Rolling Stone Magazine Goes Behind the Scenes of Star Wars: The Force Awakens!

KylohelmetRollingStone magazine were lucky enough to watch an edited footage from The Force Awakens! Read on for the highlights of their coverage.

 

Adam Driver on delivering a speech to Darth Vader’s melted mask:

“When someone sets the scene for you, it’s always very funny. The idea that in this reality, Darth Vader is real.” And now, one of the most promising actors of his generation has a large supply of dolls of himself. “I’m set for Christmas presents for the next 10 years,” Driver says.

 

Rey

Daisy Ridley is planning her future, and takes a very grounded approach for a new upcoming star.

While the others plunge on with their careers, Ridley is planning to study psychology at university, a break she hopes will help keep her grounded in the face of sudden intergalactic fame. “I think I’ll be OK,” she says. She goes silent, then repeats herself. “I don’t know. I think I’ll be OK!”

 

Mark Hamill’s plans to maintain low profile were troubled by Harrison Ford.

But his first reaction to Lucas’ news, delivered at a lunch during a Star Wars convention, was to enter a “state of shock.” He realized he had mixed feelings. “We’re all in a great place and we’ve all done it before,” he says. “There was a beginning, middle and end. You have to think about all the aspects, ’cause if you wanna maintain a low profile, this isn’t the best way to do it!” He found himself hoping that Ford wouldn’t do it. “I said, ‘The ace in the hole is, Harrison’s not gonna do this. Why would he?’ So that’s our escape clause. You know, if I’m the only one, I’ll look terrible – but if he doesn’t do it, I don’t have to do it.”

 

Screenshot_1

And finally the Rolling Stone was able to attend an editing session.

Back at Bad Robot, I am permitted to watch Abrams editing the movie for precisely 20 minutes. That adds up to maybe a minute or two of actual footage. So I can confirm that there is a space battle in the film, featuring X-Wings and TIE fighters and something like a Death Star. There is a lightsaber duel, where Kylo Ren is unmasked, revealing an intense-looking, unscarred Driver. There is a weapon that the filmmakers, at least, refer to as a “Sunsucker.” I see a churning energy device on the ground of a planet that sends a massive, lavalike beam upward – Sunsucker or not, it looks scary.

 

Maz Kanata's 02

Remember those flags?

The flags are designed to drive superfans nuts with references to the earlier movies, but Abrams tells Guyett that too many of them allude to the first of Lucas’ prequels: “I don’t want to be too about podracers,” he says. “I’d rather come up with our stuff.”

Or as the Emperor would say: Everything Is Proceeding As I Have Foreseen.

 

They drove us nuts.

 

Rolling Stone

 

For the full story go to RollingStone

 

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90 thoughts on “Rolling Stone Magazine Goes Behind the Scenes of Star Wars: The Force Awakens!

  • December 2, 2015 at 8:09 pm
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    SPOILERS

  • December 2, 2015 at 8:10 pm
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    Uh… still them saying that we get a death star like thing bothers me

    • December 2, 2015 at 8:27 pm
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      Maybe the Death Star like thing is fake, a decoy, much like the town they built in ‘Blazing Saddles’.

      • December 2, 2015 at 8:44 pm
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        AS if the First Order would not try to get a WMD. Supposed to be more devastating than the Death Star.

        • December 2, 2015 at 9:56 pm
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          I think the First Order should lighten up a little. Maybe organise a Mel Brooks night. A triple feature of Blazing Saddles, History of The World Part I, and Space Baws.

      • December 3, 2015 at 5:17 am
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        Maybe the Resistance will slow the First Order down by putting up toll roads in space 🙂

        • December 3, 2015 at 5:36 am
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          Would be one hell of an emotional twist. Could be what John Boyega was referring to regarding fan reaction.

          • December 3, 2015 at 5:40 am
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            Can just imagine Kylo Ren looking around, frustrated. “Anybody got some credits? No? Damn.. .somebody’s got to go back and get a shitload of credits”

    • December 2, 2015 at 8:45 pm
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      I think the idea for the Starkiller base is kinda cool. It’s DS-like but instead of destroying planets, it causes suns to go supernova, wiping out entire systems.

