Bryan Alexander

USA TODAY

LOS ANGELES — Moments before entering Hollywood's Pantages Theatre for Saturday's world premiere of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, director Gareth Edwards drew an imaginary line on 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."

Life on the other side is looking pretty fantastic for Edwards, Luna and the rest of the Rogue One cast.

Walt Disney Studios managed to keep plot details top secret until Rogue One's unveiling. Star Wars fans, in short, went nuts.

'Rogue One' premieres to raves, relief and an X-wing

The first public Rogue One screening (the movie opens Friday, with previews Thursday night) featured spontaneous applause throughout and a massive ovation at the end. Many in the theater sat through the lengthy credits to clap again when the screen went 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 to start crying. Star Wars means everything to me."

The franchise has meant everything to its loyal fans. The seventh Star Wars movie, The Force Awakens, opened last December to raves and more than $2 billion in worldwide box office. Rogue One is the first spinoff, a stand-alone story showing Rebel forces working to steal plans for the Empire's Death Star weapon — a backstory which syncs to events leading to 1977's original Stars Wars.

Step onto the 'Rogue One' red carpet

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

The premiere shut down Hollywood Boulevard for days to make way for the covered red carpet, which included a full-size 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 said he was pleased that many of the film's major secrets were kept before the premiere. He expressed hope they would stay that way for moviegoers.

Behold the X-wing fighter parked at Hollywood's 'Rogue One' premiere

"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 everyone to have this same experience."