Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens: In Theaters NOW!! (NO OPEN SPOILERS, OTHERWISE BAN HAMMER)

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[h=1]‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ TIE Fighter Design Revealed?[/h]

 

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[h=1]‘Star Wars 7′ Casts ‘Raid 2′ Stars; Hint at Film’s Action Style?[/h]

All eyes are on Star Wars: The Force Awakensin 2015; the film was both our most anticipated of the year, as well as the film that fans voted their most anticipated. Director J.J. Abrams has no small challenge ahead of him, closing rifts within the fanbase created by George Lucas’ prequels, while also having to attract a new generation to the property and launch a shared universe, to boot. The Star Wars 7 teaser trailer certainly got the ball rolling, depicting mysterious new characters and an elaborate new lightsaber design that has had the zeitgeist buzzing ever since.


As Abrams and company continue the process of post-production work on the movie, we have a curious bit of late casting news – casting that could speak to the style of action Abrams is bringing to the Star Wars universe.


The Wrap reports that Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens has added three actors from The Raid 2 to the cast: stars of the franchise Iko Uwais (hero cop, Rama) and Yayan Ruhian (Mad Dog from pt. 1 and Prakoso from pt. 2), along with Cecep Arif Rahman, who played the blade-wielding “assassin” sub-boss in pt. 2. In other words: some of the best martial arts stunt choreographers working in the business right now.

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The same report mentions that a fourth (unnamed) actor from The Raid franchise is also in the film, and that **POSSIBLE SPOILER** one of the martial artists will die onscreen. Beyond that, we know little about their role in the film – such as whether they are playing actual characters (heroes? Villains? Assassins?); handling stunt work for some of the existing characters; or some combination of both.


The one question this does raise, however, is: What style of action is J.J. Abrams going for in The Force Awakens?

Image Source: DeviantART​

I’ve debated it at length on our SRUnderground podcast since Star Wars VII was first announced: One thing that made the OT so strong (in my opinion) were dueling scenes which were packed with dramatic dialogue and character development, rather than superhero acrobatics.


By the time the prequels arrived (like the Episode I Darth-Maul final fight – or the Yoda fights in Episodes II and III) it was clear Lucas was more concerned with pushing into the “wire-fu” style of combat that had come into vogue with late ’90s/early ’00s Asian movie crossovers. While they were visually impressive moments, those battles (some of the most important in the saga) ultimately felt more hollow than the less technically-advanced duels of the OT.

Image Source: DeviantART​

Which brings us to the point: Hopefully, Abrams and Co. can give Episode VII the necessary substance it needs so that the epic battle sequences – some of them apparently involving some of the best onscreen martial artists of the last ten years – actually have legitimate impact and depth.


As for the actual casting news: it’s pretty awesome, as it’s a clear sign that people have noticed what director Gareth Evans, Iko Uwais, Yayan Ruhian and the entire Indonesian team (and community) behind The Raid franchise have done. Pencak Silat (an Indonesian martial art) is coming to a galaxy far, far away.


Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakenswill be in theaters on December 18, 2015.
Source: The Wrap

 

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[h=1]‘Star Wars 7′ Trailer #2 Arriving with ‘Avengers 2′, Will Include OT Characters[/h]

Walt Disney Pictures and Lucasfilm premiered the first teaser trailer for director J.J. Abrams’ Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens back in November of 2014. Several actors who starred in the original Star Wars film trilogy (released from 1977-83) will show up in Abrams’ movie, but for the first teaser the focus was put squarely on new additions to the franchise – characters played by John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, and Oscar Isaac, to be exact.


The second Force Awakens trailer, however, will reportedly change that, and include footage of Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, and Harrison Ford reprising their beloved roles as (respectively) Leia Organa/Skywalker, Luke Skywalker, and Han Solo. It’s also possible such fan-favorites as C-3PO (Anthony Daniels), Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew), and R2-D2 (Kenny Baker) will pop up in the trailer, in turn marking their first canon onscreen appearance as the characters since Return of the Jedi over thirty years ago


Latino Review is the site behind this news, and has also confirmed (via a reliable source) that, as many have suspected, the second Force Awakens teaser will be attached to the Disney-backed Marvel Studios sequel Avengers: Age of Ultron this upcoming May… in the U.S., that is. Those filmgoers across the pond may well get to see the second Force Awakens trailer on the big screen first (since Age of Ultron opens in countries like Australia in late April) – after the teaser drops online for everyone to watch, no doubt.

John Boyega as Finn in ‘Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens’



The inclusion of characters such as Luke, Leia, and Han in the next Force Awakens teaser will most certainly pluck the nostalgia heartstrings of many a longtime Star Wars fan, who’s been eager to actually see the characters brought back to life by the OT cast members who helped create them. Beyond that, of course, once we actually get a glimpse of what these citizens of a galaxy far, far away are like (and what they’re doing now), it’ll give us a better idea of which rumors circulating Abrams’ film are – and are not – in fact accurate.