      I mean, what’s a SW film without a giant super weapon to act as a mcguffin for the heroes to destroy 😛

      • December 2, 2015 at 10:03 pm
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        Empire and it’s still the best one.

        • December 2, 2015 at 10:17 pm
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          Good Answer !

          • December 3, 2015 at 3:42 am
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            Ha! Also since it’s the only film with no desert planet!

      • December 2, 2015 at 10:22 pm
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        what’s a Star Wars film withouth a giant super weapon? Episode V

        • December 3, 2015 at 12:17 am
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          And that will probably be how EP8 is, but no Kasdan.

      • December 2, 2015 at 11:28 pm
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        Only two of the six actually use a super weapon as a hurdle. I think the idea of another super weapon is a smart move and raises the stakes. Although hopefully 8 and 9 will avoid the idea. If that ends up being the case, 3 out of 9 is not a bad ratio. But I agree on what others have said about Empire. Best one by far. 🙂

    • December 2, 2015 at 8:54 pm
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      I don’t like the idea of another death star per-se, but I think its cool that they took inspiration from the suncrusher of the the Jedi Academy series (one of my favorites), but made it like a deathstar/suncrusher hybrid so it feels less like fan-fiction and more like a natural evolution of WMDs in the Star Wars universe. Once I see it in context I will have a better opinion, but as long as they don’t steal plans to it or it has an obvious “weak spot” then I think it will be a cool part of the story.

      • December 2, 2015 at 10:22 pm
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        yeah, let’s hope they don’t have a trench run or a large opening to reach the core

    • December 3, 2015 at 12:30 am
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      With all due respect, why does it bother you? I can understand being concerned about it perhaps being similar or a rehash, but it isn’t inconsistent in the SW universe that a massive weapon capable of destroying planets or solar systems would be developed, built and employed by one side or the other. Jedi had no problem reusing the Death Star. Also, when you think about the flaws in Jedi, the discussion doesn’t involve the Death Star.

      • December 3, 2015 at 11:09 am
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        Death Star II in Jedi made sense, because the whole power sistem of the emperor was supposed to be based off a death star he could easily use. The fact that 38 years later they do an all-new superweapon and that articles often call a “new death star”, that’s what’s bothering me… having a superweapon for the third time… and mainly, if the superweapon has either a trench run (As some people hinted at looking at the third trailer) or an exhaust port, or an opening enough large to make a ship get inside, well… that’s why it bothers me. I don’t want TFA to seem really an ANH reboot… I mean… Girl stranded on a desert planet wishing to leave…. droid comes up and they manage to leave with the falcon… somewhere I read that

        /SPOILERS/
        rey and BB-8 are prisoners on starkiller base, and that Finn, Han and chewie come to rescue them…
        /SPOILERS END/

        if we add anything ANH-ish, that’s just too close…

        • December 4, 2015 at 2:16 pm
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          Thanks, Clone11038. I understand the concern, however, I am simply suggesting that it is completely understanding that a large ideological group focused on control would seek to develop a Death Star like weapon. To me, similar as it may be to two of the three OT films, it would not be inconsistent in the universe to seek to develop such a weapon.

          I’m mixed on your second point. I do think it would be disappointing to have a retelling of ANH, but I also think that JJ & K are smarter than that. To me, it is tempting (and easier) to put together a potential reboot narrative when we have the original (ANH) and selected glimpses of TFA. I could easily see them using or playing with these similarities with respect and with joy as their way of connecting with the previous film and the audience. After all, there are plenty of differences we can suggest from the glimpses we have as well.

          The bigger challenge is to enjoy the film on first viewing without either analyzing or critiquing until it is over. This is true for good and bad moments. I still remember how Jar Jar’s appearance in TPM toke me out of the film. And the dumbed down humor made me wince during the film more than once. I still enjoyed that film, but even if TFA ends up being a retelling or recasting of ANH, I hope it is done well enough to leave all of intrigued or embittered thoughts till second or third viewing.

          Cheers

  • December 2, 2015 at 8:20 pm
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    “There is a lightsaber duel, where Kylo Ren is unmasked, revealing an intense-looking, unscarred Driver.”

    Please share this quote with all of your daffy #LukeIsKyloTruther friends.

    • December 2, 2015 at 10:29 pm
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      I don’t see them ever admitting defeat.
      They’ll be just like the Black Knight in Monty Python and the Holy Grail–denial to the last breath…!
      “It could be plastic surgery!”

