The secrecy surrounding “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” has been tighter than a Death Star detention level garbage masher — until now!
Director J.J. Abrams and producer Kathleen Kennedy (and some new and familiar cast members!) spoke with fans at the Star Wars Celebration on Thursday in Anaheim, Calif., where they shed new light on arguably the most highly anticipated sequel in the history of cinema.
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AccessHollywood.com was among the fans (many of whom where decked out on their best “Star Wars” costumes and brandishing their lightsabers) at SWCA and here are some of the standout details the panel shared:
This is not the desert planet you’re looking for: The barren sand-covered planet seen in the first two teaser trailers, isn’t somewhere fans have seen before: “People thought it was Tattoine,” J.J. told the crowd “It’s Jakku.”
Expect more real and less CGI: The director said there are an “endless number of effects” but a lot more real tangible things than fans might expect. “We needed to set a standard that was real…. you want it to be legitimate and authentic,” he said of the real sets and locations used in “TFA.”
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That includes everyone’s possible new favorite droid BB-8 (the ball droid): “We talked about how having a CGI BB-8 would be easier. But we thought it would be better for the actors and the performances to have the real thing,” the director said as the droid joined R2-D2 on stage — do we detect a droid rivalry?
Enter the newcomers: Daisy Ridley, John Boyega & Oscar Isaac took to the stage with J.J. and Kathleen and spoke about their characters.
Daisy on Rey: “We discover Rey on the desert planet Jakku. She is a scavenger in a ship graveyard… very solitary. Until she meets another character and an adventure begins.”
John on his AWOL stormtrooper Finn: “When we find Finn, he’s in incredible danger. The way he decides to react changes his life and launches him into the ‘Star Wars’ universe in a unique way.”
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Oscar Isaac on his X-Wing pilot character Poe Dameron: “He’s the best frickin’ pilot in the galaxy, that’s who he is. He’s been sent on a mission by a certain princess. He comes across Mr. John Boyega’s character and their fates are forever intertwined.”
Enter the “Star Wars” vets: Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels and Peter Mayhew joined the panel to cheers from the crowd!
Leia’s new, less-cinnamon-bun, look: “The buns are tired now. So [Leia is] probably not going to have the futuristic buns. But we have an alternate thing I think you’ll be into, [but] not the metal bikini!”
Mark’s message: “I have a simple message: a simple thank you. If it weren’t for all the UPFs—Ultra Passionate Fans—we wouldn’t be here. It never ceases to amaze me.”
J.J., who described the franchise as a “a western and a fairlytale,” told the crowd, “I’ve never had more fun in my life working on anything” and that despite the inconceivable amount of hype, anticipation and expectation there is for the movie that they are working to please the diehard fans.
“You can’t please everybody, but we are trying to [exactly] do that,” he explained.
And before the panel ended and the newest teaser trailer was shown, the director told the crowd, “The energy you’re throwing our way is evidence of the Force!”
“Star Wars: The Force Awakens” opens in theaters on December 18, 2015.
— Jesse Spero
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