What brief amount of footage was included in the initial Force Awakens teaser indicated that there’s at least some truth to the rumored storyline that Abrams and his co-screenwriter, Lawrence Kasdan (The Empire Strikes Back), have cooked up for the movie (read: our breakdown of the rumored narrative). And, as we’ve mentioned before, the unofficial plot for the film sounds pretty good right now; not just in terms of how it transitions the franchise from one set of characters to another, but also its potential tone and themes.

So, all in all, this is another piece of encouraging news for Star Wars fans, who’re eagerly anticipating the return trip to that cinematic universe on the big screen.


And with such talents as filmmaker Rian Johnson (Looper) currently onboard as the writer/director for Star Wars: Episode VIII – while rumor has it screenwriter Simon Kinberg (X-Men: Days of Future Past) is revising the script for the first Star Wars spinoff, which has Gareth Edwards (Godzilla) directing – the future is looking bright for this iconic franchise. So, here’s to hoping what we see in the next Force Awakens trailer doesn’t change that outlook.


Source: Latino Review

 

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[h=1]‘Star Wars’: Mark Hamill on the Difference Between the Old & New Films[/h]

It’s been 38 years since the first Star Wars film graced our movie screens, and in that time the popularity of the franchise has reached astronomical levels with countless books, graphic novels, video games and television series. The success even pushed creator George Lucas to return after almost two decades away to release a new prequel trilogy, extending his vision beyond the original three films.


But now times are changing and the first Star Wars film without Lucas’ influence is set to release in theaters this December. Star Wars: The Force Awakens has been shrouded in secrecy since its announcement, as fans have speculated and tried in vain to uncover the plot. Lucas recently went on record to say that he hasn’t seen anything beyond the teaser, and so a new era really has begun.


In fact, returning star Mark Hamill says he’s surprised by just how much has changed since Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. Speaking at a screening for Kingsman: The Secret Service, the man who will always be Luke Skywalker told fans:

“The most interesting aspect from my point of view is that ['Star Wars'] is now in the hands of the generation who were fans. It’s the next generation of filmmakers who were sort of weened on these pictures.”


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Hamill makes an interesting point because Star Wars Episode VII director J.J. Abrams has stated he was initially reluctant to take on the project for that exact reason, preferring to be a fan “rather than being involved in the minutiae of making them.” He of course later accepted, but only after weeks of discussions with Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy. This December we’ll at last get to see just how a fan of the series compares with the creator himself.

But who’s directing is not the only change Hamill witnessed while on set for Star Wars Episode VII. As the franchise’s popularity has increased, so has the technology used to try and get a glimpse behind-the-scenes. Hamill also revealed:

“It’s a whole different era now. When we made the original films, you had the odd reporter hanging around the studio bribing people to give them stories. Now, I said to them, ‘Do I really have to wear this robe and this hood that covers my entire head to go from the trailer to the soundstage?’ They said, ‘Yeah, there’s drones.’ Seriously! There’s drones flying over the studio trying to get pictures of whatever they can get pictures of.”


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We know all too well the lengths people will go to just to get the next Star Wars scoop. It seems like every week there’s a new rumor or leaked information about costumes, concept art or characters. And when the movie was still filming, photos from these drones revealed not only settings but also spaceships and cast members. With many more Star Wars films to go, we probably haven’t seen the last of the media circus.


What do you think about the franchise now being in the hands of the fans? Will they do as good of a job as Lucas?


Star Wars: Episode VII releases in theaters on December 18, 2015.


Source: ComicBookMovie (via ComingSoon)
Follow Araceli Roach on Twitter @ara_celi

 

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[h=1]‘Star Wars 7′: New Main Character Details Revealed?[/h]

Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakenshas made it through production maintaining a shroud of secrecy so thick that not even series creator George Lucas knows what Disney and J.J. Abrams have planned for the new installment. Of course secrecy hasn’t stopped rumors from spreading, and those rumors have painted an interesting picture of what The Force Awakens storyline is all about.
The Star Wars 7 Trailer lent a lot of credit to what Internet rumors had been saying for months; today, more rumors about the Episode VII plotline and characters seem to fall in line with what we heard before – albeit with a few tweaks. Needless to say, if you don’t want to be SPOILED, stop reading here.


Making Star Wars has dropped a slew of new story rumors regarding the major characters of Star Wars 7. For those who need a refresher (or to be informed), here’s what we know about our major players:
[h=2]The Characters[/h]

Finn

• John Boyega is playing Finn, a guy gone AWOL from the Empire.
• Daisy Ridley is playing Rey, a salvager on Tattooine who may or may not be Han and Leia’s daughter.
• Oscar Isaac is playing Poe Dameron, an Alliance pilot.
• The soccer ball droid is called BB-8 and he belongs to Rey.
• The cross guard lightsaber-wielding darkside character is named Kylo Ren. (presumed to be Adam Driver’s character).
• The Original trilogy characters – Luke, Han, Leia and Chewbacca are all back.
• Game of Thrones‘ Gwendoline Christie is rumored to be an elite shock trooper commander pursuing Finn for defecting.