      • December 3, 2015 at 4:19 am
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        You can’t reason with crazy.

  • December 2, 2015 at 8:22 pm
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    Interesting that you can see his hair coming out beneath the helmet in that new pic.

    • December 2, 2015 at 8:43 pm
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      Most likely why he wears his hood. To be honest, I don’t think Kylo wears the mask to hide his identity but more as a fear tactic and homage to his favourite person, Vader.

      • December 3, 2015 at 4:14 am
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        Agreed.

      • December 3, 2015 at 4:55 am
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        Well, why did Boba wear a helmet that covered his face? Or, the Stormtroopers? Because it’s bad-ass and is an intimidation tactic.

  • December 2, 2015 at 8:32 pm
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    OK, assuming Kylo Ren will play nice and not kill everyone in sight, we have GOT TO GET a CSI team in there to go over things with a blacklight.

    “Kylo? Have we been naughty on Vader’s helmet?” 😉

    • December 2, 2015 at 8:43 pm
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      Um.. You’re gross

      • December 2, 2015 at 8:49 pm
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        I can totally live with that.

  • December 2, 2015 at 8:34 pm
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    So anyone still think there is “no way” that Kylo is talking to the helmet? lol

  • December 2, 2015 at 8:41 pm
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    What is that oozing out of the back of Vaders helmet? Is that just melted mask or is that actual Anakin Skywalker genetic material… haha.

    • December 2, 2015 at 8:42 pm
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      There’s nothing oozing out of the helmet? That’s just the reflection of the podium it’s standing on.

    • December 2, 2015 at 10:15 pm
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      Genetic material coming out of his helmet?

      Too far!

  • December 2, 2015 at 8:46 pm
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    The flags are designed to drive superfans nuts with references to the earlier movies, but Abrams tells Guyett that too many of them allude to the first of Lucas’ prequels: “I don’t want to be too about podracers,” he says. “I’d rather come up with our stuff.”

    Fanboy love letter film confirmed

    • December 2, 2015 at 8:50 pm
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      That gives me a glimmer of hope for other similar Easter eggs. I would love to have just one namedrop from the EU being brought back into canon.

      • December 2, 2015 at 10:36 pm
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        Well, Poe is the name of one of the Droids in X-WING book 5: Wraith Squadron, so that might be one.

      • December 3, 2015 at 4:53 am
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        Finn Windu? (“Finndu” as I like to call this theory.)

  • December 2, 2015 at 8:57 pm
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    So funny Luke being missing from even the Rolling Stone cover. I really wonder what they’re up to.

    • December 2, 2015 at 11:14 pm
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      His only head shot is at the very end. If they show it, they show the end.

      • December 3, 2015 at 5:13 am
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        You’re probably right, and while I’m starting to reluctantly accept that rumour, I’ll believe that when I see it on December 17, but not until then.

  • December 2, 2015 at 9:27 pm
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    So now it is official: kylo Ren is not Luke and he1s talking to Vader’s mask. Of course, we already knew thatm but there are always those who insist on denying the evidence.

    I am now looking forward to the official confirmation that Snoke is not Darth Plagueis and that Rey’s staff is just a staff.

    • December 2, 2015 at 10:14 pm
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      Driver has officially been Kylo Ren for a while. If people have been holding out on him being Luke they are deluded.

    • December 2, 2015 at 11:04 pm
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      “I am now looking forward to the official confirmation that Snoke is not Darth Plagueis”

      Don’t say that, Kristian Harloff would blow a gasket 😛

    • December 3, 2015 at 4:13 am
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      We already have official confirmation from both Daisy Ridley and J.J. that Rey’s staff is just a staff, but people refuse to believe it. It’s like those who, no matter how much evidence you show them debunking some crazy conspiracy theory, will just say the evidence is part of the conspiracy, and keep believing anyway. There’s no reasoning with crazy people. (And while I doubt Snoke is Plagueis too, I kinda hope he is, to be honest. I think that would be a cool wrap around for the whole saga… but also not very likely at all to happen, especially considering J.J.’s opinion of the PT.)

    • December 3, 2015 at 4:52 am
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      Also confirmed: Kylo removes his mask at some point, and it’s Adam Driver with his normal face. Just as he was photographed in the Vanity Fair shoot.

