Following the Force: Star Wars then and now

Die-hard fans are so eager to be among the first to see "The Force Awakens," the latest movie in the "Star Wars" series, that when cinemas started selling advance tickets this week, they crashed under the huge demand - yet the film only hits the screens on December 18. The new film will feature several members of the original cast: Han Solo, Princess Leia and Luke Skywalker.

Lucasfilm revealed over a year ago that Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill would once again depict the characters they played in the first 1977 "Star Wars" film (later retitled "Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope"). This photo shows them with the mastermind behind the saga, George Lucas (second from the left). The three stars are now 71, 57 and 62 years old, respectively.

John Boyega (pictured here) will be among the younger actors who'll star in the seventh episode of the epic space saga, along with Daisy Ridley: The two British actors are 23 years old. Other actors in the cast are Adam Driver ("Lincoln"), Oscar Isaac ("Inside Llewyn Davis"), Andy Serkis ("Lord of the Rings"), Domhnall Gleeson ("Harry Potter") and 85-year-old Max von Sydow.

While waiting for the new film to come out, fans have found ways to celebrate the characters of the franchise every year. Star Wars Day is on May the Fourth, a date chosen for the easy pun on the legendary catchphrase "May the Force be with you."

Filmmaker George Lucas is the creator of this modern fairy tale set in a sci-fi world. He scripted and directed four "Star Wars" movies. Here he's pictured talking with actor Anthony Daniels, wearing C-3PO's golden costume, on the set of "Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope" (1977).

The struggle between democratically oriented and tyrannical forces is central to "Return of the Jedi" (1983). The franchise made George Lucas a billionaire. Beyond the movies, a galaxy of "Star Wars" merchandise, costumes and toys, has been collected by fans for decades. The billions of dollars will certainly keep on rolling in with the release of the first film of the third trilogy.

The extreme success of the "Star Wars" films had a strong impact on Mark Hamill's acting career. He became a monument through his depiction of Commander Luke Skywalker, trained by Master Yoda to become a Jedi in "The Empire Strikes Back" (1980). It was, however, difficult for him to star in other films afterwards, since the public so strongly associated him with Luke Skywalker.

George Lucas returned to the director's seat for "Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace" (1999), the first film of the prequel trilogy. In the chronology of the story, this episode takes place before the first three films and explains why the Jedi Anakin Skywalker, who had been trained by Obi-Wan Kenobi, switched to the dark side of the Force and became Darth Vader.

Just like the quote "May the Force be with you," a "Star Wars" film wouldn't be complete without a spectacular light-saber duel. Jedi and Sith also fight with the legendary shot-deflecting futuristic weapon in "Episode II: Attack of the Clones" (2002). Pictured here are Ewan McGregor as Obi-Wan Kenobi and Hayden Christensen as Anakin Skywalker.

The struggle for power in the space Empire presumably continues in "Episode VII: The Force Awakens," directed by J.J. Adams. Although the details of the plot are kept secret, two trailers were released already. They hint at some of the challenges the lead characters will face. The story takes place 30 years after the events depicted in "Episode VI: Return of the Jedi" (1983).