UPDATE: Who Is Andy Serkis Playing In The Force Awakens?

Episode VIIYou must have been off-planet or living under the proverbial rock NOT to have seen or at least heard about the new The Force Awakens teaser trailer that dropped on the world on “Black Friday” . . . hmm, “Black Friday” may prove prescient, methinks. Well, anyway, everyone and their mothers worth their salt in the Star Wars Blogosphere have offered up play-by-play descriptions, explanations, and/or analysis of said trailer. But now we delve a little deeper into the mystery of the “Voice Over” after you jump to hyperspace!

 

The voice is Andy Serkis! That was confirmed on ABC’s “Good Morning America.” Mystery solved, so you can stop reading now. OR can you? See there was definitely a spectre of doubt hanging over the trailer as to just who provided that creepy voice in the tease. I, along with many millions of people around the world, erroneously believed it to be that of Benedict Cumberbatch. To briefly explain — Film Chronicles launched a rumor back a ways that stated that Cumberbatch was signed on to play a Sith villain and that he would have a small, but pivotal, role in Episode VII that would expand as the Sequel Trilogy continued. Then there was the spring-long, cheeky “I know something you don’t know” denials that convinced people that Benedict was trolling us in similar fashion to his [JJ Abrams induced] Star Trek: Into Darkness “I am not Kahn” denials. We didn’t really believe Benedict, or anyone else for that matter, but at some point Cumberbatch re-confirmed via a Q & A with The Iris on Twitter:

 

 

This all matters because Andy Serkis — famed for his mo-cap work on Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, Kong and Apes — has never sounded so cold and sinister before, at least this is my estimation. HitFix concurs:

“Look, I understand why there was some debate about the voice-over today. We’ve never really heard that voice come out of Serkis before. By now, though, one of the things we know about him is that he vanishes into roles, and it sounds like he’s going to be doing something very different again this time.”

 

Darth???

His voice in TFA trailer is downright bassy, with more than a hint of malice as he simply recites a few simple phrases:

“There has been an awakening . . . Have you felt it? The dark side . . . and the light . . .”

 

It’s creepy. It’s haunting. It’s daunting AND it’s enough for you to believe he is playing a villain. I do. And here are some things we can now state for sure as FACT. According nydailynews.com, Serkis didn’t even know that his dialogue was going to be used for the teaser trailer:

“(Director J.J. Abrams) said to me, ‘Andy, just so you know you’re all over the trailer, your voice is all over the trailer,” says Serkis, “And I went, ‘Oh, that’s great, that’s fantastic,’ but I had no idea it was going to cause such consternation and intrigue.”

 

Clearly this dialogue was NOT recorded just for the trailer as some fans around the web have suspected. This is dialogue from the movie, which means dialogue spoken by Serkis’ character, whomever that may be as Serkis confirms in the same article:

Serkis shows a Jedi master’s skill at deflecting potential spoiler questions about his role in movie that doesn’t hit our galaxy until Dec. 18, 2015 — but did tease that the raspy voice was very much “emotionally rooted” in his top-secret character.

 

“Raspy” and “emotionally rooted” almost assuredly screams Top Secret “Sith” [read dark side practitioner] to me. Now, we suspect, according to a rumor reported by JediNews, that Serkis is playing multiple characters in the film. That isn’t the question here. However, a slew of others have awakened. Have you felt it? Could it be that Serkis is playing the role that Benedict Cumberbatch was rumored to be “signed-on” for? Could the narrating character be the one that is brief, but pivotal in Episode VII only to expand in Episodes VIII & IX? And who might this character be?

 

PlagueisCover In order for us to answer some of these questions let’s look at all the “evidence.” Keep in mind this is all based on “inside sources” as well as rumor and conjecture, so take this with a heart dosage of salt as well as the caveat “buyer beware.” RECALL that back on May 6th, 2014 Harry Knowles of Ain’t It Cool News posted a brief report about the Episode VII subtitle, which he reported from an inside source was “The Ancient Fear.” Obviously, this is wrong. However, in the same article he stated the following:

He also stated that “it refers to Max Von Sydow’s villain who makes Pazuzu look like a pussy!”

 

We don’t know that Max Von Sydow is playing the main villain. This could be misinformation to throw us off the real actor. However, it is safe to assume that describing the villain who can make “Pazuzu look like a pussy” is true as Disney would surely want a superior villain that could rival the likes of the most iconic villain ever — Darth Vader!   “What else ya got?” you may be asking. Well, I offer for your inspection another bit of “evidence” this time from Star Wars Underworld. According to their “sources” this is how Andy Serkis figures in the film. WARNING POTENTIALLY SPOILERIFIC INFO AHEAD!

1- Andy Serkis’ character basically looks like an old man, zombie like, almost risen from the dead.   2-  He is being referred to as “Uber”, similarly to how Ridley is being called Kira and Nyong’o is being called Rose.   3- “Uber” has communication with Adam Driver’s Sith character, and a character played by Domhnall Gleeson. Serkis potentially is the Master pulling the strings from behind the scenes.   4- All three characters are part of the new “Empire” which Gwendoline Christie’s character is also a part of. She is confirmed to be playing a Chrome Trooper.

