Harrison Ford and Ewan McGregor appeared on stage in front of a crowd of enthusiasts in Anaheim, near Los Angeles, for the "Star Wars celebration", a convention held every few years, regularly for the release of a new film.

But TV series dominated Thursday night's intro presentation, where fans were treated to clips from the upcoming series "Andor" and the third season of "The Mandalorian."

Above all, Disney has confirmed the creation of the "Skeleton Crew" series, in which British star Jude Law will play and which will be directed by Jon Watts, the director of the latest Spider-Man.

"It's the story of a group of kids about ten years old from a very small planet, and they accidentally get lost in the Star Wars galaxy," said Jon Watts to describe the new series.

The presentation began with the presence of Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen, who both reprized their roles from the second film trilogy, released around the 2000s, for the "Obi-Wan Kenobi" series.

Two episodes were to be previewed to fans on Thursday, a day before they are available to everyone on the Disney+ streaming platform.

No news of upcoming movies

Disney bought Lucasfilm and its franchise for $4 billion in 2012 and immediately began production on a new trilogy and the "Solo" and "Rogue One" spin-off films, but has since curbed its big-screen ambitions.

The convention center where the Star Wars convention takes place in Anaheim, California, on May 26, 2022 Robyn Beck AFP

The entertainment giant's decision to focus more on television series is due in particular to a decrease in income from cinemas, rather average reviews for the latest feature films and, above all, the launch of its streaming offer.

The Disney+ platform has gained more than 130 million subscribers since its launch in 2019, far more than analysts expected.

The creator of the hit series "The Mandalorian" Jon Favreau thanked Star Wars fans for their role in this achievement.

"You helped make Disney+ a success when it was just getting started," he said.

Tony Gilroy, screenwriter of "Jason Bourne", has announced that the new series "Andor" will be set five years before the spin-off "Rogue One" and will consist of two seasons of twelve episodes.

Jon Favreau also indicated that filming for the "Ahsoka" series had just begun with actress Rosario Dawson.

While Disney has three Star Wars features in the pipeline, to be directed by Taika Waititi, Rian Johnson and Patty Jenkins, none were mentioned on Thursday.

Lucasfilm boss Kathleen Kennedy told trade magazine Variety that there would be "plenty of opportunities" to pitch upcoming films later.

IndianaJones

Instead, the presentation ended with a performance by John Williams, the famous film score composer, who had an orchestra play his soundtrack from the series "Obi-Wan Kenobi".

Star Wars fans in costume at the convention in Anaheim, California on May 26, 2022 Robyn Beck AFP

John Williams, 90, was hailed by Harrison Ford, who played the famous Han Solo.

"This music follows me everywhere I go... It was even playing through the speakers in the room where I had my last colonoscopy," the actor said with a laugh.

Harrison Ford, 79, says the fifth "Indiana Jones" is nearing completion and will air in June 2023.

Outside the Anaheim Convention Center, thousands of "Star Wars" fans massed with lightsabers, posed for photos with their favorite robot or Jedi, and discussed the latest rumors about all those shows.

The convention is scheduled to continue through Sunday in this city south of Los Angeles.

© 2022 AFP