Earlier this year, Star Wars: The Force Awakens director J.J. Abrams gave fans their very first look the new film with a video from the set. Though it put many of us ease with its use of real sets and props, it was actually designed to promote the charity initiative “Force for Change” and raise money for the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). A second video was released later, which gave us all a fantastic look at the new X-Wing (with pilot!). Now, a third video has arrived and it features Abrams offering his thanks alongside the gratitude of the entire Episode VII cast and crew. You might notice one or two well known characters…
UNICEF’s current network of 14 Innovation Labs help create sustainable solutions to critical issues facing children around the world in the areas of nutrition, water, health, and education. The funds raised through “Star Wars: Force for Change” will impact the lives of children around the world, through projects like MobiStation, a portable, solar-powered educational kit to ensure children have access to quality learning anywhere, and Rapid FTR (Family Tracing and Reunification), a mobile phone application that helps reunite separated and unaccompanied children with their families in natural disasters.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens is set for release on December 18th 2015 and sees returning stars Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker), Harrison Ford (Han Solo), Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia), Anthony Daniels (C-3PO), Kenny Baker (R2-D2) and Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca) joined by John Boyega (Attack the Block), Adam Driver (Girls), Oscar Isaac (Inside Llewyn Davis), Andy Serkis (Dawn of the Planet of the Apes), Domhnall Gleeson (Dredd), Daisy Ridley (Silent Witness), Gwendoline Christie (Game of Thrones), Lupita Nyong’o (12 Years a Slave), Miltos Yerolemou (Game of Thrones), Max von Sydow (The Exorcist), Jessica Henwick (Spirit Warriors), Christina Chong (24: Live Another Day) and newcomers Crystal Clarke and Pip Andersen.
In a year’s time we’ll have seen it!
Chris Cooper is a Flickering Myth Staff Writer, mahoosive Batman fan and owner of the blog Super Duper Stuff. Follow him on Twitter @SDCCooper or visit the blog’s Facebook page.