Ryan Mancini / Assistant News Editor
Director J.J. Abrams and Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy presented the new teaser for the upcoming “Star Wars” sequel, “The Force Awakens,” at “Star Wars” Celebration in Anaheim on April 16.
The trailer delivers answers to what fans have seen from leaked concept drawings, photos and story details.
The trailer starts on the desert world of Jakku (originally thought to be Tatooine, the desert homeward of Anakin and Luke Skywalker from the previous two trilogies). A crashed X-Wing fighter lies in the sand, dwarfed by a crashed Imperial Star Destroyer that looms over the landscape. A speeder can be seen moving by, with an unknown driver.
The screens cuts to black and Luke Skywalker’s (Mark Hamill) voice is heard. The dialogue is an audio directly from the last film, “Return of the Jedi,” released in 1983.
“The force is strong in my family,” he says. “My father has it…” This line is followed by a brief clip of the damaged helmet and mask of Darth Vader. Vader’s iconic breathing is heard in the scene.
“…I have it…” Looking upon a bonfire is the beloved droid R2-D2. Kneeling next to him is a hooded figure with a robotic hand (Luke? A new villain?).
“…my sister has it.” This line was originally to Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher), a child is seen delivering a lightsaber to a woman. Hardcore fans will recognize the lightsaber hilt as not only the same weapon Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi gave to young Luke in the fourth film from 1977, “A New Hope,” and lost in battle with Vader in “The Empire Strikes Back,” but also the weapon Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christiansen) weld as a new Sith apprentice in the third film, 2005’s “Revenge of the Sith.”
“You have that power too.” While this line was originally directed to Leia, it has an implication in this trailer to be directed to a new character.
A squadron of X-Wings are then seen, with Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) hollering in his cockpit. His role in the film is unknown, but he is so far known to be a main character and a pilot in the Rebel Alliance.
Next you see new characters Finn (Danny Boyega), Rey (Daisy Ridley) and BB-8 running from an explosion. Also as it’s known, they are the other two main protagonists in the new film. They are seen again, with Rey helping a confused Finn to go to something or somewhere.
Now the Empire: the villain, Kylo Ren is seen wielding the new (and infamous) tri-saber. Little is known about him, but he may be affiliated with the newly advanced and still existing Empire. A platoon of stormtroopers (with the new design) all look up at something, which cuts to a small sqaudron of TIE fighters, which still retain the same look and sound from the original trilogy.
This is followed by the appearance of the silver stormtrooper. Little is known about this character, who is rumored to be played by Gwendoline Christie (“Game of Thrones”) or Domhnall Gleeson (“Frank,””Harry Potter”).
The Millennium Falcon is seen, being chased by TIE Fighters like in the first teaser. They fly into the bowels of a crashed star cruiser Jakku.
“Chewie…we’re home” is then heard. We are presented with a smiling, aged Han Solo (Harrison Ford), who is seen standing with his companion Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew) aboard the Millennium Falcon.
Overall, this trailer further whetted fan’s appetites for the most anticipated movie of the year. If this trailer blew your mind, we can only imagine what the international trailer will bring.
