[Update: Check out our analysis of the Star Wars trailer along with high-res stills.]
What better way to celebrate American Thanksgiving and Black Friday shopping sprees than to award moviegoers (in select cinemas) with a first look at the trailer for Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens on the big screen? That's the plan for director J.J. Abrams who tweeted about the holiday, confirming the Star Wars 7 teaser along with its 88-second time.
Don't worry, fans are not required to go to one of the specified AMC, Cinemark, or Regal Cinema locations. Disney and Lucasfilm have also released it online. And you need to watch it right now.
To date, Bad Robot, Lucasfilm and Disney have unveiled only one official photo of the cast reading the screenplay together alongside a few fun behind-the-scenes videos Abrams shot for a contest (and to tease a certain other film director). Outside of that, we've only seen a few leaked pieces of art and blurry set photos of some familiar starships and redesigned Stormtrooper helmets, but nothing official yet on the characters or vehicles in action.
The rumored description of the first Star Wars: Episode VII trailer only teased quick shots of the lead characters with no dialogue, played over orchestral music with a final shot of the Millenium Falcon blasting into action. It turns out that description was partially true, although we only see the new characters. The more interesting revelations are in how accurate the previously leaked plot details were.
[Update: Disney released four official stills, alongside an IMAX version of the Millenium Falcon shot!]
[gallery columns="1" link="file" ids="514134,514135,514136,514138,514137"]
[Update: Check out our analysis of the Star Wars trailer along with more high-res stills.]
[Update 2: A closer look and discussion on the crossguard lightsaber.]
"There has been an awakening," the Sith-like narrator begins. There's an interesting voiceover throughout, with the focus on different visuals, from a Stormtrooper, speeder and droid on Tattooine, to troop deployment elsewhere (new helm confirmed!), low flying X-Wings, a new lightsaber design and best of all, the Millienium, Falcon flying in atmosphere, maneuvering around tie Fighters. It looks cool, even without any context.
Was this a smart first tease of The Force Awakens? Dig J.J. Abrams style and approach? Share your thoughts in the comments!
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Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens is directed by J.J. Abrams and stars Gwendoline Christie, Lupita Nyong’o, John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, and Max von Sydow alongside original stars Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew, and Kenny Baker.
Follow Rob on Twitter @rob_keyes.
Source: Lucasfilm