 

Darth Plagueis

These are my thoughts based on this Star Wars Underworld info:   First, we have a character that looks like he is a zombie risen from the dead = RESURRECTION. When I saw the teaser trailer for the first time I thought, “That is Benedict Cumberbatch and he is playing Darth Plagueis!” Well, I was wrong about ol’ BC but I’ve been a proponent of the Darth Plagueis theory and the teaser, as well as this new information, seems to have bolstered that potential. In fact it is a popular theory that has many proponents as our very first guest writer “Joe12Hawk” wrote the follow-up “Darth Plagueis Revisited.” Without re-writing the whole theory here, “The tragedy of Darth Plagueis the Wise” suggests that Plagueis found a way to live forever, immortality, or at the very least a way to be resurrected as we of course learned from Revenge of the Sith:

“Darth Plagueis was a Dark Lord of the Sith so powerful and so wise, he could use the Force to influence the midi-chlorians to create life. He had such a knowledge of the dark side, he could even keep the ones he cared about from dying.” 

 

Second, IF Serkis’ character is being code named “Uber” then that suggests that he is THE baddie of all baddies. This is what the word “uber” means according to Merriam-Webster:

über-

prefix ˈü-bər, ˈue-bər —used to indicate that someone is a great or extreme example of a particular kind of person : better, larger, or greater than

 

In every way, shape and form this simple word suggests that this main character, most likely main villain, is greater than anything we’ve seen before. This tiny, four letter word potentially describes a villain that “cheated death,” a main villain that could make “Pazuzu look like a pussy.”

 

Main Villain Third, IF “Uber” is Plagueis it makes perfect sense that he would again be controlling his puppets — in this case Adam Driver’s “Darth Revan”-looking character — pulling the strings from behind the curtain as he had been all along while Emperor Sheev Palpatine (a.k.a “Darth Sidious”) mistakenly believed he was the true puppet master, building the “first Galactic Empire!”   Which leads to the last point — Darth Plagueis truly would have been the wisest, fiercest, and baddest ass in the entire galaxy if he conveniently disappeared behind the perceived curtains of death to allow his minions to work his will — do the heavy lifting — while he waited to reap the rewards.  “A new Empire?” Perhaps a “Sith Empire?” After all, Darth Plagueis desired to and, in actuality, destroyed Darth Bane’s “Rule of Two.” This was covered in the “Darth Plagueis” novel by James Luceno (who also wrote the new canon novel “Tarkin”) and should Plagueis make a triumphant return in Episode VII will surely become canon once more. Joe12Hawk, who has read the “Tarkin” novel, even informed me of the following quote which expounds the Plagueis/Sidious relationship:

“Darth Plagueis had once remarked that ‘the Force can strike back.'”

 

The Force Strikes Back! Could that be a subtitle someday? We’ll find out. But that thought seems to leave little doubt that Anakin Skywalker, “The Chosen One” of prophecy, was created by the will of the Force in response to Darth Plagueis. Therfore it would be reasonable to believe that the Skywalker lineage — perhaps in “Kira Solo” — would be left to fight the Plagueis plague.

 

Desert Daisy BUT before we allow the fans to digest and debate all these new ideas we would be remiss if we did not mention some interesting plot similarities that were brought to light, through The Cantina forum, by a member called “Jedi Master Kalu.” Kalu brought to our attention an old video game called “Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy.” He also spelled-out the plot for us:

Thousands of years after the Sith Empire, during the New Republic era, the Dark Jedi Tavion Axmis (Driver/Christie?) made an attempt to bring Marka Ragnos (Serkis?) back from death, using an old Sith artifact, known as the Scepter of Ragnos in order to siphon the Force from many Force Nexuses all spread across the galaxy, empowering the Disciples of Ragnos. Tavion’s goal to resurrect Ragnos almost succeeded, but her operation was overthrown by the Jedi Jaden Korr (Boyega/Ridley?), defeating Ragnos’ spirit, and enclosing him in his tomb once again.

 

This may not be the exact plot, however, IF a plotline were used in which a Master Sith (a la Plagueis) were to be resurrected then this seems to be a very plausible way to do it. We know you have opinions one way or the other — or even a little nerd rage — so be sure to share them with us in the comments section or join The Cantina community and get in on the conversation that is sure to last for years to come!

 

 

UPDATE!

 

A couple of interesting tidbits came to our attention in the last few days that seem to support the “Andy Serkis is playing Darth Plagueis theory.”   1- On Wednesday, Viral Hide posted an article about a recent conversation Andy Serkis gave to Entertainment Weekly which “debunked” some rumors and speculation revolving around him. Fair enough. However, we’ve tracked down another article, thanks to “Joe12Hawk,” this time from dailymail.uk also from Wednesday, which expounds on the EW info. Expounds quite a bit, actually, in a way that supports the theory:

Andy would also not reveal whether he would be seen on screen or through performance capture.   ‘I can’t say a single thing about that. I’m sorry!’ he laughed. ‘These things will all come out in the fullness of time, I promise.’   Then there’s the character himself. Judging from the voice, he sounds weary and wise. Has Andy’s alter ego been involved in some harsh action in the galaxy over the years?    ‘I have to be very careful about how I answer these questions,’ he said cagily. ‘The character… he’s been through some stuff.’

 

Just the vagueness about whether or not he’s playing a mo-cap character is intriguing enough, given the fact that his Imaginarium is handling the mo-cap work. What’s REALLY intriguing here is that Serkis describes his character as “been through some stuff.” This suggests that this character is old, weary, perhaps war-weary, and, as the article states, wise. “Did you ever hear the tragedy of Darth Plagueis, the wise?” Darth Plagueis is dead . . . or so we think. And if he somehow, some way cheated death and has been resurrected I believe that qualifies as “some stuff” in spades!

