[Star Wars] 10 things to look forward to when ‘The Force Awakens’

MANILA, Philippines – Unless you’re living under a rock, you’re probably really excited about the opening of Star Wars: The Force Awakens this week. Even people who have never seen the space saga are excited about the upcoming film. What exactly are you looking forward to? Here’s my list. (READ: When you can watch ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ in PH)

1. A new take on Star Wars

In 2012 headlines proclaimed that Disney had bought Lucasfilm. Then JJ Abrams was announced as the director of the new movie. (WATCH: ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ new official trailer released)

Abrams has always been a proud Star Wars fan, even attending the Star Wars Celebration convention with his family. Abrams worked on the story with Lawrence Kasdan, who co-wrote The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi.

Fans are very curious about what Star Wars will look like, sans George Lucas.

2. General Leia

Carrie Fisher hasn’t always been enthusiastic about Star Wars or the fan base. She’s been pretty vocal about the impact Star Wars has had on her life, from that metal bikini to anecdotes about Lucas’s directing style. That she joined the cast of the new movie is much cause for celebration.

But wait, now she’s a general? What happened to the Rebel Alliance after the Empire fell? How did Leia become a general? 

3. Actually, the big three, back on the big screen.

Like Fisher, Hamill and Ford haven’t been all that warm towards Star Wars fans. They rarely attend conventions. Other actors have done fan events or taken on voice acting roles for the games and TV shows, but not these 3. So when their participation was confirmed, fans of the Original Trilogy rejoiced!

4. A female lead

There are many female characters with important roles in novels, comic books, TV shows and video games. Ahsoka Tano, Mara Jade, Asajj Ventress, Jaina Solo and Juno Eclipse are but a few. The movies have Princess Leia and Padme Amidala, but they’re not exactly the focal point of the story.

This time, there seems to be a lot of attention on Rey, played by Daisy Ridley. There’s much speculation about who she is, and we won’t know her story till the movie opens. But Rey seems to get equal – if not more – attention as Finn (played by John Boyega) and Poe Dameron (played by Oscar Isaac), so we’re pretty sure she’s more than a pretty face or supporting cast.

5. And a female villain!

Fans of the HBO series Game of Thrones are familiar with statuesque actress Gwendoline Christie, who plays Brienne of Tarth. Here she plays Captain Phasma, the chrome-armored officer who appears to be leading the First Order Stormtroopers.

This is awesome for several reasons. Though the Original Trilogy actually had females in Stormtrooper armor, the story doesn’t categorically say that there are female Stormtroopers. For the first time, there will be a female who is not only a Stormtrooper, but is also an officer!

Also, this is a female whose armor is not sexy or revealing. Movies and video games often feature female warriors with ridiculous and impractical armor, with shapely busts and openings to reveal the cleavage or the abdomen.

When Christie was announced as playing the role of Phasma, some fans actually went on social media to complain about the costume, “Not to be sexist but it’s really hard to tell that’s female armor for me.” The official Star Wars Facebook page replied, “It’s armor. On a woman. It doesn’t have to look feminine.” Female geeks everywhere cheered!

6. A more diverse cast

 

Aside from Billy Dee Williams (in the role of Lando Calrissian), most of the Original Trilogy cast was Caucasian. The prequels had Hugh Quarshie from Ghana, Rwandan actress Lily Nyamwasa, and Kiwi actors like Jay Laga’aia, Temuera Morrison and Daniel Logan.

Producers cast British actor John Boyega playing Finn, who wears Stormtrooper armor in some scenes, and wields a lightsaber in others! Racist fans wanted to boycott the movie over the “black Stormtrooper.” Boyega shot back, “I’m in the movie, what are you going to do about it?”

7. BB-8

From the moment viewers saw him (or is BB-8 female?) rolling across the screen, the little droid became a fan favorite. (READ: A look at the new ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ toys)

How can you not be excited about BB-8? Already some die-hard fans are building their own remote-controlled BB-8, while others are content to play with the Sphero toy.

8. Those two droids

Speaking of droids, no Star Wars movie would be complete without the two favorites, C-3PO and R2-D2. Photos of the fussy protocol droid show him with one red arm. There’s probably an interesting reason for that.

9. New troopers

Costumers are going nuts over the new Stormtroopers, and all the other troopers seen in the trailers. All we know is that they’re troopers of the First Order. Naturally hardcore armor builders are making the costumes already!

Fan-built First Order Stormtrooper costumes have been seen at events, while others are making the flametrooper costume.

10. Who is Kylo Ren?

Shrouded in mystery is Kylo Ren, the new Sith in town. Played by Adam Driver, this is another character fans are really excited about. Kylo Ren toys—from the action figure to the lightsaber—are flying off the shelves. Many fans are intent on building the costume, too. Their biggest challenge: that three-pronged lightsaber.

Of course there are more than ten things to be excited about: the Blue Squadron of the X-wing fighters, the appearance of the Millennium Falcon, Chewbacca. Thank the Force, you don’t have to wait much longer. The movie opens this week! – Rappler.com

Like most writers, Regina Layug Rosero wears many hats: researcher, project manager, public speaker, editor. Various projects and employers have brought her around the world of fashion, advocacy, biotechnology, social media, geek culture, population and development, robotics, comic books and myriad other topics. What drives her through these roles and worlds is an insatiable curiosity, and an instinct to share these stories with others.

More Star Wars: The Force Awakens here: 

• When you can watch ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ in PH
• WATCH: ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ new official trailer released
• 10 tidbits revealed at the ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ panel
• A look at the new ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ toys
• See how ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ stars reacted to new trailer
• WATCH: New ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ TV spot
• WATCH: ‘Inside Out’ emotions react to ‘Star Wars: Force Awakens’ trailer
• WATCH: New ‘Star Wars: Force Awakens’ teaser features Han Solo, Chewie, more
• WATCH: New ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ behind-the-scenes footage