CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO/AP) -- Tens of thousands of "Star Wars" fans from around the world are converging on McCormick Place for Star Wars Celebration.
It's a fan convention that began in association with the release of "Star Wars Episode One: The Phantom Menace" in 1999, and has taken place most years since then. The Star Wars Celebration Chicago 2019, hosted by Disney and LucasFilm, is the first Star Wars Celebration since 2017.
Guests include "Star Wars" actors like Anthony Daniels (C3P0), Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca), Billy Dee Williams (Lando Calrissian), and Hayden Christensen (Young Anakin Skywalker).
But the real stars of the convention are the fans who wear "Star Wars" costumes that would rival anything that can be produced by a LucasFilm prop shop.
Skyler DiMora of Rochester, New York came dressed as Luke Skywalker when he underwent his Jedi Training in "The Empire Strikes Back." The costume included a life-sized replica of the Jedi Master Yoda that was made out of silicone and rubber.
"I started this Yoda before I even knew that I was coming to Chicago, so I have been working on him for a long time," DiMora said.
The DiMora sisters of Rochester, NY are here in their homemade costumes. Yoda was built from scratch and it took over a year. pic.twitter.com/SJJJHcP2FH
— Rob Hart (@RobHartWBBM) April 12, 2019James Barber of Tampa, Florida came dressed as an Imperial Stormtrooper. In an era of political and social division, he says, the convention is an opportunity for everyone to get together to talk about "Star Wars."
"What happens in the next movie. How's (the upcoming web series) 'The Mandalorian' going to be? What Disney has done with the parks, and creating that environment. It's a really cool thing," Barber said.
The Tatooine High School Class of a long time ago gathers for a class picture @WBBMNewsradio pic.twitter.com/GNNXhMKYCu
— Rob Hart (@RobHartWBBM) April 12, 2019An added benefit of attending the convention on Friday? Fans received the first look at the teaser for "Star Wars Episode IX."
"Star Wars Episode IX" doesn't pick up immediately after the events of "The Last Jedi."
Director J.J. Abrams said Friday at Star Wars Celebration in Chicago that some time has gone by since the events of the last movie.
He teased that it will be an adventure that the group goes on together. Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy also reiterated that "Episode IX" will close out the newest trilogy and the 9-film Skywalker saga that began in 1977.
Bobas Fett walk into McCormick Place @WBBMNewsradio #bobafett #where pic.twitter.com/F4R8lloGIS
— Rob Hart (@RobHartWBBM) April 12, 2019The first teaser for "Star Wars: Episode IX" shows Luke Skywalker saying "no one is ever really gone."
Audiences also got to see a glimpse of the return of Billy Dee Williams' Lando Calrissian and Carrie Fisher's Leia Organa.
The trailer ends with the ominous laughter of an old but familiar villain: Emperor Palpatine from the original and prequel trilogies.
(WBBM Newsradio and The Associated Press contributed to this copy. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