 

Then Serkis went on to say the following:

‘I’m not leading a band of gymnasts or acrobats,’ he laughed, adding that he had not heard the rumour that the title of the movie would be The Ancient Fear. ‘No, no, it’s always just been called Episode VII to this point,’ he revealed. ‘Then I knew it was called The Force Awakens. It’s very pertinent.’

 

The Force Awakens perhaps refers, as a double entendre, to the Force awakening in the new generation of users, both Jedi and “Sith,” but also as in the Force (the enemy entity) awakening after a long slumber. In both cases the title is deemed pertinent. But, if these subtle hints are enough, there was an Official tidbit that also supports this conjecture.

 

2- On Wednesday the Official Twitter account for Star Wars Tweeted the following:

 

 

Astute readers will notice that this is a quote from The Clone Wars, but the timing seems to be a little bit too coincidental to the Serkis interviews hitting the net.

 

+ posts

115 thoughts on “UPDATE: Who Is Andy Serkis Playing In The Force Awakens?

  • December 11, 2014 at 7:36 pm
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    He’s playing two characters.
    I could tell you, but then I’d have to kill you.

    …..that was a hint, btw.

    • December 19, 2014 at 6:26 pm
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      He said in an interview with Entertainment Weekly he is playing only one character…

    • December 19, 2014 at 10:50 pm
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      DARTH KRAYT I BELIEVE SERKIS IS..

  • December 11, 2014 at 7:50 pm
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    I will be disappointed if he plays a cgi character with a lot of screentime.

    I prefer with a mask, or a shadow, or himself, or wathever…

    • December 11, 2014 at 9:29 pm
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      The thing about masks is that they do just that,…’mask’ the character’s emotions. Darth Mail was menacing due to his facial grimacing.

      Darth Vader always has the same expression.

      • December 11, 2014 at 9:34 pm
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        “Darth Vader always has the same expression.”

        Yes, of course, but well done.

        Darth Vader is one of the most loved villains of all time…and he has a mask 😉

      • December 12, 2014 at 9:04 am
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        Darth Mail….Through rain sleet or snow, this Sith Master would get the assassinations delivered…and on time.

        • December 19, 2014 at 5:53 pm
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          Yet….defeated by a Padawan.

          • December 19, 2014 at 7:41 pm
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            But not just any padawan, the legendary Obi Wan Kenobi!

          • December 20, 2014 at 6:13 pm
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            Get outta here with that fan fiction crap.

  • December 11, 2014 at 7:53 pm
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    i don’t like the idea of mixing characters with suits (like chewie) and charatcers with cgi

    • December 11, 2014 at 8:42 pm
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      Taking advantage of the best of both worlds sounds like a genius decision. The CGI in this will be top notch. They know what a money maker they have, and they aren’t going to mess this up.

      • December 16, 2014 at 5:55 pm
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        You may be misusing the word “genius” there. It could be a good or smart decision. But genius? JJ Abrams isn’t Aristotle or Einstein.

    • December 19, 2014 at 6:00 pm
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      What about the scene where prosthetics-coated Dwarf ran away from a Pure-CG Balrog? To paraphrase Master Oogway: ” ‘CG’… ‘Don’t CG’… we are too concerned with what was done badly.”
      END-MISQUOTE
      Everything’s a Bad Idea until some smart guy comes along and does it properly.

  • December 11, 2014 at 8:12 pm
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    Serkis is playing Darth Fatuous, the Sith Lord from the trailer that got lost in the Forest, because he did not listen to his master Darth Sententious. He borough his light saber from a friend called Darth Prententious. The are all inhabitants of the planet Moregits in the Dregs sector.

    • December 19, 2014 at 11:52 pm
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      Darth Flatus?

  • December 11, 2014 at 8:15 pm
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    watch Little Dorrit. His Rigaud is brilliant. Thats what you get if you let an actor act under the supervision of a good director. Don’t expect the same thing here. The mocap will overshadow most of his increadable talent.

  • December 11, 2014 at 8:18 pm
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    It’s obvious that they modulated Serkis voice so it sounded lower. That’s not his real voice.

    • December 11, 2014 at 8:29 pm
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      No that’s literally him putting on a voice .. Kinda the whole point

    • December 11, 2014 at 9:26 pm
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      “It’s obvious that they modulated Serkis voice so it sounded lower. That’s not his real voice”

      Absolutely agree!

      • December 19, 2014 at 6:08 pm
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        He actually said in the full interview they did not change his voice at all….it was all him. He also said he was only playing 1 character.
        “There has been an awakening . . . Have you felt it? The dark side . . . and the light . . .”

         

    • December 20, 2014 at 6:16 pm
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      Modulation.. LOL

      There are audio engineers among us who get enraged at people thinking they know audio.

  • December 11, 2014 at 8:21 pm
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    I was told that Serkis will say a line in the movie similar to this (I forgot the exact words):

    “Sith? The Sith are powerhungry and weak. I am no Sith.”

    • December 11, 2014 at 8:42 pm
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      wonder how upset people (not me , a story is a story , only matters if its good) will be if it turns out theres no sith or jedi , but serkis` character is one of mant injecting midi chlorians into them selves to give them powers …… or some other twisty odd take.

