It is
maddeningly short, but the first official glimpse of Star Wars Episode
VII: The Force Awakens serves as a fitting reminder that a galaxy far,
far away is actually much closer than we thought.
While
returning cast-members Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher are
absent from the 88-second montage, fans are given a first look at the
younger generation of cast-members to feature in this, the first of
three planned sequels.
Opening
some 30-years after Return of the Jedi, the teaser kicks off with
British actor John Boyega racing across a desert landscape dressed in
full Stormtrooper regalia.
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Opening shot: New cast-member John Boyega races across a desert landscape in full Stormtrooper regalia
A
parched, disembodied voice tells us of an 'awakening' and reminds us of
the dual energies that are 'the dark side... and the light.'
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The
trailer also delivers what was initially suggested during the
forthcoming film's development - a a clear departure from the
over-indulgent use of CGI that blighted parts one, two and three of the
science fiction saga.
It
also confirms the welcome return of the iconic Millennium Falcon, and
it is seen dodging laser blasts in a brief battle sequence.
A new lightsaber also makes a debut as an ominous cloaked figure marauds through a dark, snow-layered forest setting.
Here they come: The Stormtroopers are on the attack in the forthcoming seventh instalment in the science fiction franchise
On the march: The emergence of Darth Vader's former henchmen suggests all is not well in the Force
With
a fresh outlook, a young, visionary director and the return of its
original stars, anticipation has been steadily building ever since
wheels started turning on plans to add three further films to the Star
Wars galaxy.
The
result of an ambitious $4.05 billion buyout that saw Disney acquire
complete autonomy over the franchise from LucasFilm in November 2012,
the JJ Abrams directed Star Wars Episode VII is their first offering as
they endeavour to build on the universe originally devised by George
Lucas in the mid-70s.
The
coup followed similar buyouts from Pixar ($7.4bn) and Marvel ($4.2bn)
with Disney unveiling plans to release a further three episodic films
and an additional stand alone film every two or three years - a reaction
to 'pent-up demand' from fans.
With a proven pedigree in TV and film, Lost creator Abrams signed up to direct the first after initially ruling himself out.
Welcome back: The Millennium Falcon
makes a fleeting return in the maddeningly short first teaser trailer,
released on Friday afternoon
Ready for take off: An X-Wing pilot sports the iconic orange jumpsuit as he prepares for battle
Thrilling: X-Wings race past a remote, mountainous backdrop in another brief action shot from JJ Abrams' new film
Directly
responsible for redefining and reinvigorating the Star Trek franchise,
Abrams' decision made him the first director to work across two rival
universes.
Speaking
of his U-turn, he told Entertainment Weekly: 'As a kid I was always a
fan of special effects. Watching movies I was constantly trying to
figure out how they did it, whatever the effect was.
'Star
Wars was the first movie that blew my mind in that way. It didn't
matter how they did any of it because it was all so overwhelmingly and
entirely great.'
New face: Daisy Ridley - a virtual
unknown prior to her casting - also features in the new trailer. The
British actress is rumoured to play Han Solo and Princess Leia's adult
daughter in the new film, which is set 30-years after the fall of the
Empire
On the move: A futuristic robot,
similar to the one featured in Abrams' Bad Robot production company
logo, urgently races across the desert
X-rated: An army of fighters are on the attack in what promises to be a welcome addition to the franchise
Remote: Ridley races across a desolate homestead on what appears to be desert planet Tattoine
He added: 'It was funny and romantic and scary and compelling and the visual effects just served the characters and story.
'It galvanized for me; not for what was exciting about how movies were made, but rather for what movies were capable of.'
A
further coup, the return of original cast-members Harrison Ford, Mark
Hamill and Carrie Fisher in their respective career-defining roles as
Han Solo, Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia further whetted the appetite.
Watch out: The Falcon is seen dodging laser blasts from enemy fighters in another shot from the 88-second teaser
In flight: Perhaps the most enduring
spaceship in the Star Wars universe, the Millenium Falcon was last seen
in 1983 smash The Reurn Of The Jedi
The old enemy: While Han Solo is absent from the new trailer, his beloved Falcon is at the heart of the action
Anthony
Daniels (C3PO), Kenny Baker (R2D2) and Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca) were
also confirmed, with all three having previously featured in the Lucas
directed prequel series depicting the rise of Darth Vader and ultimate
fall of the Jedi counsel.
