Daisy Ridley calls 'Star Wars: The Last Jedi' world premiere 'overwhelming'

— -- The force was in downtown Los Angeles Saturday night for the world premiere of the highly-anticipated eighth installment of the "Star Wars" franchise, "Star Wars: The Last Jedi."

Daisy Ridley, who returns to the big screen as Rey, told ABC News what it was like to be back on the carpet for her second "Star Wars" film.

"This feels just as overwhelming," she admitted before joking, "I need to sit down and ... be alone for a while."

But that was nearly impossible Saturday night as thousands of fans, reporters and photographers crammed onto the red carpet. The evening featured dozens of "Star Wars" stormtroopers and droids marching down the carpet into Shrine Auditorium, where lucky viewers -- including the star-studded cast -- would later get a chance to watch the film before it hits theaters on Dec. 15.

The evening was dedicated to Carrie Fisher, who played Leia and who died last December. "The Last Jedi" is the late actress' final onscreen performance in the franchise.

"I want to dedicate tonight to Carrie, who is up there right now flipping me the bird, saying 'Damn it Rian, don't you dare make this night a solemn tribute,'" the film's writer and director, Rian Johnson, said onstage ahead of the screening.

Before taking the stage, Johnson told ABC News that he was anticipating what audiences worldwide will think of the picture.

"I'm very proud of the movie, so I'm very confident of that. Obviously, I'm really nervous. I hope they like it," he said. "That's the whole reason that we do this, is to get people like a good 'Star Wars' movie they can enjoy, so ... I'm feeling good, overall. I know I'm really proud of it."

Star Domhnall Gleeson, who plays Gen. Armitage Hux in the film, waited until Saturday night to watch the final product with the franchise's beloved fans.

"I want to sit in with them and hear my first experience of this movie -- to hear all the gasps, to hear the laughs, to see everybody lifting their seat for the exciting moments. I want that to be my first experience of it, so I'm really happy I waited," he said.

ABC News and Lucasfilm are both part of parent company Disney.