      • December 11, 2014 at 9:18 pm
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        That’s not how it works in the Star Wars universe… at all.

        • December 11, 2014 at 11:54 pm
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          the story goes where the writers take it .

          • December 20, 2014 at 12:25 am
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            The word sith is never mentioned in the original movies, and neither is the word padawan. I know that its in the books, so don’t give me an explanation about it. The point is, most people loved the original trilogy and didn’t read all of the books and every single little fact about star wars. The movies stand on their own without all of the midichlorian nonsense, and overly descriptive explanation of sith and jedi. Its more mysterious and magical, and I think it was better that way, as do most people. So I wouldn’t expect too much sith stuff, or midichlorians, or any of the prequel jargon to be in these movies. It will be an attempt to bring back the feel of the original trilogy, regardless of who the villain or villains may be. Remember the original movies it was darth vader and the mysterious emperor. No explanation of where the word darth came from, or why he is called darth vader, rule of 2, sith. No darth sidious, no sith lord, and there is no mention of any of the jargon used in the prequels, or in all of these books and stories. It was a smart decision to leave it out, and I expect it to be left out of the new movies.

            Even Natalie Portman hated the prequels. I’m sorry, but JJ feels that way too.

          • December 21, 2014 at 4:45 pm
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            I agree, having that stuff as backstory is cool, but you don’t HAVE to tell the audience, backstory should be more like an unspoken guideline to the Character’s – well – Character.
            See Boba Fett before and after Attack o’da Clones was released,

            or alternatively, the contents of Marcellus Wallace’s briefcase.
            MY TWO CENTS

    • December 11, 2014 at 9:28 pm
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      “Sith? The Sith are powerhungry and weak. I am no Sith.”

      Ok. The Tom Bombadil of Star Wars?

      Too powerful to waste time in such those ancient religions?

  • December 11, 2014 at 8:24 pm
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    Actually Darth Plageuis being revived or woken from the dead does also make sense in terms of ‘the force awakens’. I do hope it’s plgaeuis. They need to outdo Palpatine so having his master is a guaranteed win. It also ties in nicely that Adam Driver, being sith obsessed, could be the one to resurrect him.

  • December 11, 2014 at 8:50 pm
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    Ok, let’s pause for a bit- I have played The Jedi Academy and I really hope JJ DOES NOT take the plot of the new movie from that particular game.

    Don’t get me wrong- the game is awesome for its age and time but it truly was just popcorn for many of the fans unlike KOTOR. The plot was very nice and all but there was not much spirit there.

    All this new info the trailer gives us is the fact that Uber is just a random somebody from an era long gone, resurected and walking among the new and older heroes of the Galaxy- not the main villain.

    It seems to me as if he is a grumpy has-been dark character whose new life simply is too good to pass up and so he rather enjoys teasing and mentally tormenting the new heroes than actually hurting them.

    Half- arisen from the dead does not mean serious powers- it just means that someone who HAS that power has awoken and so did many of his old followers.

    Uber must be a follower of the new/ ancient Sith menace we saw in the trailer. The Sith’s awakening must have awoken his old subjects like Uber.

    Uber himself seems to me that he was murdered for going against his master and now is just a grumpy old figure how is spitful and vengeful but not evil, at least not anymore. If he was betrayed by his Sith Master then he has the right insentive to become the new storyteller figure of Star Wars.

    The new heroes must come to contact with him at some point, probably on Tatooine. If a flashback is indeed part of the new movie then the time it happens is exactly when Uber tells the young ones what the hell the lightsaber and severed hand they carry with them truly is.

    Tell me your thought on this… Could Uber be an arisen follower and not the Awoken Evil itself?

    • December 21, 2014 at 4:48 pm
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      Yes Please!
      this is a boat I can support. It’s like you’ve been reading my previous comments or something.

  • December 11, 2014 at 8:52 pm
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    Sorry I meant also to say Uber has the incentive to become the new storyteller and to also help Light Side younglings prepare for whatever it is to come.

  • December 11, 2014 at 8:53 pm
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    I personally prefer the theory that Plagieous created Anakin as a perfect host for his own consciousness, as part of his plan to defeat death, to be a much stronger storyline for Anakin’s immaculate conception.

    • December 21, 2014 at 4:49 pm
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      merlin’s beard, it’s harry potter

  • December 11, 2014 at 9:01 pm
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    I really hope its plageuis, but sadly I doubt it. Didn’t they say he looked like an “old man and a zombie?” to me man implies human, where Plageius would likely be a munn. I doubt they would keep the name but change his species (though they definitely could since only his name is cannon). Fingers crossed for the return of the Uber Sith Darth Plageuis.

    • December 20, 2014 at 10:46 am
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      yeah man! Plagueis is Uber whether he appears in the film or not.

  • December 11, 2014 at 9:26 pm
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    The main villain has to be Plagueis. Who else could rival Luke?

    • December 20, 2014 at 12:28 am
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      Vader killed the emperor, not luke. Luke was getting his ass kicked by the emperor.

  • December 11, 2014 at 9:43 pm
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    Here’s a thought: In Episode III, when Palpatine is talking about Plagueis, he makes the statement of him being able to influence the midichlorians to create life, and looks DIRECTLY at Anakin when saying the word “life”. This is a strong indication that the theory of Plagueis using the Force to create Anakin (after all, Shmi Skywalker did say he had no father) is accurate.

