We’ve got some more new footage from The Force Awakens in this edition of The Week in Star Wars, along with news of the film’s rating and lens flare, as well as spoilers for Episode VIII and some video games bits and bobs…
Kicking things off with some more new footage from Star Wars: The Force Awakens, which is now only three weeks away from release. I said last week that we won’t see anymore new footage – I’m clearly a fool. First up was a new TV spot which focused on X-Wings heading into battle, which was followed up by the first full clip from the movie and another TV spot, and finally an extended action-packed TV spot was released towards the end of the week. Not all of them contain new footage, but some of them do – particularly the last one…
…We also got our first featurette for the movie, which is focusing on Rey’s Adventure…
…Speaking of new things from The Force Awakens, and this new image from the movie was released which sees Poe Dameron being held captive by The First Order…
…The cast of The Force Awakens graced the covers of British magazine Empire this week featuring Rey, Finn, Han Solo and Chewbacca, RD-D2 and C-3PO, Poe Dameron, Kylo Ren and Captain Phasma. If you were lucky enough to grab a copy, the Sainsbury’s exclusive Kylo Ren cover also came with a Kylo Ren action figure…
…If there is one thing that J.J. Abrams is constantly mocked for, it’s his use of lens flare – particularly in his two Star Trek films. Well the director has been very open in talking about how much lens flare we could see in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. “I’ve allowed lens flares to take a very backseat,” he said, also noting that he’s completed the edit on the film. “We’re making sure that it looks photorealistic and photoreal, but every time there could be a flare — because you know, I like to do that a lot — I would say ‘These are not the flares you’re looking for…'”
..Abrams has also been talking about the lightsabre battles in The Force Awakens, noting they will be more aggressive and primitive. “When you look at Star Wars and Empire, they are very different lightsaber battles, but for me they felt more powerful because they were not quite as slick,” states Abrams. “I was hoping to go for something much more primitive, aggressive and rougher, a throwback to the kind of heart-stopping lightsaber fights I remembered being so enthralled by as a kid.”
…Think you’ve had all the posters for The Force Awakens? Think again. Here are three new posters in a retro style…
…It was also revealed this week that, unsurprisingly, Star Wars: The Force Awakens has been classified as PG-13 in the States. The film will also likely be a 12A here in the UK…
…Although the first trailer for Captain America: Civil War was released this week, there is still a high liklihood that it will be attached to Star Wars: The Force Awakens when released in December. As reported a couple of weeks ago, it will join the first trailer for X-Men: Apocalypse, and a new rumour is suggesting that the first trailer for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2 could also be attached. The rumour has come from Stephen Amell, who is playing Casey Jones in the film: “If you’re a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles fan, then you’re going to want to go to the theater in December before a relatively big movie that’s being released for a fantastic trailer…”
…Some possible spoilers here for The Force Awakens coming from the officially released soundtrack. Some of the track titles give away plot details, it’s all we’ll say…
…With Star Wars Battlefront set to receive its first DLC on December 8th (or December 1st for those who pre-ordered), DICE’s lead level designer Dennis Brannvall has detailed the new 40-player game mode, ‘Turning Point’, which is included as part of the Battle of Jakku content. “At the edge of the map, the Empire has constructed a make-shift base as well as smaller fortifications strewn across the landscape,” states Brannvall “Rebels need to locate and capture one of three control points in Imperial control. The clock is ticking, but if the Rebel team succeeds with a capture additional time will be added and new control points will be available for capture. Moving through these increasingly challenging checkpoints, the ultimate goal is the Empire’s base where the final stand will take place. The battles are ever-present, debris will be falling from the skies, and you’ll even see a Super Star Destroyer come crashing down during the round…”
…Sticking with video games for a second, and a trailer has been released for Disney Infinity 3.0, which will feature the cast of Star Wars: The Force Awakens…
…Looking ahead now to Star Wars: Episode VIII, and a certain actor has confirmed a certain rumour this week about a major character returning for the Rian Johnson directed sequel. We won’t write the name here, but you can click the link and spoil it for yourself…
…Speaking of the spoiler, it was the feature story in this week’s Flickering Myth Movie Newsgasm…
…Ahead of its home entertainment release this March, a new preview clip has arrived online from LEGO Star Wars: Droid Tales, entitled ‘Never Do That Again’…
…Looking back in time to the year 1999, and director Ron Howard has revealed that he was approached about directing Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace. “[George Lucas] didn’t necessarily want to direct [the prequels],” states Howard. “He told me he had talked to Robert Zemeckis, Steven Spielberg and me. I was the third one he spoke to. They all said the same thing: ‘George, you should do it!’ I don’t think anybody wanted to follow-up that act at the time. It was an honor, but it would’ve been too daunting…”
…Remember the Star Wars Holiday Special? As much as George Lucas doesn’t want you to, the folks over at Vulture have made a mash-up trailer featuring the soundtrack from The Force Awakens. Watch at your own risk…
…Hot Toys unveiled its upcoming 1/6th scale Copper Chrome Version of the Imperial Stormtrooper from the Star Wars saga, which is set to be offered as an Asia exclusive…
…Speaking of the Star Wars saga, and we’re counting down until The Force Awakens by looking at our memorable Star Wars moments. Here’s Gary Collinson’s “The Binary Sunset”, Ricky Church’s “Luke vs. Vader in Cloud City” and Tai Freligh’s Obi-Wan Kenobi vs. Darth Maul from Episode I…
…Star Wars YouTube channel released their latest Rebels Recon featurette for Star Wars Rebels, which took us inside the episode ‘Stealth Strike’, and you can watch a clip of that episode here…
…And finally, here’s your preview for Star Wars #13: PART THREE OF VADER DOWN! Bringing together the smash-hit Star Wars and Darth Vader series! Leia comes face to face with true evil!
That’s all for this week – may The Force be with you…
Luke Owen is the Deputy Editor of Flickering Myth and a contributor on The Flickering Myth Movie Show. You can follow him on Twitter @ThisisLukeOwen.
Originally published November 29, 2015. Updated November 29, 2022.
