New Star Wars: The Force Awakens Trailer Breakdown

Star Wars Celebration kicked off yesterday in Anaheim with a special introduction to Episode VII. Director J.J. Abrams, Producer Kathleen Kennedy as well as stars Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Peter Mayhew and Anthony Daniels all came out to introduce the film and unveil the anticipated second teaser trailer. So, without further ado, here is a complete breakdown of everything in the teaser and what it means. Naturally, if you want to go into The Force Awakens cold then do not continue: there are spoilers ahead.

As Rey continues we see the smashed carcass of an X-Wing in the foreground but further back is revealed the crashed hulk of an Imperial Star Destroyer. These are the remnants of the Battle of Jakku, one of the final skirmishes between the Empire and the Rebel Alliance. It takes place between Episodes VI and VII, shortly after the Battle of Endor.

Luke Skywalker’s voice chimes in. “The Force is strong in my family…” Note that this isn’t dialogue lifted from Return Of The Jedi but rather old Luke repeating the words he once said to Leia, presumably to one strong in The Force. Whether that’s to Finn (John Boyega) or Rey remains to be seen. However, judging by concept art for Finn we’ve seen in which he has a lightsaber hanging from his belt, Boyega’s character is the odds-on favourite. “My father has it...” We see Darth Vader’s burned and battered helmet held, we can assume, by Kylo Ren. This fits with the leaked concept art which showed Ren holding Vader’s mask.

“I have it…” The hooded figure in this shot, we can conclude, is indeed Luke. He places an affectionate hand (his robotic one) on the chrome dome of R2-D2. Good to know Luke hasn’t abandoned the little Astromech even all these years later.

“My sister has it…” A lighsaber is passed from hand to hand. The eagle-eyed will recognise this one as Anakin’s lightsaber, the one inherited by Luke and ultimately lost on Bespin… along with his hand. The person handing the hilt is thought to be Lupita Nyong’o’s character, known as ‘Rose’. The hand receiving it is clearly Leia’s, which makes sense given what Luke is saying. “You have that power too.” A clear indication that someone (again, probably Finn) is strong with The Force (no-one mention midi-chlorians!) and on the path to possibly resurrect the Jedi order.

X-Wings flying over the water. Specifically Incom T-70 X-Wings. According to concept art found elsewhere at Celebration this is the signature combat craft of the Resistance forces. Yes, The Rebellion is long over and has been replaced at this point in the Star Wars timeline by a new insurgent group called 'The Resistance'.

Oscar Isaac’s Poe Dameron whoops with excitement in the cockpit. According to Isaac, “He’s the best frickin’ pilot in the galaxy. He’s been sent on a mission by a certain princess and he ends up coming across Mr. John Boyega’s character and their fates are forever intertwined.”

This isn’t The Empire. In The Force Awakens The Empire has been replaced by The First Order. We know little beyond the (admittedly cool) name but you can see the First Order troops here in formation and behind them the First Order banner, which is a spiky rendition but one clearly derived from the Imperial sigil (itself derived from that of the Galactic Republic). Who’s that standing on the balcony and watching over them? Andy Serkis? Domhnall Gleeson’s general? Both? You can also see the rather cool white-and-black side panels of the First Order TIE fighters on the left.

New droid on the block, BB-8. The most interesting aspect of BB-8 is that, rather than being a CG character, the droid is actually a practical effect. Rolling out onto the stage during the Episode VII presentation, BB-8 is in fact fully articulated, his gyroscopic design put into practice by animatronics expert Neal Scanlan. Recognise those wall panels? Yes, it would appear that our ball-like friend is on board the Millennium Falcon.