    Now consider this… what if by doing so, he was actually imbuing the Skywalker bloodline with his own spirit, to return again in the future? Palpatine said that his apprentice (aka, him) killed Plagueis, and that could be true, “from a certain point of view” as Obi-Wan said. If Plagueis’ spirit is “in” the Skywalker bloodline, and if Adam Driver is indeed playing the son of Han Solo and Princess Leia, then he is in that bloodline. Plagueis could be using Adam Driver’s character as his means of coming back to life, which would be a reason for Driver to start turning to the dark side, as he is becoming possessed by Plagueis.

    • December 11, 2014 at 10:07 pm
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      George Lucas has stated that Palpatine was implying that Plagueis is Anakins creator.

      The original dialog was : “so wise and powerful he could influence the mediclorians to create..you”

      Was changed on the final script to let the audience put two and two together.

      • December 20, 2014 at 12:36 am
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        This story was written by JJ and Kasdan. Lucas is irrelevant to the story, he is a consultant but the story may not be anything like what he originally wrote. They may have changed all of it, or just some of it.

    • December 12, 2014 at 10:59 am
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      Episode VIII: “Adam” I am you grand father.

    • December 19, 2014 at 8:05 pm
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      Not canon. Neither the Vong or Vegere. Good thing too. The Vong storyline was more Star Gate than Star Wars. I don’t think he’s Plagueis either. I’m thinking some new nasty waiting in the dark for things to come to pass.

  • December 11, 2014 at 10:45 pm
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    Plagueis – “killed” in his SLEEP. Became one with the force?

    Yoda – “Soon I will rest, yes, forever SLEEP…” Became one with the force.

    “There has been an awakening, the darkside and the light…”

    Welcome back boys.

    • December 20, 2014 at 12:11 am
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      Fun thing, when yoda died and luke said that he can’t die yoda said something about not being strong enough to cheat death, could this point more towards our Mr Darth P. returning perchance, seeing as Mr D. Sidious said to the D. Vader that he/they had to be strong enough to save and create life, like his former master Mr D. P.

  • December 11, 2014 at 10:54 pm
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    Darth Plageuis was outwitted & killed by Darth Sidious the greatest Sith ever. So there’s no way they would recycle Plageuis. Unless he was a just Holocron projection instructing a new Sith.

    • December 13, 2014 at 11:01 am
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      m sorry dude, Sidious fanboys have no chance here.. Either it will be a new deadly sith or plagueis.. 🙂

  • December 11, 2014 at 11:00 pm
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    Maybe they will bring Darth Maul back too! Yippee!

    • December 20, 2014 at 5:07 pm
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      Enough with maul.
      He has five minutes of screentime in the first chapter, why he has to return in 7 in two body parts, or more precisly, with robotchiken legs? FGS

      Maul will be nothing compared with new dark lord baby

      • December 21, 2014 at 4:52 pm
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        I think Maul actually appears longer than Vader did in ‘New Hope, but somehow had… you know… LESS BEARING on the PLOT, except, someone had to stab Liam Neeson. Movie rules :/

  • December 11, 2014 at 11:06 pm
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    A Sith master knows that his apprentice will eventually crave the power and look to topple him at some point. If you read the Plagueis novel, it appears that he almost invites Sidious to try and kill him during the Sith lightning attack. Plagueis seemed confident that he could cheat death. Maybe he did.

    Sidious and Anakin do all the heavy lifting for him over the years as the empire takes over, and ironically it is Plagueis’ creation, Anakin, that destroys Sidious. Sweet revenge.

    If this is how things materialised, then is say that Plagueis is the ultimate Sith and he made Sidious look like a pussy…

  • December 12, 2014 at 1:03 am
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    The modification on his voice is pitch shifting… it sounds like they dropped his voice by a half step or two. It’s actually one of the oldest audio effects. In the wizard of oz the munchkins voices were sped up by 12 steps. The beatles used subtle pitch shifting on a lot of their songs… it’s most noticeable in “lucy in the sky with diamonds” which is sped up a bit… other songs only sped up by a few cents to make it colored, sparke or warbly… not sure how to put it.

    This song has pitch shifted vocals on the right speaker… the bass sound is Paul going “doo doo” slowed down by an octave. Pretty cool! The acoustic guitar sounds pitch shifted down a bit… both slowed down post:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rx_APcTyIUg

    • December 13, 2014 at 6:54 am
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      As was Amidala’s

    • December 20, 2014 at 12:22 am
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      U had me at Paul

      <3 Beatles

  • December 12, 2014 at 1:28 am
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    For those who haven’t read the Plagueis novel, the first scene is what sets the table for the Sequel Trilogy. Spoilers: When Sidious unleashes his lightning, there was a moment when he felt the Muun gathering his power as if to respond to the assault…

    But Plagueis did nothing of the sort. Damask died without a fight and because that was so unlike his Master, Sidious wasn’t sure if Plagueis was truly dead… his concern was great enough to roll the body over to ensure that he wasn’t still breathing.

    Palpatine’s victory left him with an empty feeling and THAT had nothing to do with Darth Maul getting cut in half on Naboo.

    Sx3

  • December 12, 2014 at 2:31 am
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    “Uber…pulling the strings from behind the curtain as he had been all along while Emperor Sheev Palpatine (a.k.a ‘Darth Sidious) mistakenly believed he was the true puppet master, building the ‘first Galactic Empire!'”

    Great…the awesome new villain is exactly like Palpatine—only more PALPATINEY!

