Movies Feature
Star Wars The Force Awakens: 7 talking points from the first trailer
By Simon Reynolds
Star Wars: The Force Awakens - how fans reacted to the trailer
It's finally here! After days of hype, the first trailer for Star Wars: The Force Awakens debuted today to brighten up everybody's Black Friday.
It's a brief but glorious glimpse of what JJ Abrams and Disney have in store for next Christmas - consider us excited. Here's our look at some of the best bits from the teaser...
1. John Boyega is playing a Stormtrooper
![Star Wars: The Force Awakens](https://web.archive.org/web/20141129182144im_/http://i2.cdnds.net/14/48/618x258/movies-star-wars-the-force-awakens-trailer-01.jpg)
© Disney / Lucasfilm
This is a plot point that had long been rumoured, but the trailer's opening - an impressive wide shot followed by Boyega's appearance - has confirmed it. The rolling sand dunes signal a return to Tatooine, while the panic etched on Boyega's face seems to signal a crash landing. A call back to C-3PO and R2-D2's arrival at the start of A New Hope, perhaps?
2. Droids are back!
![Star Wars: The Force Awakens](https://web.archive.org/web/20141129182144im_/http://i1.cdnds.net/14/48/618x257/movies-star-wars-the-force-awakens-trailer-02.jpg)
© Disney / Lucasfilm
It won't be Star Wars without the appearance of some loveable droids, and while there was no sign of 3PO or R2, we did get a glimpse of this little fella (he's already on our Christmas list for 2015!). Hopefully that isn't Kenny Baker inside having to power the entire thing Fred Flintstone-style!
3. The Empire is still alive and kicking
![Star Wars: The Force Awakens](https://web.archive.org/web/20141129182144im_/http://i2.cdnds.net/14/48/618x258/movies-star-wars-the-force-awakens-trailer-03.jpg)
© Disney / Lucasfilm
Despite the obliteration of the second Death Star at the close of Return of the Jedi, it looks like the Empire is still very much intact. We glimpsed Boyega's character as a Stormtrooper earlier, but here, they appear to be mobilising in force. Notice the sleek new helmet design, too.
4. Daisy Ridley's character is still a mystery
![Star Wars: The Force Awakens](https://web.archive.org/web/20141129182144im_/http://i1.cdnds.net/14/48/618x262/movies-star-wars-the-force-awakens-trailer-04.jpg)
© Disney / Lucasfilm
![Star Wars: The Force Awakens](https://web.archive.org/web/20141129182144im_/http://i1.cdnds.net/14/48/618x258/movies-star-wars-the-force-awakens-trailer-05.jpg)
© Disney / Lucasfilm
Unknown British actress Daisy Ridley has a key role in the new trilogy, but we're still non the wiser as to who she's playing. Speculation has pointed towards her being the daughter of Han Solo and Leia, but her presence on Tatooine suggests that might not be the case. Her piloting a hover bike, however, is pure Leia from Return of the Jedi. And that resemblance to Carrie Fisher...
5. Oscar Isaac is an X-Wing pilot
![Star Wars: The Force Awakens](https://web.archive.org/web/20141129182144im_/http://i1.cdnds.net/14/48/618x258/movies-star-wars-the-force-awakens-trailer-06.jpg)
© Disney / Lucasfilm
![Star Wars: The Force Awakens](https://web.archive.org/web/20141129182144im_/http://i1.cdnds.net/14/48/618x257/movies-star-wars-the-force-awakens-trailer-07.jpg)
© Disney / Lucasfilm
Here's our first glimpse at Oscar Isaac behind the controls of a Rebel Alliance craft. In this teaser we only get to see three faces: Boyega, Ridley and Isaac. We reckon this is key to where the film is going and who we'll be following throughout, with the three new faces lining up with the original trio. Boyega is our Luke Skywalker, Ridley is Princess Leia and high-flying pilot Isaac is Han Solo.
6. Who is the mystery Sith?
![Star Wars: The Force Awakens](https://web.archive.org/web/20141129182144im_/http://i2.cdnds.net/14/48/618x259/movies-star-wars-the-force-awakens-trailer-08.jpg)
© Disney / Lucasfilm
There's already a fan furore regarding that lightsaber hilt, but what we're really interested in is who is this mystery Sith lord? The voiceover sounds a lot like Max von Sydow or Andy Serkis to us (although Benedict Cumberbatch's name has been touted too), however we reckon it's Adam Driver or Domhnall Gleeson behind that cloak.
7. The Millennium Falcon is back!
![Star Wars: The Force Awakens](https://web.archive.org/web/20141129182144im_/http://i2.cdnds.net/14/48/movies-star-wars-the-force-awakens-gif.gif)
© Disney / Lucasfilm
We'll admit it, this is the moment in the trailer when we completely lost it...
Star Wars: The Force Awakens opens in cinemas on December 18, 2015.