The trailer for “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” is here, but what have we learned?
With Black Friday upon us in addition to the release of the new “Star Wars” trailer, the internet is practically broken. Being an avid “Star Wars” fan myself, I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve watched the trailer. With that said, here are a few things that I’ve noticed that may provide some insight as to what direction “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” will take.
6. John Boyega is Either a Rebel Spy or a Turned Stormtrooper
The first character that we see is John Boyega panicked in a Stormtrooper outfit. What makes this interesting is that it seems as if he is running from something. Stormtroopers tend to travel in groups so a panicked and isolated Stormtrooper means that Boyega’s character is either a rebel in disguise or a Stormtrooper who changed allegiances. Either way, this makes for great storytelling for the big picture.
5. The Stormtroopers Have a New Look
These are not the Stormtroopers we’re looking for! The Stormtroopers in “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” capture the essence of the original troopers but they definitely have a new look. The black outline of their mouths now extends all along their jawline when before it was more of a centered frown. It’s definitely a subtle difference that only fans will know but I think many will accept this change. The other major difference is their weaponry. The blasters have a unique LED display on their side which is a subtle yet cool modernization for a new generation of “Star Wars.” While the changes may be minor, these small changes make for a more elaborate group of characters.
4. The New lightsaber Has a Crossguard
I’m sure that there is a purpose to crossguards on a lightsaber but I’m clueless as to how extravagant that purpose will be. To me it seems as though crossguards would make a lightsaber less effective but in the “Star Wars” universe, science and fiction are one and the same. From my guess, if lightsabers can clash then lightsaber crossguards could be used as a defensive measure as well. If you think of medieval battle and broadswords, there are a number of possibilities for this new type of lightsaber.
Click to the Next Page to See the Final 3!
3. Is Benedict Cumberbatch the Voice in the Trailer?
Is Benedict Cumberbatch in “Star Wars: The Force Awakens?” That is question that has been plaguing us for months due to countless interviews where Cumberbatch has expressed interest in being in “Star Wars” but denied claims. It wasn’t until “The Graham Norton Show” where he admitted that he had visited the set that fans started to speculate. Now with the release of the trailer, the voice sounds utterly familiar. If you compare his voice work for Smaug in “The Hobbit” series to the dark voice in the trailer, it’s uncanny how alike they sound. Is it his voice in the trailer? It isn’t confirmed but it sure does sound like him.
2. The Millennium Falcon Has Some Upgrades
I think everyone shared my enthusiasm when the Millennium Falcon appeared in the trailer but did everyone notice the revamp of the classic ship? The CGI upgrades are obvious but overall the ship seems a lot more sleek. The circular antennae that was once attached (and lost in ROTJ) has been replaced with a rectangular replacement. While some may oppose this minor variation in design, I like the interestingly indirect continuity. When Lando was piloting the Falcon in “Return of the Jedi” he did clip the ship which knocked off the antennae so it makes sense there would be some repairs and upgrades over time.
1. There is No “Episode VII” in the Title
It could be nothing, but the title of the film made no mention of the episode number. IMDB has the episode listed in the title and its exclusion from the trailer could signify the birth of the first “Lucas-less” film. This is obviously speculation as this trailer is clearly a teaser but where’s the fun of mystery without speculation?
I’m sure that there will be many more observations and much more speculation as December 18, 2015 approaches, but for now the teaser trailer definitely appeased my wonder. I don’t know about the rest of you but I am so excited for the release of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens!”