King’s Lynn cinema sells 1,000 advanced tickets for Star Wars

The Force is strong in Lynn with Star Wars fans clamouring to buy tickets nearly a month before the new move is released.

The Majestic Cinema in Lynn has sold a thousand tickets for screenings of Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

Up to 200 people have also bought tickets for a screening during the early hours of Thursday, December 17.

The film is said to take place 30 years after the fall of the Galactic Empire and features many of the original cast, including Harrison Ford.

His character Han Solo is reported to be facing a new threat from an army of Stormtroopers, led by Kylo Ren.

But many aspects of the movie, which is directed by JJ Abrams, remain under wraps.

Owner of the Tower Street cinema Paul Jervis has been delighted with the response to the movie.

He said: “It is going to be one of the busiest films of the year. We have had Spectre and Hunger Games this year.

“Advance bookings have been incredible. We have sold out for a number of performances.

“Star Wars has a hard cult following and they have waited a long time.”

The Majestic is planning to a make an event of the release, which takes up the story decades after the events of Return of the Jedi film.

Fans will be able to have their pictures taken with Stormtroppers and Wookiee Chewbacca.

General manager Tom Cundy said the midnight showing on the release date has almost sold out.

He said: “We have never sold this many tickets for a midnight showing before.

“This is an important event because of the history of the film. It is going to be exciting.

“We want the film to go well.”

The Star Wars success at The Majestic follows on from the earlier release of bonkbuster 50 Shades of Grey.

In the run-up to the release of the film on Valentine’s Day, the cinema had sold 2,500 tickets but Star Wars is hoped to exceed this.

Owner Mr Jervis said: “We are really pleased with the Majestic, it is going from strength to strength.”

He said a fresh planning application for improvements to the cinema will be submitted next year.

In 2013, West Norfolk Council approved plans for four-storey extension will see the number of screens rise from three to six, with a total of 901 seats at the Grade II listed building.