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PEOPLE & ARTS A29
Thursday 24 December 2015

‘Star Wars’ named Associated Press Entertainer of the Year

This photo provided by Disney shows, Adam Driver as Kylo Ren with his Lightsaber in a scene from the new film, “Star Wars: The chief of Gold Derby, a site
that handicaps Hollywood
Force Awakens.” “Star Wars” isn’t just strong. It’s unstoppable. The revival of the nearly 40-year-old space saga has already awards and other events.
“The Oscars owe major
dominated the box office and toy shelves. Now, it’s also been selected as The Associated Press Entertainer of the Year and is love to the ‘Star Wars’ fran-
chise. It’s one of the most
amassing support for Academy Awards consideration. (Film Frame/Disney/Copyright Lucasfilm 2015 via AP) successful and beloved
franchises in Hollywood his-
DERRIK J. LANG The initial impact of a “Star nominee, leading many “The ‘Star Wars’ franchise tory. It’s criminal that Oscar
voters have never histori-
AP Entertainment Writer Wars” resurgence first be- to have faith in “The Force is holding an IOU that it cally taken sci-fi seriously.”
While previous “Star Wars”
LOS ANGELES (AP) — “Star gan reverberating across Awakens” as a viable Os- could cash in this year,” films garnered 22 nomina-
tions and seven wins at the
Wars” isn’t just strong. It’s the pop-culture landscape car contender. said Tom O’Neil, editor-in- Academy Awards, only the
original “Star Wars” earned
a best picture nod. It lost to
“Annie Hall” in 1978. “The
Force Awakens” is already
on the academy’s short list
for a visual effects nomina-
tion with 9 other films, and
O’Neil is hopeful that it will
be among the best pic-
ture candidates when the
Oscar nominations are an-
nounced Jan. 14.q

unstoppable. in 2012 when Disney ac-

The revival of the nearly quired Lucasfilm for more
40-year-old space saga than $4 billion, plotting a
has already dominated pair of movie spin-offs and
the box office and toy a new trilogy merging vet-
shelves. Now, it’s also been erans Luke Skywalker (Mark

selected as The Associat- Hamill), Leia Organa (Car-
ed Press Entertainer of the rie Fisher) and Han Solo

Year and is amassing sup- (Harrison Ford) with new-
port for Academy Awards comers Rey (Daisy Ridley),

consideration. Finn (John Boyega) and
“Personally, it’s been three Kylo Ren (Adam Driver).
years of feeling privileged In the year leading up to
to be part of something the December release
that’s bigger than all of us,” of “The Force Awakens,”

filmmaker J.J. Abrams told Disney and Lucasfilm un-
the AP in an interview. “This leashed a barrage of “Star

accolade is very much ap- Wars” merchandise, comic
preciated and no excep- books and video games

tion to that feeling.” that fueled anticipation for
“Star Wars” won the AP’s the film.
annual Entertainer of the When the movie opened in
Year contest with a vol- theaters, “The Force Awak-
ley of votes from members ens” lit up screens — and

that would rival the fire- fans’ eyeballs — brighter

power of the First Order. than a lightsaber. With an

The sci-fi series bested astronomical $248 million
Adele, Taylor Swift and debut at the box office last

Amy Schumer as the top weekend, the newest “Star
vote getter. Others up for Wars” entry trampled over
the honor included stream- the record for biggest de-
ing services, Jon Stewart, but in North America, set
Jennifer Lawrence, Taraji earlier in the year by “Ju-

P. Henson, Viola Davis rassic World.”
and the Kardashians. Vot- “The Force Awakens” also

ers were asked to con- has won over most crit-
sider who had the most ics, despite not being

influence on entertain- screened for them ahead
ment and culture in 2015. of the film’s mammoth
“In a year full of sequels, Dec. 14 premiere in Hol-
reboots and returns, none lywood. The American
have recaptured the zeit- Film Institute selected it as

geist like ‘Star Wars: The one of its 10 best movies
Force Awakens,’” wrote of the year, and the Crit-

Nick Dutro of The Advertis- ics’ Choice Awards added

er-Tribune in Tiffin, Ohio. it as an 11th best picture