New ‘Star Wars’ trailer feels like we’re home
A wrecked Star Destroyer. A close-up on a TIE fighter pilot. Stormtroopers in formation. Lightsabers and droids aplenty. But Harrison Ford’s Han Solo says it best in the new trailer for Star Wars: The Force Awakens: “Chewie, we’re home.”
Director J.J. Abrams, actors from George Lucas’ original movie trilogy and cast newcomers were on hand Thursday at Star Wars Celebration in Anaheim, Calif., to reveal the teaser for the new Star Wars film that arrives Dec. 18.
Moreso than the first glimpse of Force Awakens unveiled last November, the new footage con- nects 1983’s Return of the Jedi with the latest film, which takes place some decades later. Familiar characters that Generation X grew up watching share screen time with the current cosmic heroes acting as a Han, Luke and Leia for the Millennials.
The trailer begins with a voiceover from Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), who intones that his family is strong in the Force — a theme from the original trilogy and the prequels that track the backstory of Anakin Skywalker.
X-Wing fighters (Oscar Isaac’s new pilot Poe Dameron zooms around and gives a quick “Woohoo!”), TIE fighters and the Millennium Falcon are seen, and although fans still don’t get much of a sense of plot, they do see Finn, John Boyega’s Stormtrooper, getting a hand from Rey, a scavenger played by Daisy Ridley from the new world of Jakku.
The trailer leaves many questions for the faithful: Who’s the next Force-filled Skywalker hinted at by Luke? Is new lightsaber-wielding baddie Kylo Ren the newest Sith lord, following Darths Maul, Sidious and Vader? Will roly-poly droid BB-8 be as popular as old stalwart C-3PO?
The prequels and their characters — looking at you, Jar Jar Binks — tested the patience of hardcore fans who grew up with the original movies. Yet even the most jaded viewer had goosebumps seeing Ford’s familiar Solo smirk and hearing Peter Mayhew roar again in Chewbacca fur.
It’s not just the Skywalkers who are strong in the Force. Abrams definitely is, too, taking the reins from Lucas as the new Jedi master of the franchise.