New
additions include Oscar Isaac, Andy Serkis, Domnhall Gleeson, Daisy
Ridley, Adam Driver and legendary Swedish actor Max Van Sydow – best
known for his role as Father Lankester Merrin in 1973 shocker The
Exorcist.
It
has been speculated that British actress Ridley – a virtual unknown
whose limited TV credits include a fleeting appearance in Casualty –
will play the daughter of Han Solo and Princess Leia after the release
of an official cast photograph showed her sat between the two stars
during what appeared to be a read-through of the script.
Mysterious: A cloaked figure passes
through a forest as the trailer climaxes. Andy Serkis - best known for
his role as Gollum in the Lord of the Rings franchise - is believed to
play an adversary in the forthcoming film
Something new: A striking. sword shaped lightsaber emerges as the cloaked figure prepares to do battle
Imposing: The figure moves through a rural setting... could this be the new Dark Lord?
Actress
Lupita Nyong’o also signed up for a role in the forthcoming film after
winning praise for her Academy Award winning role in 12 Years A Slave,
telling fans: ‘I’m going to a galaxy far, far away.’
Meanwhile
Girls star Driver hinted that he is poised to play a villain in episode
VII after co-star Lena Dunham told him to ‘rip a hole in da force’ in a
congratulatory tweet posted shortly after his casting.
Much
like the original trilogy, released between 1977 and 1983, the bulk of
principal photography took place at Buckinghamshire’s Pinewood Studios,
with additional location shoots taking place in Ireland and Abu Dhabi -
where filming began in June.
The
dusty set suggested desert planet Tattooine was set to feature, and
early shots indicated that Abrams was keen to move away from the heavily
digitised prequels that provided a back story to the original trilogy,
opting instead move away from the blue screen techniques favoured by
Lucas in favour of traditional sets.
On board: Lost creator JJ Abrams
directs the seventh Star Wars film after originally turning down the
offer. Explaining his U-turn he told Entertainment Weekly: 'Star Wars
was the first movie that blew my mind in that way. It didn't matter how
they did any of it because it was all so overwhelmingly and entirely
great.'
A
UNICEF video message featuring Abrams on set at Pinewood confirmed a
return for the X-Wing fighters used to battle the Empire and ultimately
destroy the Death Star, with the director filmed standing beside one of
the iconic vehicles.
Snapshots
and teaser videos also confirmed the welcome return of the Millennium
Falcon, but the shooting schedule suffered an unexpected hitch in May
when one of its hydraulic doors fell on 71-year-old Ford, breaking his
leg.
A
statement published on the official Star Wars website confirmed the
shoot would be delayed by two weeks while the actor, who last played
Solo in 1983, recovered from his injury.
A
spokesperson confirmed at the time: ‘Harrison Ford sustained an ankle
injury during filming today on the set of Star Wars: Episode VII. 'He
was taken to a local hospital and is receiving care. Shooting will
continue as planned while he recuperates.’
A welcome return: A bearded Mark
Hamill, pictured outside Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire, reprises
his career defining role as Luke Skywalker
Read through: A shot of the principal
cast-members reading their lines suggested Ridley would play Solo and
Leia's daughter. The actress (third right) was seated between Harrison
Ford and Carrie Fisher during the read through
Shooting
continued in rural County Kerry in the Republic of Ireland, where a
heavily bearded Hamill was spotted between takes over the summer.
Speaking
in July Hamill revealed that he had to grow facial hair for the seventh
film and described his casting as 'an unexpected gift'.
'I
thought even if they did a third trilogy, we couldn't be involved
because it's really about the new generation of characters,' he said.
How it was: Stars Wars helped define
the careers of Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford. All three
actors return for new movie Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
'You know we're just there to lend our support and grow contractually obligated beards. It was certainly unexpected.
He
added: 'I already had a beginning, middle and end. I never thought we'd
come back. To go on to those sets that evoked so many memories, it is
just astonishing. It just seems like an unexpected gift.'
The
new trailer will play in 30 selected cinemas across the United States
from Friday until Sunday November 30 - after which it will screen in
cinemas across the globe.
Star Wars: Episode VII: The Force Awakens goes on general release nationwide on December 15, 2015.
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