  • December 2, 2015 at 10:00 pm
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    Great stuff here…..

    – That shot above looks directly cribbed from Vader talking to The Emperor in Empire

    – Kylo might be the first truly insane villain

    – Sunsucker?! That’s even worse than Starkiller. Bad even by EU standards.

    – JJ admits he’s downplaying the PT references which is no surprise to anyone but a nice confirmation

    • December 2, 2015 at 10:56 pm
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      All he said was he didn’t want it to be about pod racers… Then further said he wants to come up with his own stuff. I guess we’re perceiving it differently. This is a new story with a new cast, with a beginning middle and an end. It’s a new story arc with history. The fact that the flags are there and representing the first prequel shows the exact opposite of what you are saying. People like you want to think the prequel never happened well those flags confirm the prequels in the film. One even being of Anakin’s podracer flag. There is a history, it includes the prequels whether you block it from your brain or not.

      • December 2, 2015 at 11:04 pm
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        PT bits and pieces like podracer parts in the background are nothing.

      • December 3, 2015 at 12:15 am
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        Yes and we don’t know he said eliminate all podracing flags, he just may have meant there were too many.

      • December 3, 2015 at 3:49 am
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        Um, non-fans are not going to give a shit about some flags for a few seconds in the background you need to freeze frame to indentify. Abrams also said he was a fan of the OT not the PT.

        What do you see in marketing material other than OT shit everywhere? Redesigned vehicles, costumes, weapons, droids, aliens inspired by IV-VI.

        How many prequel aliens and vehicles are in this one? How many cues and themes from the score in this one?

        There is reason why McQuarrie is the main visual influence here, they don’t want to say they are pretending I-III never happened as not to offend any customers.

        It wouldn’t surprise me if they reboot the Prequel trilogy someday. If they could they would decanonize it like the EU, Possibly after Lucas dies.

        • December 3, 2015 at 5:12 am
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          Maybe that’s why Luke isn’t in any of the marketing, because his character first appears in the prequels? 🙂

          • December 3, 2015 at 8:46 am
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            I see what you did there. : )

        • December 3, 2015 at 2:23 pm
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          I reckon “sunsucker” is a wink to the franchise a as whole. You know, all those folks to stayed in their basements and bedrooms to endless replay the movies on DVD and left them as pasty whiteboys without any sun kiss.

          • December 4, 2015 at 1:48 am
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            I’m pretty sure the name was used in one of those Emanuelle films too.

    • December 2, 2015 at 11:06 pm
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      I’m sure “sunsucker” was never an actual name in the movie, more of a “working title” during production.

    • December 3, 2015 at 12:14 am
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      Sunsucker was what they were calling it as a nickname during production, that’s all.

  • December 2, 2015 at 10:01 pm
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    2 more weeks!!!!!!!!!!!!

    • December 2, 2015 at 10:30 pm
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      AARGH

    • December 3, 2015 at 1:43 pm
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      two weeks from now ill be heading to the theater this time

  • December 2, 2015 at 10:19 pm
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    Looks like a big hole in the top of Vader’s helmet, it could be the way it melted I guess unless it was purposely made to remove Anakin’s skull…you know what those pesky Ewoks are like !

  • December 2, 2015 at 10:33 pm
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    Sweet you can see Driver’s hair underneath his helmet. Coolest Kylo Ren shot imo. I can’t wait to see this character and who he really is.

  • December 3, 2015 at 12:01 am
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    A couple of theories i came up with:

    1) What if the emperor had already started construction on starkiller base in secret back in the OT era? 32 years sounds like a fairly short time for the first order to rise to power AND turn and ENTIRE FREAKIN PLANET into a weapon.

    OR

    2) What if the Starkiller base planet is actually……..wait for it….TATOOINE!! To power the weapon it sucked all the heat out of the planet, turning it into an icy world!?

    Of course i’m just speculating here but either option could be fun? Feel free to let me know if i have missed any info that would render these ideas moot! We’re almost there guys!! Cant WAIT!!! May the force be with you all!! xx

    • December 3, 2015 at 1:30 am
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      An official map of the galaxy shows Starkiller and Tatooine as separate planets.