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[h=2]Rumored Character Storylines[/h]

Here’s what Making Star Wars has to say about these characters :

• The implication is that basically Rey and Luke go into hiding at exactly the same time for the same reason. She is the daughter of Han and Leia and she’s tasked with protecting a lightsaber that can open a proverbial Pandora’s Box of evil. Artifacts being sought after by Kylo Ren are collected because they’re trying to figure out which artifact will open the tomb. Luke Skywalker is guarding the tomb and being tormented by evil spirits that appears half crazed from the duty he’s been on.
• Domhnall Gleeson was a rebel for many years and he’s the son of “a huge character.” But he defected to the Empire when he learned that the Rebels had constructed a super weapon in secret. With less than honorable people in the Rebel Alliance now, Gleeson’s character is tasked with hunting Finn while also on a secret mission to destroy both super weapons of the Empire and the Rebels.
• Gwendoline Christie is his lead shock trooper. She’s a chrome trooper with black and red cape that is hunting Finn. She uses a lightsaber, is arrogant, demeaning, and kills indiscriminately. Her face is heavily scarred and she has a military haircut. Yes, the ability to cloak herself did come up and it supposedly is used twice in the movie.

• Luke is in hiding during much of The Force Awakens. He has put himself in a self imposed exile and is protecting an ancient Sith tomb from being opened by the main bad guy, Kylo Ren.
• It is true that a simple lightsaber leads the trio to Han but what isn’t mentioned is that Han is extremely reluctant to allow his daughter to be part of this plan.
• This source believes Rey is Han Solo’s daughter. Over the course of the film we learn she is in love with Poe and Han Solo does not approve. There is a scene which shows Finn trying to shoot a blaster and he is awful – it’s a little in-joke about how inept Stormtroopers were in the Original Trilogy.
• They say that Finn’s family was murdered by The Empire and he was forced into recruitment along with his best friend. His best friend is killed in the opening sequence of the film in front of Finn. This role is rumored to be played by Pip Andersen. It is shortly after this scene that he meets his likely next best friend for life, Poe.

Poe

• Finn and Poe end up in an imperial brig after being caught.
• Finn instantly dislikes Poe. But being in the brig they concoct a plan to steal a TIE Fighter. Meanwhile Rey fast-talks a guard and steals his keycard to break them out.
• Finn and company steal an advanced TIE and unfortunately it crashes, injuring Finn.
• There is a scene in the bar where Finn uses a lightsaber to deflect laser blasts at him and Rey says she thinks Finn has found his calling.
• They also note that Finn is a total pacifist. He doesn’t fight those that killed his family but this is the pathway to Finn being able to defend the people he loves.

Rey

• Max von Sydow: A former Rebel Alliance veteran now dealing in antiquities – very much like a SW version of Brody from Indiana Jones. It turns out that Rey has a lightsaber which holds information vital to the rebellion and this is hidden inside BB-8.
• The old guy reveals to Rey that the crystal in the lightsaber they are holding has the ability to open the tomb Luke is guarding. If accurate, this could explain why the lightsaber is so important and why our heroes only have one while on the sand planet in the depictions I’ve seen.
• Rey’s last name: Her real name is revealed through Han Solo much to the surprise of Finn and Poe.

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[h=2]Previous Rumors[/h]

Now, here’s what we previously heard about the storyline for Episode VII:

• The setup is a dark future 30 years after Return of the Jedi. Things have not been easy, as The Empire has not simply rolled over and died with the defeat of the Emperor. It’s been a long haul fight for both sides.
• The story starts with John Boyega as a stormtrooper (or stormtrooper type) who is shot down on over a desert planet (which may or may not be Tattooine). There he encounters Daisy Ridley’s character, who helps heal and protect him, thereby starting his transition to the good side.
• After encountering a severed hand holding a lightsaber, Ridley and Boyega try to return it (either out of duty or for profit).
• Ridley’s character is said to be a street-smart salvager working for Max von Sydow’s old demented cyborg character. She brings him the lightsaber for info – but he may be an old member of the Jedi-hunting Inquisitors, who are connected to the Sith.
• Ridley and Boyega’s quest ultimately leads them to Han Solo and Chewbacca, who recognize the lightsaber as Luke Skywalker’s.

• With the kids in tow, Han and Chewy set off to find Luke, who has supposedly been missing since the events of Episode VI (or sometime thereafter).
• When they find Luke Skywalker, he may be half-crazy living in self-imposed exile (Obi-Wan style). As a Master Jedi, Luke is allegedly paranoid about the power he wields and falling to evil like his father. Seeing Ridley and Boyega’s Force potential helps pull him back to serving the side of good.
• Luke reveals to Ridley and Boyega that the Inquisitors – who are indeed actively hunting down any Jedi Masters or Jedi-in-training when Episode VII takes place – are very much connected to the Sith. (The first Inquisitor was just introduced in the Star Wars Rebels cartoon series.)
• This prompts a flashback, showing Darth Vader recruiting the very first Inquisitors. That sequence could also (somehow) incorporate a very young Leia, who rumor has it will be played by Carrie Fisher’s biological daughter Billie Lourd.
• At some point, Boyega’s former boss/commanding officer (Gwendoline Christie) catches up to the young heroes and reveals her own connection to the Force – possibly being a member of the Inquisitor organization, whose ranks may also include Kylo Ren.
• Concept art reveals what may be Ridley and Boyega eventually having a showdown on an ice planet with cybernetic villain Kylo Ren.

