STAR WARS: EPISODE VII
21 reasons we can’t wait for JJ’s sequel
1 By the time you read this, principal photography should have finished.
2 The legendary John Williams is back to score a Star Wars movie for the seventh time.
3 The Millennium Falcon is definitely blasting off again. It’s been spotted.
4 X- Wing fighters have been given a makeover – and they still look cool ( see bottom right).
5 There’s still the potential to be surprised: we still know very little about the plot, beyond the fact that it’s set about 30 years after Return Of Jedi, and “will star a trio of new young leads along with some very familiar faces”.
6 It doesn’t hurt that those familiar faces belong to original trilogy stars Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher. Luke, Han and Leia are back!
7 Not even a malfunctioning, leg- breaking door on set could stop Han Solo.
8 Luke Skywalker will have an Obi- Wan Kenobi-style beard! The Force is still strong with him.
9 There’s room for non- human Star Wars legends C- 3PO, R2- D2 and Chewbacca.
10 The fact that the new cast is predominantly made up of comparative unknowns ( Daisy Ridley, Domhnall Gleeson and John Boyega for starters) suggests they’ve been cast because they’re right for the parts, rather than their star power.
11 Performance capture king Andy Serkis is in it.
12 After the CG fest of the prequel trilogy, JJ Abrams seems to be taking every opportunity to go back to real locations and live action – the animatronics look ace.
13 Star Oscar Isaac has hinted there were “hundreds of Stormtroopers on set” – farewell CG Clones!
14 Alleged images of redesigned Stormtroopers ( including silver helmets) look amazing – fingers crossed they’re real!
15 A lot of the plot rumours are pretty cool too – lightsabers floating in space?
16 The massive success of Guardians Of The Galaxy will force JJ and co to raise their game – Star Wars isn’t the only kid on the space opera block anymore.
17 Almost every decision Lucasfilm has made since its Disneyfication has been bang on the money, not least the decision to hand directors Gareth Edwards, Josh Trank and Rian Johnson the keys to the two standalone movies and Episode VIII, respectively.
18 George Lucas has always been good at story, not so hot at dialogue. The fact that his Episode VII story treatment has been worked up by Toy Story 3’ s Michael Arndt, The Empire Strikes Back’s Lawrence Kasdan and JJ himself bodes well.
19 New Star Wars books and comics will fit movie chronology, creating one continuous epic saga.
20 We’ve got Star Wars Rebels on the telly to make the wait a little bit easier.
21 It’s Star Wars!