LONDON, Dec. 10, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- This week, the UK Government's GREAT Britain campaign, Disney and Lucasfilm announced a unique collaboration that celebrates the British inspiration, creativity and innovation involved in the Star Wars saga ahead of the December 17^th UK cinema release of the highly anticipated Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

A series of videos featuring British icons such as Sir Richard Branson, Jamie Oliver and Jessica Ennis-Hill will profile the incredible British talent that has made Star Wars the global phenomenon it is today, celebrating almost 40 years of GREAT British filmmaking. Each video tells the story of the nation's contribution to Star Wars through pillars such as innovation (Sir Richard Branson), inspiration to future generations (Jessica Ennis-Hill) and the legacy behind the films (Jamie Oliver).

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.

In addition The Industry Trust for IP Awareness, the UK copyright education body, is launching a Star Wars: Made GREAT in Britain 55" trailer as part of its Moments Worth Paying For campaign. The inspiring new trailer that champions UK creativity and celebrates why the big screen experience is worth paying for launches in cinemas, courtesy of the UK Cinema Association, from December 9^th 2015.

Lucasfilm President and Star Wars: The Force Awakens Producer, Kathleen Kennedy said: "Britain is the home of Star Wars. Returning to the UK and setting up at Pinewood felt like a kind of homecoming, especially with the generations of crew members who go back to the early days of the Star Wars saga. It's been wonderful to see this new generation drafting off that classic sensibility while working on these new films."

In 2013 the UK's Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne announced the production of Star Wars: The Force Awakens in the UK.  Speaking ahead of the launch of the new films, Chancellor George Osborne said: "Nearly 40 years ago British creativity brought Star Wars to the big screen and I'm delighted that British talent in front and behind the camera is set to captivate cinema audiences around the world again.

"Just as this film represents another chapter in the extraordinary star wars story - so it also represents a new chapter in British film making. I was determined that the UK would be the home of this great production, and together we fought hard to bring it here. Two years later we see the results: more jobs, skills and investment. May the force be with us." 

The Industry Trust has its own pedigree of running not only successful but impactful copyright education campaigns. Moments Worth Paying For has a proven track record for inspiring film fans to support the films and TV shows they love whilst highlighting how easy it is to enjoy an official experience by directing viewers to the UK's film and TV search engine, FindAnyFilm.com.  

Liz Bales, Chief Executive of the Industry Trust for IP Awareness, said: "Star Wars: The Force Awakens is one of the most hotly anticipated films of the year so it's a great honour to be supporting Disney and the GREAT Britain campaign. We expect the trailer to be one of the most influential to-date within the Moments Worth Paying For campaign - inspiring audiences old and new to make the right choice by paying to watch the film in the way it was meant to be seen – at the cinema."

Phil Clapp, Chief Executive at UK Cinema Association, said: "This unique collaboration is a landmark moment. Those who will have seen the original Star Wars films at the cinema will remember queues out the door for tickets. Today the anticipation of being amongst the first to enjoy Star Wars: The Force Awakens in all its glory on the big screen is just as high. The industry is responding to the demand reflected by the advanced tickets sales with a number of cinemas staying open for 24 hours with screenings throughout the night in the film's week of release."

Videos celebrating Star Wars: Made GREAT in Britain featuring Jamie Oliver, Sir Richard Branson, Jessica Ennis-Hill and more will begin launching online at www.youtube.com/StarWarsUK from Monday 7^th December.

Editor's Notes

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.  

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 by Lawrence Kasdan & J.J. Abrams and Michael Arndt. Star Wars: The Force Awakens releases in UK cinemas on December 17^th 2015

Star Wars: The Force Awakens used some truly GREAT British talent to help bring it to the big screen such as 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 INDUSTRY TRUST
The Industry Trust is the UK film, TV and video industry's consumer education body, promoting the value of copyright and creativity. Its consumer awareness programmes address the on-going challenge of film and TV copyright infringement by inspiring audiences to value great movie moments and choose to watch film, TV and video via legitimate sources. Independent tracking research by ICM revealed that those audiences exposed to the Moments Worth Paying For campaign were significantly more likely to pay for official film and TV than those not exposed to it.  The Industry Trust for IP Awareness operate FindAnyFilm.com the only site in the UK where film fans can book tickets, watch, buy, or rent  films from over 46,000 films across all formats, from cinema to DVD and Blu-ray Disc, as well as digital buy to own and rent options the UK's extensive range of legal sources.

ABOUT THE UK CINEMA ASSOCIATION
The UK Cinema Association is the trade body for UK cinema operators, representing the interests of well over 95 per cent of the market, including all of the major cinema circuits as well as many smaller mainstream and more specialised cinema sites.

SOURCE The GREAT Britain campaign