Movie fans and nerds rejoice! The film we have waited for since it was first announced in late 2012 is finally released in Irish cinemas this week; ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’.
Very little is actually know about the plot of the movie – something we are very excited, intrigued and grateful for – but to keep you going until the film hits Irish cinemas on Thursday, we have gathered together 10 things you really ought to know about ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’
1. Not so long ago…
This new trilogy, starting off with ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ is set thirty years after ‘Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi’.
2. The Force was not strong with him…
According to an article in the June 2015 edition of Vanity Fair, J.J. Abrams may to place Jar Jar Binks’s skeleton into the film as an easter egg. Be on the lookout!
3. Full Circle
Mark Hamill was 63 while filming his role for this upcoming movie. Interestingly, Sir Alec Guinness was also 63 while filming his scenes in the original 1977 ‘Star Wars’ film.
4. Fan in the Family
After he was cast in ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’, Oscar Isaac revealed to director J.J. Abrams that his uncle is a huge Star Wars fan. As a result, Isaac’s uncle was invited to visit the set of ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’. While there, Abrams asked if Isaac’s uncle would like to be an extra on the film; unsurprisingly, he jumped at the chance.
5. BB-Mate
The new droid BB-8 is inspired by one of production designer Ralph McQuarrie’s first concepts for R2-D2. But instead of a small R2 unit dome on a large ball, the original concept resembled a legless R2-D2 body resting on a smaller ball. That idea was scrapped because it was impossible to make it work in the mid-1970s. Thankfully the idea was resurrected for this new trilogy; BB-8 looks to be the breakout star of the film!
6. “I don’t care what universe you’re from, that’s gotta hurt!”
While filming in summer 2014, Harrison Ford broke his ankle on the door of the set of the Millennium Falcon. About a year later, director JJ Abrams revealed that he broke his back while trying to help get Ford out from under the door. Ouch!
7. Top Secret!
Due to the secretive nature surrounding the film, several cast members found out that they had got parts in the film with very short notice. Domhnall Gleeson found out the day after he auditioned, which was only one day before the table read. Oscar Isaac found out only several hours before the table read and was instructed to wait in a London hotel room to receive a call telling him whether he was to go downstairs and into a waiting car that would take him to the table read or book a flight back home.
8. Runs in the Family
Carrie Fisher’s daughter, Billie Lourd makes her feature film debut in ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’. She is currently appearing in the TV show ‘Scream Queens’ as Chanel #3
9. Kindness
Daniel Fleetwood, a terminally ill man from Texas was one of the first to see ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’. Although he had outlived his doctors’ expectations, he predicted he would not live long enough to be able to see the film, and an online campaign called #ForceForDaniel was started and got the attention of Disney. Disney agreed to provide a one-off, unedited screening to Daniel in his own home a month and a half ahead of its worldwide premiere. Sadly, and true to his prediction, Daniel died just a few days after the screening.
10. When can I see ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’?
‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ opens in Irish cinemas on December 17th 2015. Watch the teaser trailer below…