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Rogue One premieres to raves, relief and an actual X-Wing

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Moments before entering Hollywood's Pantages Theater for the world premiere of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, director Gareth Edwards drew an imaginary line in the red carpet in front of leading man Diego Luna.

"I told Diego that on this side of the line was our lives before Star Wars," Edwards recalled. "We're about to cross the threshold. Everything on the other side will be our lives after Star Wars. We both said 'Ready, 1-2-3' and then jumped across the line."

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Trailer: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

The Rebellion makes a risky move to steal the plans to the Death Star, setting up the epic saga to follow.

Life on the other side of the Star Wars line is looking pretty fantastic for Edwards, Luna and the rest of the Rogue One cast. After keeping the film top secret, Walt Disney Studios unveiled Rogue One Saturday night before its anticipated opening December 16.

Star Wars fans, in short, went nuts.

The first public Rogue One screening featured spontaneous applause throughout and a massive ovation when the final credits rolled. Many theatre patrons sat through the lengthy credits to applaud once again when the film went to black.

"That was the biggest relief of my life," an elated Edwards told USA Today at the Rogue One after-party. "I was nervous right up until the end. But when those credits hit, there was this primal cheer. I had to be really careful not start crying. Star Wars means everything to me."

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The franchise has meant everything to its loyal fans, especially since Star Wars: The Force Awakens opened last year to raves and more than $2 billion in worldwide box office. Rogue One is the first spin-off, a standalone story showing rebel forces working to steal the plans to the Empire's Death Star weapon -- a backstory which syncs to events leading to the first 1977 Stars Wars.

With its fresh story, Rogue One featured a cast of newcomers walking down the red carpet including Luna (as rebel Cassian Andor), Felicity Jones (as Jyn Erso), martial arts star Donnie Yen (as Chirrut Imwe) and Ben Mendelsohn (as the villain Orson Krennic).

The premiere shut down Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles from the preceding Thursday onward to make way for the covered red carpet, which included a complete X-Wing fighter planted on the street.

Reviews were instant and effusive.

Actor Rainn Wilson tweeted: "Rogue One review. It was actually AMAZING!!! Super fun & exciting."

Director Kevin Smith tweeted that the film is "unbelievably wonderful" and an "excellent chapter" in the Star Wars universe.

Comedian Dane Cook posted a picture of himself next to Darth Vader at the after-party, and wrote that Rogue One "might be the BEST Star Wars movie!!"

Edwards says he was pleased that many of the film's major secrets were kept before the premiere. He expressed a deep hope that the secrets would stay that way for viewers.

"Watching a film like this should be like watching the Super Bowl, the last thing anyone wants to know is the final score," said Edwards. "There were things tonight people were definitely not expecting. You want to keep the secrets so that everyone has this same experience." 

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