wars’ celebration

Costumed fans of the Star Wars franchise wait in a massive line outside the Orange County Center, in Orlando, Fla., to attend the 2017 Star Wars Celebration today, marking the 40th anniversary of the original 1977 Star Wars film. Thousands of fans waited for hours in the line, estimated to be more than a mile long. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel via AP)

Thursday kicked off a celebration 40 years in the making — with surprise guests and a touching tribute to Carrie Fisher .

The 40 Years of Star Wars panel at Star Wars Celebration featured generations of castmembers from a galaxy far, far away to mark the 40th anniversary of Star Wars: A New Hope , which opened in May 1977.

Surprise guests George Lucas and Harrison Ford sparked pandemonium, while Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy was joined by previously announced guests Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, Ian McDiarmid, Peter Mayhew, Billy Dee Williams, Warwick Davis and prequel star Hayden Christensen/ The Hollywood Reporter. More here.

Question: What was your reaction after you first saw “Star Wars”?