The Droid We’ve Been Looking For: Star Wars Launch New Art Project with Cast and Celebrities To Re-Design The Beloved BB-8 Droid

BRITISH CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION CELEBRATED IN BB-8 STAR WARS DESIGN PROJECT LED BY SOME OF BRITAIN’S GREATEST TALENTS

STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS CAST MEMBERS DAISY RIDLEY, JOHN BOYEGA AND MARK HAMILL TO ALL DESIGN OWN VERSIONS OF BB-8 IN SUPPORT OF STAR WARS: FORCE FOR CHANGE

SIMON PEGG, YEARS AND YEARS AND PADDY MCGUINESS ALSO AWAKEN THEIR ARTISTIC FLAIR TO CELEBRATE STAR WARS

Photo Caption: To celebrate the Blu-ray and DVD release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, BB-8 is being re-designed by celebrities and Star Wars cast members to celebrate all things Great about Britain in new art project in support of Star Wars: Force for Change and Great Ormond Street Hospital. The finished collection of BB-8s will be on display to the public in an exhibition at 46 Mortimer Street Gallery from 19-21 April.

To mark the release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens on Blu-ray and DVD, and to celebrate the creative legacy Star Wars has here in Britain, Lucasfilm and the British government’s GREAT Britain campaign are partnering to launch an exciting charity art project.

In support of Star Wars: Force for Change, an initiative that inspires people to make a positive impact on the world, Star Wars talent, British celebrities, fans and artists worldwide have been challenged to create artwork inspired by everyone’s favourite new droid, BB-8, as a representation of all that is GREAT about Britain.

A number of the creations will be put on display for a public exhibition at 46 Mortimer Street Gallery from Tuesday 19th – Thursday 21st April. The initiative will raise vital funds for Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity with a number of the designed BB-8s being auctioned off for charity via an online auction from 18th April 7pm to 20th April at 11.59pm. 100%* of the proceeds from this auction will be donated to Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity, on behalf of Force For Change.

Stars of The Force Awakens, Daisy Ridley and John Boyega, are lending their artistic talents to design their very own BB-GR8’s, along with Star Wars legacy film stalwarts Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels and Warwick Davis who have each contributed a design.

UK personalities and Star Wars fans Simon Pegg, Paddy McGuinness, band of the moment Years and Years and British Olympic sporting hero Nicola Adams have all awakened their artistic flair to get involved in the project. A huge range of artists up and down the UK, including graffiti artists, jewellers, ceramic artists, typography specialists, embroiderers and sculptors, have each worked on their re-interpretations of BB-8 using an incredible array of materials to celebrate a particular area of Great British culture including music, food, sport, art, tourism and technology.

The GREAT Britain campaign is the Government’s largest ever international campaign promoting the best of Britain. Active in 144 countries, it encourages the world to visit, study and do business with the UK with a goal of promoting jobs and growth for the UK.

STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS is released on Digital Download from 11th April 2016 and on BLU-RAY™ and DVD Monday 18 April 2016. Out. This debut for home entertainment offers new and in-depth bonus features giving fans an out of this world viewing experience.

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STAR WARS: EPISODE VII - THE FORCE AWAKENS IS AVAILABLE NOW ON DIGITAL DOWNLOAD AND DVD AND BLU-RAY ON APRIL 18

ABOUT STAR WARS AND THE GREAT CAMPAIGN
Almost 40 years ago the incredible story between Great Britain and Star Wars began with the production of Star Wars: A New Hope at Elstree Studios. The imagination, inspiration and innovation of the filmmakers included the original lightsaber design by British set decorator Roger Christian - who fashioned it from spare camera parts and collected junk, Academy Award®-winning costume designs from British-born John Mollo – the man who brought Darth Vader’s iconic look to life; and the key roles of the London Symphony Orchestra and Abbey Road - the birthplace of one the most iconic themes in the galaxy. The story continues with Star Wars: The Force Awakens, which was filmed in the UK using some truly GREAT British talent in both the production team and amongst the on screen stars including the droid-building skills of two British fans, Oliver Steeples and Lee Towersey, who were recruited to bring R2-D2 to life plus British actors Daisy Ridley, John Boyega and Gwendoline Christie who play Rey, Finn and Captain Phasma in the new film.