    • December 12, 2014 at 2:34 am
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      Anyone who’s read “Plagueis” understands that Palpatine was the one who cared about political domination. Towards the end of his life Plagueis cared about force mastery. Not sure if he’s the behind-the-scenes manipulating type.

  • December 12, 2014 at 6:51 am
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    While it does seem possible that it could be Plagueis, I wouldn’t be surprised if people started making memes comparing “Dark Lord Plagueis” to “Dark Lord Voldemort”. They do look pretty similar, with similar skin tones and the whole noseless thing, and I could see that as being an issue that was brought up during the pre-production phase, unless they’re going to make his current appearance non-canon. I mean, they changed Bane’s appearance, why not his?

    • December 19, 2014 at 7:59 pm
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      This is exactly the issue I’ve had all along with the notion that a resurrected Plagueis would be the villain in the ST – because it would be way, way too close to Voldemort, right down to the nose-less character design.

      And even if they change the character so that it isn’t a Muun, the whole concept is still entirely too Voldemort-like to not draw endless comparisons from fans and critics alike.

      I just can’t imagine that they would risk bungling the launch of the newly reborn Star Wars franchise by copping the villain so blatantly from Harry Potter.

      And yes, there are differences between Plagueis and Voldemort – differences that fans like ourselves are far more likely to see than the general public will.

      I just don’t see JJ and company undermining their film that way.

      • December 19, 2014 at 11:38 pm
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        check my art of him its scarier then voldemort behance.net/elihyder

  • December 12, 2014 at 1:59 pm
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    Someone one on TFN who is a longtime member of the forum and mentioned rumors in the past turned true said it was Plagueis and G@brielGr@y hinted as much, it definitely is.

    But is he still a Muun? He now “zombie-like” and “looks like an old man”?

    Darth Sion is an undead Sith from the Old Republic which fits the description of a zombie character. Plagueis perhaps has been altered to fit the same description as taking the elements of Darth Revan for Kylo Ren?

  • December 12, 2014 at 5:10 pm
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    So they are basically doing the plot of Harry Potter? Jeez I hope not.

  • December 12, 2014 at 10:15 pm
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    Could Serkis be the voice for Drivers character if the rumors of a Revan type mask are true? James Earl Jones did Vaders voice, but another person played the character. Another tie in to the OT? Just a thought.

  • December 13, 2014 at 2:45 am
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    “There has been an awakening – have you felt it?” If the awakening is the ‘big bad’ a ‘Darth Previous’ (Bane, Plagueis …) what has awakened can’t be the voice in the trailer, they are talking about an ‘other’.

    What we seem to have atleast two dark force users (‘inquisitors’?) talking about something atleast one has felt. Driver somehow becoming a Sith, awakening the Dark Side? Driver awakening ‘Darth Previous’ ? Or maybe it’s ‘Darth Previous’ sensing Luke has achieved something extraordinary?

  • December 13, 2014 at 6:49 am
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    “Clearly this dialogue was NOT recorded just for the trailer as some fans around the web have suspected. This is dialogue from the movie, which means dialogue spoken by Serkis’ character”

    This would imply they were doing voice over ADR during shorting. Which makes no sense, especially if he’s playing a mo-cap character. Voice work is done way later in the process.

    • December 19, 2014 at 6:10 pm
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      Cue the Nega-Yoda Death-bed/Hannibal Lecter scene I’ve been dreaming of.

    • December 20, 2014 at 11:59 am
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      As a location sound recordist, could you please tell me what I am doing on the bloody set every day, then?

  • December 13, 2014 at 5:21 pm
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    There’s concept art floating around of Plagueis in lightsabe duel with Kira…I am pretty sure he is the villain.

    • December 19, 2014 at 5:35 pm
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      Only “ONE” of the villains… there is at least one other

      • December 19, 2014 at 10:54 pm
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        What concept art? All I saw is a guy in a mask… how does that = plagueis. If you saw something to indicate otherwise please cite the source of that info.

  • December 19, 2014 at 6:52 pm
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    I wonder who DDLewis was in talks for. Hopefully we’ll find out around the release. Fck it would have been great. I’m sure his kids wouldn’t let him alone about that one.

    • December 19, 2014 at 10:25 pm
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      Proof or it’s still on the table.

      • December 19, 2014 at 11:06 pm
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        That’s what Plagueis would have you believe.

  • December 19, 2014 at 8:27 pm
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    “The Force Awakens perhaps refers, as a double entendre…”

    double entendre |ˌdo͞obl ˌänˈtändrə| noun
    a word or phrase open to two interpretations, one of which is usually risqué or indecent.

    … so i’m going to assume, that the writer really didn’t really mean double entendre, but just a plain ol’ “double meaning”.

  • December 19, 2014 at 8:29 pm
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    Graverobber is a F’d up Palpatine

  • December 19, 2014 at 8:59 pm
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    They borrowed the plot from Jedi Knight Academy? Please don’t go down this road again, remember Legacy 2?

    I completely agree on the Plagueis theory. Orign is for update. We see repeated details in Tarkin. But is he still the same race? Rebuilding the backstories is going to be a chore for the impatient.

  • December 19, 2014 at 9:31 pm
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    It’s blatantly obvious that Serkis is indeed playing the role of Darth Plagueis. GL planted that seed in ROTS, and with the Plagueis Novel and references in the new Tarkin novel, where it mentions that Plagueis once said that “the force can strike back” it perfectly sets this up for the sequel trilogy.