Of course this has ALL BEEN RUMOR, technically. However, with so many rumors from different sources, all converging on the same ideas of characters and storyline? It’s hard to see so much smoke and not believe there is fire behind it.
As laid out above, the Star Wars 7 story is a natural extension of the series; weaves in strong ties to the larger Star Wars shared universe that now includes the Rebels animated series and the upcoming spinoff film; and has relevant parallels to real-world socio-political realities.
That’s all to say: we’re still optimistic that this story layout could result in a truly enjoyable and interesting Star Wars movie.
Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens will be in theaters on December 18, 2015.

 

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[h=1]Mark Hamill Hints That ‘Star Wars 7′ Is More About the New Characters[/h]

As you probably know by now, Star Wars is coming back to the multiplex this year in the way of J.J. Abrams’ The Force Awakens, the seventh episode in the space opera series started by George Lucas in 1977. Ever since Disney bought Lucasfilm a few years back and announced the project, fans have been excited about the possibilities a return trip to the galaxy far, far away presents, and the response to the movie’s teaser trailer showed just how enthused everyone is.


One aspect of The Force Awakens that has many interested is that the project marks the return of Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, and Carrie Fisher to the franchise, as the trio will be reprising their iconic roles of Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Princess Leia, respectively. Getting another chance to see the beloved characters after all these decades is just one item on the long list of reasons Episode VII is one of the event films of the year, but how much of the old gang will we be seeing? According to Hamill, it might not be all that much.


While speaking with the LA Times to promote Kingsman: The Secret Service, Hamill was asked about his role in the upcoming Star Wars film. The actor said that while his participation in the project is important for the series moving forward, the days of him being the primary focus are seemingly over:

“I would have been completely okay with it not including us, but I do think having the original cast members there gives it a sense of continuity and scope. But mind you, it’s really about the new generation, it’s not about us.”


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The teaser provided fans with several elements to speculate and theorize over, but – save for a money shot cameo by the Millennium Falcon – the preview was conspicuously void of any ties to the original trilogy, even though Force Awakens is basically a sequel to Return of the Jedi. That marketing decision by the Mouse House makes all the more sense when Hamill’s quote is taken into account, as the studio is making an attempt to familiarize moviegoers with the new blood prior to its release.

And honestly, this shouldn’t come as a major surprise to anyone. Recent plot rumors provided some strong hints that characters such as Finn (John Boyega), Rey (Daisy Ridley), and Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) would be placed front and center during the movie’s narrative, laying down a foundation for the remaining two installments of the sequel trilogy. After all, Luke, Han, Leia and their friends had their moment in the spotlight and all got complete character arcs, so relegating them to supporting status may be best for the series creatively.


Regardless of how much screen time the established characters receive, there are legions of moviegoers who nevertheless are fervently awaiting The Force Awakens‘ arrival this December, clamoring for any new information about the film or wishing they could fast forward time and get to the premiere because they can’t wait any longer. Hamill is no doubt appreciative of the support the Star Wars fans have given him, but he does wish that they would slow down and smell the roses:

“Believe me, it will be here before you know it. Forget about it – that’s my advice. Look forward to all the summer movies. I’m telling you, it’s just a movie. These people that build it up in their minds like it’s going to be the second coming of, I don’t know what — they’re bound to be disappointed.”


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Justifiably, the new Star Wars flick is at the top of many’s most-anticipated lists (including ours), but there is a lot of truth to what Hamill is saying.


Episode VII is far from the only movie being released in 2015 worth getting excited about. The summer movie season is chock-full of intriguing projects ranging from major superhero sequels (Avengers: Age of Ultron) to more mysterious works (Tomorrowland); tampering expectations for just how great the new episode can be may be beneficial for all of us. If we live by the wise Jedi Master’s words, that interminable wait to December will fly by, and hopefully we can just enjoy an entertaining Star Wars movie.


Star Wars: The Force Awakens will be in theaters December 18.
Source: LA Times

 

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[h=1]‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’: J.J. Abrams Says Some Rumors are True[/h]

J.J. Abrams is a director known for his infamous mystery box, where he tries to keep the deepest secrets of whatever film he’s working on under lock and key until the final product is ready for its theatrical premiere. During principal photography for his latest feature, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, he was able to shoot the film without too much coming out; but as he progresses through post, more and more rumors pertaining to the film are coming out – some of which can be considered major spoilers.


Well before Episode VII started rolling the cameras, Disney was aware that this could be an issue, as Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy remarked that the information age in which we live in makes it difficult for a film as anticipated as Force Awakens to be completed under cover of darkness. We’ll have to wait until December to see what’s truth and what’s fiction, but Abrams has confirmed that some of the theories being tossed around are valid.