      • December 3, 2015 at 2:42 am
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        so is Jakku and Tatooine but we all know its the same planet. red herrings, misdirections, JJ Abrams and stuff

        • December 3, 2015 at 4:04 am
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          No. They’re not the same planet. The canon novels (as well as the Battlefront game) already establish it as a different planet, conclusively.

          • December 3, 2015 at 6:20 am
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            Yes. Plus, Jakku has only one sun, and it’s very different from both of Tatooine’s. The two planets are separate without a doubt.

          • December 3, 2015 at 12:01 pm
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            ahaha sarcasm undetected. i score

      • December 3, 2015 at 2:47 am
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        Ahhh no worries, thanks for the info! 🙂

        • December 3, 2015 at 7:51 am
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          Yeah bud Starkiller seems to be ilum which is just as exciting imo

    • December 3, 2015 at 2:52 am
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      A map released not so long ago pointed out it may be Ilum, and the base must be powered by kyber crystals.

  • December 3, 2015 at 1:11 am
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    I honestly don’t know why people believe that “Sunsucker” is the actual name of the super weapon. Entertainment Weekly posted an article where they claimed the red beam we have seen comes from Sunsucker. I’m 99.99% sure that the name “Sunsucker” was just what they were calling Starkiller Base when Rolling Stones saw that footage being edited, to prevent a leak. Think about it, just like the Disney Channel TV Spots, all of the interviews and set pictures were when filming was taking place. Sunsucker was probably just a working title for Starkiller Base.

    • December 3, 2015 at 1:52 am
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      That makes all of the sense.

  • December 3, 2015 at 2:41 am
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    that is one helluva shot with Kylo right there.

  • December 3, 2015 at 2:58 am
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    wait a tic, do i spy daisy ridley in a promo shot without the staff? that’s gotta be a first. i love that RS cover though, i’m assuming those four will be the main team of the movie with the other heroes off doing something else.

  • December 3, 2015 at 5:01 am
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    Did lastcheck mix at the IMAX Labs today.
    Not usually an emotional guy, but those X-Wings engines. Good lord, what glorious sound.

    • December 3, 2015 at 1:42 pm
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      this will be my first IMAX film ever in Dolby atmos. is it gonna blow my mind?

      • December 3, 2015 at 4:11 pm
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        Dolby is a different proprietary 😉

  • December 3, 2015 at 5:34 am
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    Feel insulted that they feel like they are referencing Episode 1 “too much” with the flags. Can’t that film get its 0.001 seconds worth???

    • December 3, 2015 at 6:19 am
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      I actually love that shot with the flags. It’s so dense…

      • December 3, 2015 at 8:53 am
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        lulz

    • December 3, 2015 at 7:33 am
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      Any reference at all is generous for that hot mess.

    • December 3, 2015 at 2:18 pm
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      I’m really struggling to see how flags that are barely seen can be “too much about podracers”.

      Like or loathe the prequels, that are part of the Saga. The attempt to distance themselves from them I think is a mistake and it will ultimately make the narrative of the story as a whole more disjointed.

      • December 3, 2015 at 3:56 pm
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        Rebels is filled with themes and characters from the PT era and there’s this short novella about Count Dooku’s treasure, so Disney/Lucasfilm are not distancing themselves from the prequels; they’re even profiting from them.

        This is an Abrams thing, methinks. The guy’s made it no secret that he’s no fan of the PT. But if he really wants to pay homage to the OT as badly as it seems, then he should probably remember that ANH is now filled with references to what eventually became the PT.

        • December 3, 2015 at 3:59 pm
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          Yup

  • December 3, 2015 at 8:03 am
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    Holyyyyy crap, they leaked the identity of Kylo Ren. “I will finish what you started” – “Meesa finish what you started, Ani”.

  • December 3, 2015 at 2:13 pm
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    With all the publicity shots with Han in, I hope that we get one with the classic three after the movie is released.

  • December 3, 2015 at 4:04 pm
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    If we didn’t have Vaders helmet burnt in that pic I’d swear Kylos helmet at the back was made from it.

  • December 3, 2015 at 4:58 pm
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    This is a lot of Star Wars news in one week. It’s like so much I can’t keep up. I’m not complaining it’s just crazy how much there is now. Before we were begging for leaks now it’s overwhelming lol

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