    His “return” would be a great way to further connect the 3 trilogies together and show just how powerful those who master both sides of the force ( ” the darkside and the light” ) can be. Plagueis isn’t an out and out bad ass Sith but someone who experimented with the force and cheated death. Unlike the Jedi, it seems he was able to physically return – which may be why his description is “zombie like” and “very old”.

    It also shows how superior he was to Sidious. In the novel he seems to invite Sidious to murder him, as if he was confident he could cheat death. The fact that “his creation – Anakin, killed Sidious, was the perfect act of revenge.

    Now it’s his turn to take centre stage…!

    • December 19, 2014 at 10:53 pm
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      You forget 2 things. ROTS was written after the Lucas outline from the 80’s. There was no novel… unless if you are referring to some EU source (do we really have to go down that road again?)

  • December 19, 2014 at 10:12 pm
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    Darth maul

  • December 19, 2014 at 10:57 pm
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    I have just one question and it maybe a dumb one, but IS Plagueis canon?

    • December 19, 2014 at 10:58 pm
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      it has to be, because of PM right? Then why wouldn’t it work? I mean I get that not all SW fans are also novel readers but He was addressed in ROTS.

  • December 19, 2014 at 11:48 pm
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    For the general public, Plagueis would just be a great new bad guy and his backstory isn’t that important. For those of us (Star Wars geeks) who know the films inside out, know that he trained Sidious, know
    That he probably created Anakin, know that he could have possibly cheated death, know that he is now canon given the reference in the Tarkin novel, his own novel AND Hasbro releasing his action figure, It makes perfect sense – and would be a great way to tie it all in. This sequel trilogy, or at least this episode seems to be focusing on the force – the clue is in the title 😉 and Plagueis appears to be a master of the force…

  • December 19, 2014 at 11:52 pm
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    The reconciled enemy was Vader, he is dead.
    The big sith is indeed Plagueis!

  • December 19, 2014 at 11:57 pm
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    Plagueis is canon not simply because he is referenced in the Tarkin novel, but because he is talked about by Palpatine in ROTS.

  • December 19, 2014 at 11:59 pm
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    Aras – I don’t see your point. Lucas changes things and makes things up as he goes along. The inclusion of Plagueis in ROTS was was a late addition to the script – maybe something he thought would be useful to use IF he or someone else one day was to produce a sequel trilogy.

    Why did Lucas have involvement with the Plagueis novel? Why has his figure been released when he doesn’t even have screen time…yet? Why reference him in the Tarkin novel? Why is Serkis playing a motion captured bad guy? Why will he be “zombie like?” “Old?” “Like risen from the dead?” “Killed in his sleep?” The Force AWAKENS?

    Compare the action figure (just google it) to the concept art of the guy behind Rey with the red lightsaber. Zoom
    In – it’s him.

    Imagine Luke Skywalker coming face to face with the guy who started all this! Epic showdown!!!

    • December 20, 2014 at 5:21 am
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      Uhhh.. the figure looks NOTHING like what’s in the concept… the guy in the concept is ripped!

      + as episode VII news pointed out yesterday the older concept drawings are images unlikely to be in the film.

      • December 20, 2014 at 7:14 am
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        Look again but blow up the image.
        Its very Malgus + Plagueis.
        They are calling him Uber as if to say he is a mashup of the best.
        It has been said that we may see masks of many of the great Sith of the Past.
        This film will throw much in the blender from old to start anew.
        Its what Lucas always did.
        The concept art is even reminiscent of the knights of the republic trailer.
        And from what I’m hearing of this film, it is as if that trailer, with Malgus in the knights of the republic MMORP game, was like a short Pre vis of what we can expect times 10.

        I also saw Rey’s speeder and the Abu Dhabi set, in the same related leaks of concept art, not to mention BB 8. So the concept piece in question may not be so far off.
        There is so much of what was in the concept art that we will see.

  • December 20, 2014 at 12:18 am
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    So, I researched on the web about the numbers that appear at the end of the tweet… Although they mark which episode they come from, don’t you think that’s a MAJOR HINT? The episode was Brothers, the one starting off the whole Maul & Savage stories, and who was the only brother left alive? MAUL! I think that Maul might be part of episode VII, don’t you?

    • December 20, 2014 at 7:29 am
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      4.21 = 4+2+1 = Ep 7

  • December 20, 2014 at 12:27 am
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    We’ve heard reports that Luke has become “unhinged”. Has Plagueis, Anakin and the Skywalker family creator, already communicated with Luke? Is this why he is in exile? Could Luke be tempted to find out more about the force through Plagueis “the Wise” knowledge?

    What would Yoda, Anakin and Obi Wan think
    About this?! Have they also “awakened?”

    “There has been an awakening. The dark side and the light…”

    Speculation!!!

  • December 20, 2014 at 12:59 am
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    i.imgur.com/erjy1kY.jpeg

    Seriously guys, zoom in to the face on that guy with the red saber and compare it to the action figure of Darth Plagueis.

    I’d bet on the guy with the red saber is Plaguies and that’s a beaten Kylo Ren on the floor next to him. Who’s coming to save Rey from Plagueis? Enter Luke Skywalker….

