Star Wars: The Force Awakens (Pre-release)

[jkno]

View attachment 519201

He is reaching out for some hot dogs to cook with his flame saber...

 

[kegas76]

That's actually Kylo's brother, Indiana Ren.

They named the dog Indiana.

 

[Redtogusa]

I don't think this comes into spoiler territory but there's an interesting article that sheds more light on who Kylo Ren, Snoke and the First order are:

http://www.empireonline.com/news/st...al&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

"Kylo Ren is not a Sith," confirms JJ Abrams in the new issue of Empire. "He works under Supreme Leader Snoke, who is a powerful figure on the Dark Side of the Force.”

About the First Order:

“That all came out of conversations about what would have happened if the Nazis all went to Argentina but then started working together again?’” Abrams reveals. “What could be born of that? Could The First Order exist as a group that actually admired The Empire? Could the work of The Empire be seen as unfulfilled? And could Vader be a martyr? Could there be a need to see through what didn’t get done?”

 

[Wolfsburg]

That does answer questions I had about the First Order. Is it an Imperial remnant or a faction that admires the Empire and has modeled itself in its image? Looks like the answer is the latter however the presence of the First Order landing craft in Rogue One in Imperial service might imply the FO simply acquired them from surplus or something?

 

[Redtogusa]

It's a good direction to take imo. The idea of the Empire continuing on for thirty odd years after Rotj was a bit of a stretch.


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[Wolfsburg]

Yeah, although if the First Order is the upstart faction of Imperial-wannabes, I still don't quite understand where the Resistance falls into all of this and its relationship to the Rebel Alliance/New Republic...I had heard theories that the First Order WAS the New Republic, or what became of it, but that doesn't seem to be what JJ is implying.

 

[Riceball]

That does answer questions I had about the First Order. Is it an Imperial remnant or a faction that admires the Empire and has modeled itself in its image? Looks like the answer is the latter however the presence of the First Order landing craft in Rogue One in Imperial service might imply the FO simply acquired them from surplus or something?

One possibility that I haven't seen come up yet is that these landing craft are brand new models that closely resemble the old landing craft, after all, form does tend to follow function. Case in point, back in WW II we developed the Higgins Boat, which some people say these resemble, fast forward to today, the USN uses for most ship to shore transport duties something called an LCU or Landing Craft Utility which looks a lot like an overgrown Higgins Boat. So could this landing craft just be the FO's equivalent of an LCU, a modernized version of the landing craft seen in the OT or the prequels?

 

[Wolfsburg]

Good point! I guess that's certainly possible!

 

[Bryancd]

Yeah, although if the First Order is the upstart faction of Imperial-wannabes, I still don't quite understand where the Resistance falls into all of this and its relationship to the Rebel Alliance/New Republic...I had heard theories that the First Order WAS the New Republic, or what became of it, but that doesn't seem to be what JJ is implying.

I think they are separate and distinct. We have verification from the upcoming book releases we do get a New Republic, the resistance seems to be a splinter group.

 

[Inquisitor Peregrinus]

And I've had a feeling since the Korean version of the second teaser and the toy previews that they've got some new gear on the personnel level, but all the vehicles look to be surplus, salvage, raided warehouse, or something like that. In some cases they've been able to update them, like the new TIEs and the upgrade to the speeder bikes' steering and armament, but it seems they're generally using 30-40-year-old vehicles. The snowspeeders look to be from the same manufacturer as the landing craft, and those concept-art walkers definitely imply an origin between ROTS and ESB.

I can't remember if I said it here or elsewhere, but I really want to see an Imperial Remnant show up to save Our Heroes butts, wearing upgraded Stormtrooper armor rather like what we saw in the Legacy comics, TIE Avengers and Interceptors, and like that. I don't think the Empire has survived, as an entity, but I like the message of the Legacy comics -- the problems with the Old Republic were doomed to be revisited by the New (too many voices and conflicting ideologies and moralities to achieve sufficient consensus), and the problem with the Empire wasn't the Empire so much as it was the Emperor. The same unity of purpose that caused such evil and destruction could also be the cause of great good under different leadership. Wishful thinking, but I have my fingers crossed.

--Jonah

 

[Axlotl]

Yeah, although if the First Order is the upstart faction of Imperial-wannabes, I still don't quite understand where the Resistance falls into all of this and its relationship to the Rebel Alliance/New Republic...I had heard theories that the First Order WAS the New Republic, or what became of it, but that doesn't seem to be what JJ is implying.

Ugh. I hope these new films aren't as politically heavy-handed/convoluted as the prequels. I don't want to struggle again to understand who's who in a Star Wars film.
Just give me good guys and bad guys!

