By Erykah Benson ’17 | Page Editor
It’s a matter of days before nerds everywhere congregate to watch what is predicted to be one of the biggest movies of the year. “Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens,” is set to premiere on Friday, Dec. 18 in theaters everywhere.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the film is projected to reel in $170 million to $240 million during the opening weekend, topping the all-time record of $2.8 billion dollar at the box office of the movie “Avatar” in 2009. While there has been a lot of hype surrounding secrets about the movie, director JJ Abrams has managed to keep them under wraps, while fans are buzzing about one of the most momentous events in cinematic history. In honor of the seventh installment of this legendary series, here are the top seven things fans should be excited for in “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.”
1) BB-8 //
Though R2D2 won the hearts of Americans everywhere as the cute, comedic companion of C3PO, it’s time to make room for Star Wars’ new baby: BB-8, an adorable droid appearing for the first time in the teaser. It will be both exciting and entertaining to see how the spherical droid will play out in the film.
2) New characters, new storylines
As fun as it will be to see the original cast pick up from where they left off, it will also be exciting to see how the fresh new faces will be woven into the story. Finn, played by John Boyega who is first introduced to fans beaded with sweat and in a frenzy of panic, dons a Stormtrooper outfit in the sands of desert planet. Daisy Ridley plays Rey who, according to Cinema Blend, describes herself as a lone scavenger who lives in the ruins of a crashed Star Destroyer, also appearing in the trailers. The two appear to be the frontrunners of the next generation of Star Wars, and it’ll be entertaining to watch the dynamic duo battle against the dark side in this new landscape.
3) Original Score
There are many things that will be different with the new Star Wars movie than from any of the previous movies. For one, the movie was filmed by director JJ Abrams. Second, it is confirmed, according to a USA Today article, that ewoks and Jar Jar Binks will not appear in movie, so for those who have a special place in their heart for that goofy Gungan and those adorable teddy bear warriors, my condolences. However, one thing that fans will be happy to see is that the new movie has kept the iconic original opening score, also performed under the direction of the legendary John Williams. The recycled music from previous movies are sure to evoke a sense of nostalgia that is singular to the Star Wars franchise. You can watch John Williams conduct the opening music for “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” in this article from the Independent.
4) Femme Fatale
Carrie Fisher, the actress who played Princess Leia, tells The Daily News and moviegoers to expect to see some major girl power in this newest installment of the Star Wars series. Though the character of Princess Leia was a powerhouse of a personality, it could be argued that she played more of the role of the “damsel in distress” and had little moments of heroism throughout the trilogy. However, according to the Daily News article, Fisher said the new character, Rey, played by Daisy Ridley, will play more of an active heroine role in the movie.
5) The elusive role of Lupita Nyong’o
While the mysterious character actress Lupita Nyong’o has remained under wraps, recent promo videos reveal her role, according to an article in The Guardian. Lupita plays Maz, an undefined character who has been loosely described as a short, orange, very old extraterrestrial, according to a recent article by People magazine. While her exact significance in the movie is yet to be defined, the Academy Award-winning actress will nevertheless be an exciting addition to the Star Wars universe.
6) Return of the Squad
Whether you’ve been a diehard fan from birth or you’ve just recently become one with the Force, the return of the original trio of Han Solo, played by Harrison Ford, Princess Leia, played by Carrie Fisher, and hopefully, Luke Skywalker, played by Mark Hamill, will cause a flood of love and nostalgia. All of this takes place 30 years after where they left off in Star Wars: Episode 6 “Return of the Jedi,” according to The Arizona Daily Sun.
7) Where is Luke Skywalker?
Has Luke Skywalker joined the dark side? Fans rave in response to Luke’s absence in the trailers. As described in a USA Today article, though, there are several fan theories floating around, one of which is that Luke Skywalker actually is Kylo Ren, the ominous villain wielding a red lightsaber in the first trailer released. On the other hand, Mark Hamill, who originally played Luke Skywalker, is scheduled to be in the film, according to The Arizona Daily Sun, and Kylo Ren is played by actor Adam Driver. Could this hooded figure really be the Luke Skywalker? Whether he has followed in his father’s footsteps or is being hidden away for a much larger purpose, fans anticipate a big reveal for Skywalker.