While the filmmaker was hosting the Irish Oscar Wilde awards (where Force Awakens star Carrie Fisher was being honored), he took the time to speak about how the new Star Wars film is coming along with BBC News. One of the subjects he touched on was the recent leaks of pertinent information regarding the core narrative. If Abrams is to be believed, we haven’t gotten the full story just yet:

“We did the best we can to preserve the story for the audience, but it doesn’t always work. There are a ton of rumors – some true, some false. But I’m grateful for everyone who would want to read a spoiler because it means that they care and want to see the movie.”


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John Boyega as Finn in ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’

Obviously, Abrams wouldn’t specify which rumors were true, but his words are encouraging to those who have been following the development of The Force Awakens. It’s true that he could just be trying to throw audiences a curveball with his “some false” comment (in an effort to throw them off the spoiler trail), but it seems more likely he is telling the truth here. That would be all for the better, as it will leave some surprises left to be revealed for when we actually sit down to see the movie.


The teaser trailer for Episode VII seemingly verified a few of the rumors that have been circulating the web (i.e. John Boyega’s Finn is an AWOL stormtrooper), but it’s important to keep in mind that the brief preview is really all we’ve seen from the studio since the project was announced. Any huge tentpole in the vein of a Star Wars film is going to be subject to a plethora of unverifiable speculatory reports (remember “Bryan Cranston is Lex Luthor?”), so no matter how strong any fresh rumors seem, you should still keep those grains of salt handy unless the source is the studio itself.



Abrams mentioning that he is “grateful” for anyone who would seek out potential plot spoilers is a fascinating one, since Abrams is one who values the experience of being wowed by a movie the first time you see it. Knowing the important story beats ahead of time could negatively impact one’s viewing experience, but when it’s something as big as The Force Awakens, there are going to be legions of fans eager to find out what happens – an illustration of just how passionate people are about these types of films (even if they’d be better served staying in the dark).


With word that Abrams and Kennedy will be kicking off this year’s Star Wars Celebration in April, many have pointed to this event being the site for the debut of the second Force Awakens trailer. While we don’t expect the new clip to spell everything out, it will hopefully establish a framework for the film’s main storyline and help us get a better idea of which rumors are true and which are false. No matter what we hear between now and then, the movie will be here before you know it.


Star Wars: The Force Awakens will hit theaters December 18.
Source: BBC News

 

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[h=1]‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ Rumors: Flashback Sequence & Luke’s Role[/h]

[WARNING: This post contains POSSIBLE SPOILERS for Star Wars: The Force Awakens]-​

As J.J. Abrams works on putting his Star Wars: The Force Awakens together ahead of its December 2015 release date, more and more plot rumors have been popping up. Whether they’re covering smaller details like relations between characters or major spoilers like people’s fates, it seems that anything we want to learn about the new film is available for us to see.Abrams attempted to throw some water on this spreading wildfire by stating that some of these reports aren’t true (though he admitted some are), so we’ll just have to wait and see what becomes of this latest batch. Meanwhile, fans will have more things to speculate about as they anticipate the return trip to the galaxy, far, far away.

Making Star Wars (the ultimate source for Force Awakens rumors) is back with word on the size of Luke Skywalker’s role in the film. Even if you believe what Abrams said earlier and want to think that these reports aren’t true, we still caution those who are interested in going into the film fresh to stop reading beyond this point.​

FINAL SPOILER WARNING!-----​

Robert Boulter in ‘Donkey Punch’

According to Making Star Wars, actor Robert Boulter has joined the cast to portray a young Luke Skywalker in a flashback sequence. Previous unconfirmed reports hinted that this narrative trick would be part of Force Awakens, with rumors circulating about a Darth Vader cameo and a young Princess Leia appearance (though we’ve heard nothing on those developments since). Regardless, this particular flashback seems a little more valid, as it plays into earlier rumors that have come out (including the film’s opening sequence).The flashback will take place in a location known as “Rose’s pub.” Rose is believed to be the character played by Lupita Nyong’o and is someone who could be a Jedi (given what she’s capable of). Making Star Wars‘ sources claim that she is a puppet in the vein of Yoda, but it is difficult to say for certain if that’s the case.In the scene, Han, Finn (John Boyega) and Rey (Daisy Ridley) visit Rose at her establishment and the four hold hands as Rose tells them her story. This triggers a flashback sequence which is detailed below. Scenes are presented in chronological order according to Making Star Wars:​

• Dead bodies lay on the floor of a Jedi Academy. Luke shows up, sees what has happened, and departs.
• R2-D2 is sad because he is not accompanying his master on the trip.
• In the savannah environment from the opening sequence, the hand that took the lightsaber is revealed to be Naka’s.
• In the savannah location, a peasant drops the lightsaber, starts a fire, and panics.
• A local trader is seen leaving the desert and makes a sale to a wealthy man.
• At night in an undisclosed location, there is a “fierce battle” between two groups known as the Clan and the Seven. The Clan is using the lightsaber against their enemies.
• Once the last man is down, we see Kylo Ren (the cross guard lightsaber-wielding villain) approach Rey.
• Finally, the Seven are seen looting in search of an object, as Rose is shown in the foreground with the lightsaber.