ABOUT STAR WARS: FORCE FOR CHANGE
Star Wars: Force for Change, a charitable initiative from Lucasfilm and Disney, harnesses the strength of Star Wars to inspire people to make a positive impact on the world around them. Born in 2014, it was inspired by Star Wars fans, and the countless hours they have dedicated to philanthropy over the past three decades. To date, Force for Change has helped raise over $10MM in support of various charitable programs around the world. With a bright future ahead, and new Star Wars stories to be told, Force for Change aims to continue collaborating with noble causes and encouraging others to be forces for change in their own community. To learn more, please visit Force For Change.

ABOUT STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS
Lucasfilm and visionary director J.J. Abrams join forces to take you back again to a galaxy far, far away as Star Wars returns to the big screen with Star Wars: The Force Awakens. The film stars Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew and Max Von Sydow. Kathleen Kennedy, J.J. Abrams and Bryan Burk are producing with Tommy Harper and Jason McGatlin serving as executive producers. The screenplay is written by Lawrence Kasdan & J.J. Abrams and Michael Arndt.

ABOUT LUCASFILM LTD
Lucasfilm Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is a global leader in film, television and digital entertainment production. In addition to its motion-picture and television production, the company's activities include visual effects and audio post-production, cutting-edge digital animation, interactive entertainment software, and the management of the global merchandising activities for its entertainment properties including the legendary STAR WARS and INDIANA JONES franchises. Lucasfilm Ltd. is headquartered in northern California.

Lucasfilm, the Lucasfilm logo, STAR WARS and related properties are trademarks and/or copyrights, in the United States and other countries, of Lucasfilm Ltd. and/or its affiliates. © & TM 2015 Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved.

ABOUT THE WALT DISNEY STUDIOS
For over 90 years, The Walt Disney Studios has been the foundation on which The Walt Disney Company was built. Today, the Studio brings quality movies, music and stage plays to consumers throughout the world. Feature films are released under the following banners: Disney, including Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios; Disneynature; Marvel Studios; Lucasfilm; and Touchstone Pictures, the banner under which live-action films from DreamWorks Studios are distributed. The Disney Music Group encompasses the Walt Disney Records and Hollywood Records labels, as well as Disney Music Publishing. The Disney Theatrical Group produces and licenses live events, including Disney on Broadway, Disney On Ice and Disney Live!.

ABOUT DISNEY’S PARTNERSHIP WITH GREAT ORMOND STREET HOSPITAL CHILDREN’S CHARITY
In 2008, Disney announced its partnership with Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity, and this year celebrated reaching its target of raising £10 million towards the hospital’s redevelopment appeal Disney employees worked together to reach this target by taking part in a wide range of creative fundraising activities – from hosting raffles and auctions to rowing, running, walking and trekking and cycling over 9,000 miles in support of the hospital.Disney funded the play area in the new Morgan Stanley Clinical Building, which offers patients and their families somewhere vibrant and fun to socialise, play and relax.

Disney has also brought a smile to the faces of thousands of patients and families through special visits and Disney experiences both within and outside the hospital. Patients and their families have attended film premieres and been treated to shopping trips in Disney Stores, and Disney stars and characters have visited children at the hospital.Since reaching the £10 million fundraising target, Disney continues to work in partnership with the charity to deliver memorable activities and events for Great Ormond Street Hospital patients and families and to create a Disney Garden for families and visitors to enjoy, due to open in 2017.

About GREAT
The GREAT Britain campaign is the Government’s largest ever international campaign promoting the best of Britain. Active in 144 countries, it encourages the world to visit, study and do business with the UK with a goal of promoting jobs and growth for the UK.