 

[Inquisitor Peregrinus]

The thumbnail throughline I perceive so far is: New Republic started with the best of intentions, three decades facing the same issues as the Old Republic have seen them become more like that which they spent so long fighting against. Our Heroes have been around the whole time and see what's happening, urged the Powers That Be to change their ways, were ignored, and now are forced to split off to take what action they can themselves to keep the galaxy from descending once more into Darkness. But before they can do more than begin to get organized, the First Order appears and screws everything up.

--Jonah

 

[Wolfsburg]

I think they are separate and distinct. We have verification from the upcoming book releases we do get a New Republic, the resistance seems to be a splinter group.

So are we thinking that the New Republic (assuming it still exists) is perhaps turning a blind eye to the machinations of the First Order and the Resistance is trying to get people to wake up and take notice of this threat? Something along those lines?

 

[Bryancd]

So are we thinking that the New Republic (assuming it still exists) is perhaps turning a blind eye to the machinations of the First Order and the Resistance is trying to get people to wake up and take notice of this threat? Something along those lines?

i like what Jonah wrote above.

 

[Inquisitor Peregrinus]

So are we thinking that the New Republic (assuming it still exists) is perhaps turning a blind eye to the machinations of the First Order and the Resistance is trying to get people to wake up and take notice of this threat? Something along those lines?

I think the First Order is just going public for the first time in this film. Whether the New Republic turns a blind eye to what they do to Jakku (for instance), I get the feeling Leia (and those who believe in her) are already on the outs with the NR. I could be wrong. We'll find out in December, if not before.

--Jonah

 

[DaddyfromNaboo]

Okay, just skimmed over the last posts, but ...

... are we going to get an Iron Sky-like EP7, i.e. Nazis on the moon i.e Imperials on a backwater planet readying themselves for an onslaught? THEN I hope we are going to see Palpatines clone riding a giant TaunTaun that can project force lightning from its paws ...

In all seriousness, I am so spoiler free I do not even want to think about that. It feels like every little piece of information is too much at the moment You know what´s the worst part? I can´t walk through shops anymore without fearing to see a spoiler
There´s already Star Wars Yoghurt available with new images on them, the kids wanted it, I did not. And who cleaned the lid with the Vader image on it and saved it? Duh ...

 

[Inquisitor Peregrinus]

And who cleaned the lid with the Vader image on it and saved it? Duh ...

If it's any consolation, they're releasing new merch with OT characters -- Vader, Bespin Luke, Jedi Luke, and Boba Fett action figures, OT settings and battles in the new Battlefront game, and so on. So just because you see a character doesn't mean it's a spoiler. But yeah, I feel your pain. You just have to hone your *squinch eyes tight shut* LALALALA!! reflexes as I have. I know a bit about the new film, and as soon as it looks like we have any content past the first act of set-up, I'm going to do my best to bury my head in the sand until December.

--Jonah

 

[niennumb1]

me, too. There will be a point where i'll have to go on information lockdown til December, and that's going to be VERY hard avoiding spoilers. I have a feeling it will be shortly after the full trailer I will have to stop reading stuff.

 

[astroboy]

Okay, just skimmed over the last posts, but ...

... are we going to get an Iron Sky-like EP7, i.e. Nazis on the moon i.e Imperials on a backwater planet readying themselves for an onslaught? THEN I hope we are going to see Palpatines clone riding a giant TaunTaun that can project force lightning from its paws ...

In all seriousness, I am so spoiler free I do not even want to think about that. It feels like every little piece of information is too much at the moment You know what´s the worst part? I can´t walk through shops anymore without fearing to see a spoiler
There´s already Star Wars Yoghurt available with new images on them, the kids wanted it, I did not. And who cleaned the lid with the Vader image on it and saved it? Duh ...

When they first mentioned this film I had hoped to see this begin with General solo in command of a flag ship. But then as the bad guys take over, we have a great segment of him and chewy escaping in the falcon....that's been sitting unused for 30 years. How awesome would that be? A single take shot of Han and chewy running down to the flight deck, up the falcon ramp and into the cockpit....The shot could end with them going into hyperspace with their tails between their legs after getting their asses handed to them by some new regime.

 

[Wolfsburg]

Yeah I'm trying to figure out when I need to lockdown on TFA info. I enjoy speculation and rumor to a degree but as we get closer, the likelihood of having major plot points actually spoiled looms ever greater. I have some suspicions of what could happen but I do like that I actually *know* relatively little.

Anyway, as mentioned above, the presence of a non-hostile or even cooperative Imperial remnant aiding against the FO could be interesting. If the First Order really is an upstart faction that just first becomes known to the galaxy within the timeline of the movie, I do wonder where their funding and backing comes from. If they're not actually a remnant of the Empire, I would imagine it would've taken many years and untold amounts of money to amass that kind of force. With the Empire and its limitless resources, its enormous military might seemed believable. I wonder if the star destroyer seen in the second trailer is a new one or just an old design we've never seen before (maybe akin to a canon Victory-class). They're still using old TIE fighters (along with those with spec op mods?) and it's possible they are using old landing craft so maybe it's plausible?