The release of the official movie poster by legendary artist Drew Struzan (below) and the final trailer of Star Wars: The Force Awakens has re-ignited the magical feeling of awe in fans the world over. Directed by J J Abrams, whom also co-wrote the movie with Lawrence Kasdan (whom himself co-wrote The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi), Star Wars: The Force Awakens reunites characters from the original trilogy with a cast a newcomers to the saga, in what promises to be a return to form for the saga after the lacklustre critical opinion the prequel trilogy garnered from critics and fans. Fan Favorites Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker and Peter Mayhew return alongside relative newcomers Daisy Ridley, Oscar Issac, John Boyega and Adam Driver, along with TV and movie favorites such as Max Von Sydow, Andy Serkis, Gwendoline Christie and Domhall Gleeson.
Set a generation after the events of Return of the Jedi, events in our favorite galaxy far, far away have not transpired as we would have expected. After the battle for Endor the Empire fought a climatic battle against the Rebel Alliance over the planet of Jakku. Defeated, the Empire have reformed themselves in to the First Order, continuing their goal of galactic dominance. Meanwhile the Rebel Alliance, now known a the Resistance, have become the voice of freedom and democracy. And while the Dark side of the force has flourished within a mysterious group known as the Knights of Ren, the light it seems has been forgotten, the stuff of legend.
From the official poster and final trailer some new mysteries within Star Wars: The Force Awakens have surfaced, while some existing mysteries have grown yet more mysterious...
The Search For Luke Skywalker
In earlier trailers, as in the final one released last night we have seen scenes showing new villain Kylo Ren, Captain Phasma and a platoon of Stormtroopers seemingly burning a primitive looking settlement. We have also seen a snippet of a scene showing what is believed to be Luke Skywalker resting his cybernetic hand upon R2-D2's head. But has anyone noticed the similar lighting and the identical use of embers, and even the direction in which they are blowing across the screen? Could Kylo and Phasma be looking for Luke Skywalker in these scenes?
The Knights Of Ren
We have heard mention that villain Kylo Ren is but one member of a group known as the Knights of Ren. It seems these seven (?) knights, whom are alleged to be obssessed with Darth Vader each wear armor reminiscent of their martyr. Could it be that through their employ within the First Order that the Knights of Ren seek to unite the galaxy under a dictatorship, while practicing the dark side of the force, like Darth Vader before them.
The Death Of Chewbacca?
Previously we have seen the lead up to what looks like a lightsaber duel between Kylo Ren and former Stormtrooper Finn. This new final trailer now shows the beginning of that duel, in which Kylo Ren appears to be unmasked. Furthermore, we see a distraught Rey, crying over what some fans have speculated to be the dead body of Chewbacca - Doe's Kylo Ren kill everyone's favorite Wookie.
Yavin IV - Round 2
From the first image below it looks as though Yavin IV has become the new political centre of the galaxy; unsurpising really considering the moon would no doubt be a symbol of freedom after the destruction of the first Death Star. That said, its surprising to think that the Empire never retaliated against the Rebel Alliance base on Yavin IV for being instrumental in the destruction of the first Death Star. Yet it seems that after a generation of waiting that is exactly what the First Order will do...
Attack On Starkiller Base
But what goes around, comes around, as it seems the Resistance mount an attack on the First Orders StarKiller base, which appears to be a planet whose core has been converted into a deadly weapon, causing the surface of the planet to freeze over. In these scenes we also see new droid BB-8 acting as a X-Wing co-pilot in much the same way R2-D2 did in the original trilogy.
No Sith?
Finally, many reports have claimed that Kylo Ren, while being a practioner of the Dark Side of the force, is not a sith. Yet at the start of the final trailer Rey appears to see a spacecraft leaving Jakku, a craft whose silhuoette looks suspiciously like the Sith Infiltrator used by Darth Maul in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace (pictured beneath).
These are just scraping the intergalactic barrel - Why is Leia so upset, is it the possible death of Chewbacca or something more paternal? Why is Kylo Ren using the force to torture Poe Dameron? Why has Finn been entrusted with what looks like Luke Skywalkers lightsabre? Are Rey and Kylo Ren brother and sister, cousins or are they not even related? What is Luke Skywalkers role in all of this, and why did he not revive the Jedi Order as instructed by Master Yoda?
