Like most die-hard Star Wars fans, Ryan Miorelli will be watching when the latest film in the series, “The Force Awakens,” premieres this weekend.

But earlier this week Miorelli, a 2010 Tamaqua Area High School graduate, had an experience that few fans could ever imagine — walking the red carpet dressed as a Rebel pilot, and watching the movie alongside the people who made it at the official premiere in Hollywood.“The only thing cooler than seeing a new Star Wars movie four days early would have to be seeing it with everyone who made it come to life,” he said.Miorelli now calls Los Angeles home. He is an aspiring writer-director, and in his spare time makes appearances with the “Rebel Legion,” one-half of a national organization of superfans who dress up in screen-accurate costumes depicting the series’ “good guys” for charitable appearances. Naturally, the other half dresses up as Imperial Stormtroopers.So on Monday, as the stars of the new and original series crossed the red carpet, Miorelli and members of the Southern California chapter of the Legion were lined up in their full uniforms.“Absolutely the biggest red carpet I have ever been on ... Fans on Hollywood Boulevard went absolutely crazy for us, but it was nothing compared to the energy of the actual red carpet premiere,” Miorelli said.Miorelli said he heard that their presence was requested by none other than legendary Hollywood producer Kathleen Kennedy.There was one catch though — they had to assemble uniforms to match the ones in the new movie. Thirty-eight years since the premiere, it was natural that they would be updated. The Legion scoured the trailers for the new film, as well as Star Wars costume museum exhibits, to assemble their gear.It was worth it.Pictures of the red carpet were broadcast across the country and world, with Miorelli and friends in the background of nearly every one.The pilots brushed elbows with actors like Anthony Daniels (C-3PO) and Oscar Isaac and Greg Gurnberg, who are actually Rebel pilots in the movie.But they all paled in comparison with having the opportunity to meet the man tasked with bringing the series back to the screen. Miorelli said he got to chat with J.J. Abrams briefly about the film, and Gonk droids, a very minor, but humorous character in the series that has captured the imagination of Star Wars die-hards like Miorelli and Abrams.“I do look up to Abrams because he’s living the dream. He saw ‘Star Wars’ as a kid and managed to tell a Star Wars story of his own, which is exactly where I would like to end up one day,” Miorelli said.After the red carpet, they changed into street clothes inside the dressing rooms of the El Capitan Theatre and sat front-row at the adjacent Dolby Theater for the premiere.“The cast, crew, Lucas, Spielberg, and more saw the film and J.J. Abrams and the whole cast and production team gave speeches right in front of us,” he said.Despite all the fanfare, Miorelli said that he became fully engrossed in the movie. Without giving any spoilers, he said he’ll certainly be back to see the movie again when he returns to Tamaqua for the holidays — most likely with his mom, Cathy, the woman he credits with introducing him to “the ways of the force.”“The movie was actually so immersive and spectacular that I forgot where I was and who I was with and was transported back a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away until the credits rolled and Max von Sydow walked right in front of me, but of course I’ll be seeing it several more times!”The movie opens tonight at Mahoning Valley Cinema and other area theaters.