Star Wars Celebration kicked off with Star Wars: The Force Awakens Director JJ Abrams (Star Trek, Super 8) and Producer Kathleen Kennedy talking about filming the next chapter in the Star Wars saga and what they hope to bring to the franchise. New cast members, including John Boyega, Daisy Ridley and Oscar Issac, made their way to the stage to greet thousands of screaming fans. Eventually, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Anthony Daniels and Peter Mayhew walked on, greeted with even greater applause. However, the moment that everyone was waiting for finally came. The second trailer for The Force Awakens was revealed, giving audiences a chance to see what’s been happening in a galaxy far, far away for the last 30 years.
Watch the trailer below and be prepared to squeal or shed a tear for the most highly anticipated film of the year.
I have to admit, I got a little emotional while watching the trailer. Whether it’s just hearing the film’s classic score, seeing the old familiar faces of characters that I love or just marveling over the amazing looking practical and special effects, the trailer sold me as soon as it was over. There’s a ton of things to unpack within those two minutes. We get a glimpse of a crashed Imperial Star Destroyer in a desert (now confirmed to be set on the desert planet of Jakku), the burnt husk of what’s left of Darth Vader’s helmet, the Millennium Falcon dodging Tie Fighters, a mysterious cloaked figure (possibly Luke Skywalker) sitting next to R2-D2 and Rey (Ridley) and Finn (Boyega) under heavy fire from unknown attackers. The trailer ends with a shot of a smiling Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and a heavily armed Chewbacca (Mayhew) aboard the Millennium Falcon.
In addition to the score and the wonderfully nostalgia inducing images, Hamill provides a suitably heart-tugging narration that harkens back to the original trilogy, specifically his conversation with Leia in Return of the Jedi before his confrontation with Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine. It’s those few words that really brings everything together, connecting the older generation with the new generation. I’m gushing, but this trailer only builds my confidence that Abrams, Kennedy, Disney and everyone else involved wants to bring about a glorious return-to-form with Star Wars.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens will premiere in theatres December 17, 2015.
What about you reader? What did you think of the second trailer for The Force Awakens? Let us know in the comments below! I’m going to be busy watching it again.
