If you’ve been online over the last little bit, you probably know that Star Wars: The Force Awakens just dropped a shiny new teaser trailer at Star Wars Celebration, and it is awesome. The whole world is going to spend the next few months dissecting this and examining every last frame, but right now, here are seven of the things that struck us on our first four or five watches.
Darth Vader's Helmet
One of the first things we see is a fade in on the mangled wreckage of Darth Vader’s helmet. Since he’s the one talking, it’s easy to presume that Luke Skywalker is in possession of this artifact of his father. He was, after all, the last one to see it in Return of the Jedi as hit lit the funeral pyre. This not only provides a huge connection to Star Wars history, but it also gives us a glimpse into the current state of Luke’s psyche. He’s always felt the tug of both sides of the Force, and from this image, it looks like that is a battle that continues.
Han And Chewbacca Come Home
We knew this was coming, and while we get peeks and glimpses and vague looks at other returning characters, when Han Solo and his walking carpet of a BFF Chewbacca show up at the end, we got chills. Obviously Han looks a few decades older, like he’s been through some tough times, but there’s still that mischievous gleam in his eyes, that wry smirk on his lips, and you know the very second you see him that, though he may be old and wiser, this is still the Han Solo you know and love and tried to pattern your life after.
Luke Skywalker Still Has At Least One Old Friend
Luke’s situation has been a hot topic of discussion since we first learned about The Force Awakens. We’ve heard that he’s missing, that he’s in hiding, that he’s protecting something of great power. Details are still unclear, but no matter how things turn out in the actual movie, at least we know he’s not totally alone. In the light of what looks like a campfire, we see that mechanical hand reach up and rest on his old pal, his faithful sidekick R2-D2. It’s a comforting gesture, one of reassurance, but it also looks more for the hooded Luke’s benefit that R2’s.
Kylo Ren Has A Scary Amount Of Power
Kylo Ren has some big shoes to fill following in the footsteps of one of the greatest villains in movie history, but he looks straight up terrifying here. When his head swivels around and he raises his hand at the camera, your knee-jerk reaction is to pull back, even though it’s all on screen. It’s like you just got hit with a blast of the Force. You can almost feel the phantom fingers tighten around your throat as he Force Chokes you. We haven’t seen a ton of him yet, and who knows if he can measure up to Darth Vader (can anyone really?), but in the few snippets we’ve seen from him, this is a villain to be reckoned with.
There's A New Empire In Town
One of the persistent Force Awakens rumors has been that, in the wake of Return of the Jedi, the Empire is down, but not necessarily out. We’ve heard that there is a diminished version of the Empire lurking on the periphery, and with those stormtroopers massing in front of what looks like a menacing new insignia, that certainly looks to be the case. We don’t know if this is the Empire proper, or some offshoot, but we can rest assured that there is a new power emerging and gaining strength, and that’s going to be something for whatever form the Galactic Republic takes to contend with.
Chrome Troopers Are Seriously Badass
We’ve heard tell of the new Chrome Troopers, and even seen concept art, but nothing can prepare you for how incredibly badass they look in real life. Especially emerging out of the shadows like this, where the glint off the armor is so dark it’s almost black. That looks so damn good. Rumor has it that these new Imperial goons are an elite tactical unit, a best-of-the-best kind of team, and that Gwendoline Christie’s Captain Phasma runs the show, and it’s possible that it’s her we see in this footage. That cape slung over this soldier’s shoulder looks more regal and official than your rank and file trooper usually has, and it screams, "I’m in charge, don’t mess with me."
The Millennium Falcon Hasn't Lost A Step
One of the highlights of the first The Force Awakens teaser was seeing the Millennium Falcon back in action after all these years. We can admit that we all cheered. Well, the old girl is back at it this time around, and she’s up to her old tricks. Pursued by a tough looking new TIE Fighter, she ducks through the remnants of a ruined star destroyer on what we now know is the planet Jakku, zipping in and out of tight spots, which we all know is her specialty. The real question that needs to be answered is who is at the helm? The obvious answer is Han and Chewie, and these acrobatic moves are vintage Han. But there has also been chatter that Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) may take the controls, and we’ve seen quick glimpses of what he can do, so we can’t rule it out.
What is your favorite moment in this new Star Wars: The Force Awakens trailer? Let us know in the comments.
