Photo credit: Absolutbad / Reddit
What you’re looking at above is a box that contains the IMAX 3D version of Star Wars: Force Awakens, captured by a movie theater employee who goes by “Absolutbad” on Reddit. On it, we can also see the trailer lineup that will show before the film: Batman vs. Superman, Captain America: Civil War, Deadpool, Independence Day: Resurgence, Jungle Book and Warcraft. After this film, there are plans to release a new installment every year, including spin-offs, sequels and an animated series. The first follow-up will be next year’s Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, the first of three spin-off films, with a sequel to Force Awakens scheduled for 2017. Continue reading for five more interesting facts.
5. First Star Wars Film Not to Involve George Lucas
When Lucasfilm sold the Star Wars rights to the Walt Disney Company for $4.05 billion in 2012, creator George Lucas said that he had created storylines for three more Star Wars films, but the new franchise would take a different direction. “It’s now time for me to pass Star Wars on to a new generation of filmmakers,” said Lucas.
4. Simon Pegg Plays Junk Dealer Unkar Plutt, But Prefers Star Trek
Simon Pegg, who contributed to the script for Star Trek Beyond, said: “I am bi-starrial. It’s a choice I don’t want to make…But it has to be Star Trek now because I’ve written part of it but Star Wars was a huge film for me growing up.”
3. Takes Place 30-Years After Return of the Jedi
Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, released on May 25, 1983, included the Battle of Endor and the death of Darth Vader and the Emperor. Force Awakens will see the return of main characters Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia and Han Solo, portrayed by the original actors Mark Hammill, Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford. That’s not all, a few of the supporting cast is also returning, including Wookiee warrior Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew) and droids R2-D2 (Kenny Baker) and C-3PO (Anthony Daniels).
2. Director J.J. Abrams Initially Turned Down the Job
A Star Wars fanatic, J.J. Abrams said in 2012: “There were the very early conversations, and I quickly said that, because of my loyalty to Star Trek and also just being a fan, I wouldn’t even want to be involved in the next version of those things. I declined any involvement very early on. I’d rather be in the audience not knowing what was coming, rather than being involved in the minutiae of making them.”
1. Production Lasted 6-Months in Various Locations Around the World
Scenes for the film were filmed all over the world, including the Abu Dhabi desert and the Irish island Skellig Michael. However, most of the filming was at Pinewood Studios, in Buckinghamshire. Things didn’t always go smoothly though, as Harrison Ford broke his ankle when the Millennium Falcon set fell and struck him, while JJ Abrams fractured a vertebra when he got his ankle was stuck in a hydraulic door trying to save Ford.