Daisy Ridley as Rey in ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’

It then cuts back to the present day, where Rose presents the lightsaber to Rey and Finn. The former is revolted by its presence and flees the scene, while the latter is attracted to its power. Rose notes that she now knows why the lightsaber “came to her” (referring to Rey). Kylo Ren arrives with stormtroopers to attack the pub, and Rose defeats them using her abilities.


Without context, this flashback could be exceptionally confusing to those trying to make sense of it. At first glance, it appears that post-Return of the Jedi, Luke started a new Jedi Academy and is in the process of training apprentices. It is at this Academy where an object of great importance is held (recall the plot point of Kylo Ren looking for artifacts that can open an ancient Sith tomb), which is why the Seven arrive to loot the place in search of it. It is unknown if Kylo betrayed the new Jedi Order (is that the Clan?), but it’s a distinct possibility given what we know about his motives.

Kylo Ren

Another question that some will have is how Rose is in possession of the lightsaber when the opening sequence (in which the soccer ball droid BB-8 brings it to Rey) seems to revolve around it. It’s possible that both the lightsaber from the opening and Rose’s sword are different items (i.e., the tomb needs multiple objects to open it) or that there was misinformation in the prior report (remember Abrams’ comments).
It’s also becoming increasingly likely that what we’ve heard about Luke is true. For a long time, it has been speculated that the old Jedi Master has gone AWOL, choosing to spend his days guarding the Sith tomb so that it can never be opened. If he saw that evildoers in the galaxy were so desperate to acquire its contents that they would kill, it’s very plausible that he would leave his friends behind to protect the tomb.
If Luke is in isolation, another thing on fans’ minds will be how exactly he plays into the proceedings. A big reason so many are excited for The Force Awakens is because it marks the return of the original trilogy actors in their iconic roles. However, those expecting to see Mark Hamill get a lot of screen time are bound to be disappointed by the other rumor from Making Star Wars, which states that he is barely in the film.

Apparently, Luke will not show up until the final moments of the movie, where Rey, Chewbacca, and BB-8 fly the Millennium Falcon to a faraway planet so that Rey can return the lightsaber to Luke, who is being saved for a more substantial part in Episode VIII.
Hamill was on set throughout last summer for the film, so many will cry foul upon reading this. That said, the actor did mention that Force Awakens is more about the new characters, so there could be some truth to the report. In all the scene breakdowns we’ve heard about, Luke is absent from them all (excluding this one), meaning he may not have a large role in the new film at all.


As fans struggle to try to piece everything together, they can take solace in the belief that we will be getting some clarity shortly. In just a couple of months, Abrams will be kicking off Star Wars Celebration 2015, where it is thought he will debut a new trailer for the movie. Hopefully, that will clear some things up, and we can talk about what officially released footage means instead of an endless stream of rumors.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens will be in theaters December 18.


Source: Making Star Wars [1], [2], [3]
Header Image from AnthonyFoti @ DeviantArt

 

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[h=1]‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’: Rumored Villain Details Emerge[/h]

[WARNING: This post contains POSSIBLE SPOILERS for Star Wars: The Force Awakens.]-​

With the reveal that the second Star Wars: The Force Awakens trailer is right around the corner, fans are hoping for some clarity on the events of the seventh installment in the saga. Over the past few months, the rumor mill for J.J. Abrams’ new film has been running at full force, as speculation on everything from possible flashback sequences to opening scene details to main character details have gone public for moviegoers to theorize over. Even if Abrams says some of the information out there isn’t true, it hasn’t stopped viewers from having endless discussions.
But even with the endless stream of rumors coming out, there are still plenty of aspects of Episode VII we don’t have a clear idea about. For example, let’s look at the film’s villains. We know that Kylo Ren (the cross guard lightsaber wielder from the teaser) is looking like he’s the big bad, but he’s hardly working alone, and details about his allies have been scarce. Now, thanks to another batch of rumors, we may have a clearer picture on the new evildoers in the galaxy far, far away.


Making Star Wars (the premiere source for Force Awakens rumors, it seems) is back at it with their fresh report. Even though this can be classified as a RUMOR (and should be taken with a grain of salt), those wishing to avoid any and all information about the new Star Wars film should stop reading now.

FINAL SPOILER WARNING!!-----​

According to Making Star Wars‘ sources, the movie will feature three new villains. The aforementioned Kylo Ren is called the main villain, and will have the most screen time out of the trio. Andy Serkis (whose voice was heard in the teaser) is portraying a character referred to as “Uber.” He will be in about three scenes total. Gwendoline Christie’s Captain Phasma is described by them as a “Boba Fett type” meaning that she will look cool, but not have much to do in Force Awakens. Allegedly, she is just being introduced and will have her role expanded in Episode VIII.



In all honesty, this shouldn’t come as a great shock to any Star Wars fan. The new movie will have its hands full setting up a new group of protagonists to follow, while catching us up with some old friends. Any Star Wars film is going to need evil, but it’s hard to see Abrams dedicating too much time to the villains now. In a way, this is similar to the original trilogy, where Darth Vader was the chief villain in the first film, before other characters (like the Emperor) were fleshed out as the series went along. A slow build-up makes sense in that regard.​

An aspect of the new report that some will find interesting is how Kylo Ren could be connected to our heroes. Apparently, there’s a sequence towards the middle of the film where the Millennium Falcon is shot down on a snow planet by Kylo Ren’s ship. Once the Falcon crashes, Kylo and his stormtroopers board it. Kylo then goes to the Falcon‘s cockpit and sits in the pilot’s seat to have a moment for himself (perhaps of remorse). That has led some to believe that Kylo is actually Han Solo’s son, since the scene plays out as if the ship has some sentimental value to the villain.

