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Force fever is gripping the kingdom as frenzied Star Wars fans gear up for the release of Episode VIII: The Last Jedi tonight and it will be jiggle tills for cinemas across the kingdom.
Cinemagoers aren’t the only ones getting excited, as those on the other side of the projector are busy making preparations to meet the overwhelming demand for seats from locals, expats living in the kingdom and the thousands of visitors flocking across the causeway.
“Fans are so enthusiastic regarding the release of Star Wars that I’ve had numerous meetings and discussions this week to decide how many screens we’ll have dedicated to the film and when we will start taking advanced bookings,” Cineco general supervisor Mahmood Jagbeer explained.
“I am so excited that the fans in the kingdom can finally see this movie after it has been hyped for so long. I’ve already seen it, and even though I’m not a huge Star Wars fan, I absolutely loved it!”
The cinema landscape has broadened considerably over the last year, with Vox Cinemas opening an IMAX in City Centre Bahrain in partnership with Cineco, and a MAX cinema, a massive Vox screen attraction, at Avenues Bahrain.
Mohammed Yasin, cinema manager of Novo Cinema at Seef Mall Muharraq, which has its own IMAX screen, says that tickets for the latest edition of Star Wars are being snapped up at a rapid rate on the company’s website.
He said: “We’ve had people flooding to the box office and on our website and mobile app to book tickets. There’s no other experience quite like IMAX, so people are coming from Saudi Arabia and other countries in the Gulf for the amazing experience it offers.
“We’ll have a minimum three-week run in IMAX 3D, which is our largest screen with 350 seats, and it’ll also be shown in our second-largest screen and in our 7-Star VIP venue, and at least three other screens, perhaps more.
“Star Wars is something that just appeals to anyone, regardless of age. It’s a real family movie and it’s going to be huge, we’re encouraging people to attend in their costumes and really get into the spirit of the adventure.”
It is the second film in the Star Wars sequel trilogy, following Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015). The film is produced by Lucasfilm and will be distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. It stars Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Andy Serkis, Lupita Nyong’o, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, and Gwendoline Christie in returning roles, with Kelly Marie Tran, Laura Dern, and Benicio del Toro joining the cast.