    • December 20, 2014 at 1:49 am
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      Yes. I don’t know how all these people are so stubborn…thinking their fanboy wishes might come true and denying what is right in FRONT of their face…

      So far everything that has been leaked has been legitimate. The entire trailer featured what we had already seen in concept art. The CONCEPT ART IS 100% REAL PEOPLE…

      There is NO OTHER explanation as to who that figure is in the background with the lightsaber.

      For those of you making all kinds of ridiculous claims about when things were written, or that Lucas has no control anymore….are you that ignorant? Do you think Lucas will sell his beloved creation without incorporating specific agreements on the plotline that Disney MUST follow into his contract?

      Furthermore —that picture shows Ridleys character holding none other than LUKES lightsaber from ANH. The debate shouldn’t be about Plageuis anymore…but rather —-are we all comfortable with a female playing the major protagonist role in SW? If she has Lukes saber then she must be the equivalent to Luke in this new series…the MAIN protagonist.

      • December 20, 2014 at 5:28 am
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        It’s not a fanboy thing. Plagueis looks dumb, the story idea of him reviving is dumb… so why clutter VII with all these lame concepts? If you want some guy who’s about as menacing as Jar Jar to be the main villain then be my guest… I doubt Abrams agrees.

        “are we all comfortable with a female playing the major protagonist role in SW?”

        And you are dumb. 🙂

        • December 20, 2014 at 7:35 am
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          Plagueis is Master of Sidious so why not?
          They don’t half to exactly design him from the EU/Legends heap.
          This would be his first appearance in a film resurrected so we have no idea what we are getting.
          Holding on to the past has always been a part of Star Wars Lore in which is linked to the dark side, not dying is part of that.
          If Sith can’t become one with the force, only the Pious.
          So I expect a Zombie, Sith are already established as Intergalactic space vampires anyway. Not all that different from Stephen Kings True Knot in his Shining books.
          They suck the life force from others.
          If they bring back a Sith its gonna half to be a frozen thing or resurrection from some place they haunt, because the lightside ain’t having them.
          Also the fact Luke is going up against the guy with the BMF Wallet in this instalment of STAR WARS is just badass if you ask me.

          • December 20, 2014 at 3:56 pm
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            Those banking clan aliens looked stupid… I don’t want one of those guys being the main bad guy.

  • December 20, 2014 at 4:42 am
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    they need to raise the stakes again in the villain department- vader and palpatine were merely servants. its the only way for the ST to not feel like some ‘further adventures’ afterthought.

  • December 20, 2014 at 7:53 am
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    We know we are getting new Sith or one from the Past. I hope it is done well and Im sure it will.
    When this all started I thought either there are some Sith frozen, or Cloning would solve this, if there was not one character lurking in the wings that has been alluded to already.

    I’ve heard versions of Ezra falling to the dark side and showing up and/or inquisitors, which I’m not to keen of.

    I thought perhaps Palpy was going to be like an Obi wan Ghost that lures one of Luke’s Students. Regardless of what Lucas has said, the new creators could allow Sith ghosts, just they can not pass to the light, they just stay in darkness trying to get back into a body.
    However that’s just leads to more complicated story and they have to be defeated at some point, which is the whole point of a morality play, good defeating evil.(So Lucas is right to say they are dead.)

    So I can’t imagine what they have up their sleeve but I hope it can merge the confusion of the PT and OT allowing this new trilogy to marry the whole damn thing.

    I just don’t want some dude in a black cloak dropped in and ta da its Porkins nephew!

  • December 20, 2014 at 7:42 pm
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    I am buying the plagueis action figure.

  • December 21, 2014 at 2:42 am
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    If Ezra falls to the dark side, I hope he doesn’t keep that slingshot he has on his arm.

    • December 21, 2014 at 6:06 am
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      I hope to see the lightsaber pizza!

  • December 21, 2014 at 2:47 pm
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    Purely speculation but I would say Serkis is the voice of Revan and he is talking to Luke in this scene.

    • December 22, 2014 at 1:12 am
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      (sigh)

      • December 22, 2014 at 9:11 am
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        Care to elaborate or is being rude your specialty?

  • December 21, 2014 at 7:02 pm
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    I believe the main villain is Plagueis.
    But I don’t believe that Serkis is Plagueis otherwise why would he say things things like “have you felt it, something has awakened?” I think Serkis is a very old and wise force sensitive being talking to Luke and he may be reffering to the awakening of darth Plagueis.

    Like someone said it in the comments, I think darth Plagueis is the guy we saw in the concept art, just look :
    http://i.imgur.com/erjy1kY.jpeg
    http://a.dilcdn.com/bl/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2014/02/Darth-Plagueis-action-figure.jpg

    And than there is this guy… http://www.troglogeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Star_wars_7_concepts-_art_artworks_1.jpg?lightbox%5Bmodal%5D=true

    Could it be Zombie Darth Plagueis looking at the remains of his son ? http://www.troglogeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Star_wars_7_concepts-_art_artworks_1.jpg?lightbox%5Bmodal%5D=true

  • December 21, 2014 at 11:38 pm
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    Come on! thats not who serkis is playing. Palpatine killed his master in his sleep about 20 years before episode I. Its not him.

    • December 22, 2014 at 1:12 am
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      ITS ME!

  • December 22, 2014 at 1:53 pm
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    20 years before TPM??? Um..no.

  • December 23, 2014 at 3:00 am
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    An Abrams style retcon would be Sidious being a clone of Plagueis. The ultimate evil. Sounds stupid, but not any dumber than a genetically altered Khan.

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