If that’s true, then Kylo has tremendous potential to be one of the most compelling and interesting characters the series has seen. Once good-natured people turning to the Dark Side isn’t new territory for Star Wars, but that transition is usually coupled with the person in question completing succumbing to their evil impulses (Anakin immediately hating Obi-Wan and murdering children, for instance). It sounds as if Kylo still feels something for the heroes and regrets the situations he’s putting them in, even though he knows it’s his job to stop them. His relationship with the other characters will be fascinating to watch unfold.​

Domhnall Gleeson in ‘Unbroken’

In their report, Making Star Wars also briefly mentions Domhnall Gleeson’s character, who is allegedly called “The General” and is considered to be an Imperial officer of some kind. He will work for Uber in the film. In contrast to what was previously rumored, “The General” is NOT the son of Luke Skywalker, and any relationship he has with the other characters is unknown at this point.


As was the case with the other Star Wars rumors, these potential details will serve as interesting food for thought for fans desperate to know more about the film. Taking everything into account, they certainly sound plausible, but we’ll just have to wait and see. Hopefully the new trailer will continue to separate fact from fiction, just as the teaser did last fall.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens will be in theaters December 18, 2015.

Source: Making Star Wars​

 

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[h=1]‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ Full Character List Revealed?[/h]

[WARNING: This post contains POSSIBLE SPOILERS for Star Wars: The Force Awakens]-​

Very, very soon, we’ll learn more about J.J. Abrams’ hotly-anticipated Star Wars: The Force Awakens. The director and Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy are going to kick off Star Wars Celebration tomorrow, April 16, with a panel that is said to be the launching spot for the movie’s second trailer and teaser poster. After all the rumors we’ve heard over the last couple of months, the bit of clarity the creative team will most likely provide will be greatly appreciated by fans.



It’s true that official information on the project has been hard to come by, which even includes minor details like character names. A while back, we learned the identities of some of the new additions to the franchise (the individuals featured in the teaser trailer), but as the cast list indicates, there are several “anonymous” inhabitants of the galaxy far, far away. Now, we may have learned the full roster – ranging from the primary players to the most obscure of extras.

---SPOILERS FOLLOW ----​

Making Star Wars is back at it with a brand new Force Awakens rumor, which is a list of characters their sources say have filmed at least one sequence for the saga’s seventh installment. You can head over there for the entire rundown; we will include the principal actors in a list below:

• Luke Skywalker
• Han Solo
• Queen Leia
• Chewbacca
• C-3PO
• R2-D2
• Finn (John Boyega)
• Rey (Daisy Ridley)
• Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac)
• BB-8 (soccer ball droid)
• Kylo Ren (Adam Driver?)
• The General (Domhnall Gleeson)
• Captain Phasma (Gwendoline Christie)
• Rose (Lupita Nyong’o)
• Uber (Andy Serkis)
• The Vicar (Max Von Sydow)

Longtime followers of the Star Wars rumor mill will surely recognize a few of those names, since some of them were brought to light previously in other reports. This cast list would seemingly confirm that those rumors were true, at least when it comes to who’s playing who.

The full write-up reveals some interesting facets about the film, particularly when it comes to Luke. Obviously, Mark Hamill will be reprising his iconic role in the new movie, but the size of his part has been subject of much debate. It’s long been speculated that the old Jedi Master is in self-isolation, as he watches over an ancient Sith tomb so nobody can open it. One rumor suggested that Hamill’s screen time would be minuscule, and the revelation that Hamill did not need a stunt double for Force Awakens (when Harrison Ford did) hints that Luke won’t have that much to do (or at least take part in much action).


Other rumors have claimed that flashbacks would be incorporated into the film’s narrative, and the casting list appears to confirm that as well. One of the characters listed is “Young Luke Skywalker,” who allegedly is being portrayed by actor Robert Boulter in a flashback sequence. Not only that, other characters involved in that rumored flashback – like the villager Naka – are present on the call sheet, meaning that there’s definitely some smoke to this fire and Force Awakens will probably be breaking traditional Star Wars storytelling by going back in the past.

Kylo Ren

Another old rumor this character list seems to clarify is the reported opening sequence, which apparently takes place in a village where resident Naka has stumbled across the lightsaber that sets the whole plot into motion. Many of the stormtroopers mentioned on the list include the classification (Village), suggesting that these Imperial infantry are needed specifically for a battle sequence that takes place in a village. Not to mention, we heard that the Vicar (a village elder who contacts the Rebel Alliance) was part of this opening sequence, and the Vicar is indeed a character in the film.


Fans were hoping for a clearer picture on The Force Awakens this week, and ironically enough, more rumors are the source – not Disney/Lucasfilm. We’ll have to wait and see what Abrams and Kennedy have to say before we get official confirmation on the elements described here, but things are adding up too well. There seems to be more fact than fiction out there.


Star Wars: The Force Awakens will be in theaters December 18, 2015.
Source: Making Star Wars

 

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[h=1]‘Star Wars 7′: First Full Image of New Stormtrooper Design[/h]


Check it out below, courtesy of The Star Wars Underground:

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The #SWCA Program! #TFA

A photo posted by The Star Wars Underworld (@theswu) on Apr 15, 2015 at 3:46pm PDT​

Source: SW Underground

 

[Static]

NEW TEASER TRAILER!!!!!!11

 

[Spartan 117]

Seeing Han and Chewie again was so AWESOME!! A huge smile just appeared on my face.

 

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[h=1]‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ Official New Character Details & Images[/h]

The 2015 Star Wars Celebration in Anaheim got underway today, with Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens director J.J. Abrams and Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy in attendance, along with several key cast members from The Force Awakens. The lineup included original Star Wars movie trilogy stars Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Peter Mayhew, and Anthony Daniels, as well as the new young stars of Episode VII: Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, and Oscar Isaac (not to mention, R2-D2 and new droid BB-8).
A handful of previously-unreleased Force Awakens set images and screenshots were premiered in public during the kickoff panel for the 2015 Star Wars Celebration. In addition, the three fresh-faced leads of Episode VII provided some new official details about their characters in Abrams’ upcoming Star Wars installment. The panel then culminated with the unveiling of the second Force Awakens trailer, which you can now watch online.


Here’s the breakdown of what was revealed during the Force Awakens panel:

• Daisy Ridley says her character (Rey) is a “scavenger in a ship graveyard” (glimpsed in the new trailer) who leads a solitary life on the desert planet Jakku – which is the desert planet shown in the Force Awakens trailers (NOT Tatooine).

• John Boyega says his character (Finn) finds himself in “incredible danger” on the planet Jakku – where he encounters Rey – and nodded when asked if he is in fact a stormtrooper in the film (much to Abrams’ mock disapproval).

• Oscar Isaac described his character (Poe Dameron) as the “best friggin [X-Wing-] pilot in the galaxy” and teased that his character is sent on an important mission by a “certain princess” – which is when he crosses paths with Finn and “their fates are forever intertwined” thereafter.

These official Force Awakens character details align with at least some of the rumors we’ve been hearing for some time about the film’s story (based on the screenplay by Abrams and Empire Strikes Back scribe Lawrence Kasdan) – like, how Poe and Finn are on opposing sides when they first encounter one another (before having to team up), or that Rey is a scavenger who’s been surviving by and large on her own for years now – possibly, because she’s been kept in hiding due to her being the offspring of certain original trilogy characters.

Meanwhile, rumors continues to persist about who the following Force Awakens cast members are playing:

• Lupita Nyong’o, most recently rumored to be playing a character named Rose in Force Awakens.
• Gwendoline Christie, long rumored to be playing Finn’s Imperial boss, Captain Phasma (a character with her own secrets).
• Domhnall Gleeson, rumored to be playing “The General” – a man who’s on neither side of the ongoing galactic war in Force Awakens.
• Max von Sydow, rumored to be “The Vicar”, a part-man/part-machine who does business with Rey.
• Andy Serkis, whose Force-sensitive character – heard narrating the original Force Awakens teaser – is rumored to be named Uber.

Keep in mind: as Abrams himself has confessed, it’s definitely not ALL smoke and no fire, when it comes to the Force Awakens rumor mill. So, we can all probably start taking some of these other rumored character descriptions (and plot beats) all the more seriously than we did before.

#StarWarsCelebration Star Wars Celebration: Watch The Force Awakens Panel Live Stream! - ComingSoon.net pic.twitter.com/QUt1s775is
— ComingSoon.net (@comingsoonnet) April 16, 2015​

Our new xwing pilot pic.twitter.com/ZpOFyd9HOC
— Peter Sciretta (@slashfilm) April 16, 2015​

#StarWarsCelebration Star Wars Celebration: Watch The Force Awakens Panel Live Stream! - ComingSoon.net pic.twitter.com/lxTI2KUN9K
— ComingSoon.net (@comingsoonnet) April 16, 2015​

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Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens opens in U.S. theaters on December 18th, 2015.



Follow Sandy Schaefer on Twitter @feynmanguy

 

[lucas jensen]

don't mess it up Guys it will Be amazing

 

[asfandyar]

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[cobby]

This teaser has built up more excitement , but when will full trailer be out , I mean I want know the story

 

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Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015) Teaser Trailer B - Trailer Addict

Chewie we're HOME ! an epic end to another teaser yet again ! damn it i almost forgot this is COMING this year damn it, what year is it ?

jurassic world, terminator and STAR WARS ! woohoo

 

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Star Wars: Rogue One (2016) Star Wars Celebration Teaser Trailer - Trailer Addict

 

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[h=1]‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens': Gwendoline Christie’s Captain Phasma Revealed[/h]