It’s been quite a week forStar Warsfans, with anew trailerdebuting last night fromStar Wars: The Force Awakens, along with a slew of photos and details revealed throughEntertainment Weekly’s latest issue. The publication has another interview with directorJ.J. Abramstoday, where the filmmaker offers even more insight into this highly-anticipated sequel, hitting theaters December 18. Last month, LucasFilm debuted a poster, which featured a massive space station that resembles the iconic Death Star from the original trilogy. The filmmaker confirmed what many fans assumed, that this is actually the Starkiller Base.
“It is very much - and it’s acknowledged as such in the movie - apparently anotherDeath Star. But what it’s capable of, how it works, and what the threat is, is far greater than what the Death Star could have done.Starkiller Baseis another step forward, technologically speaking, in terms of power.”
While thepostergave us a glimpse at the Starkiller Base as viewed from space, it was previously revealed through toys and other merchandise that the Base is actually a massive ice planet. The primary weapon, seen in the one-sheet, can reportedly destroy several planets at once, with the push of one button. Die-hardStar Warsfans know there is some history behind the base’s name, which is an homage toMark Hamill’s iconic character, who was originally named Luke Starkiller in an early version ofGeorge Lucas' script.
The Starkiller Base is run by the nefarious General Hux (Domhnall Gleeson), one of theFirst Orderleaders who we haven’t seen much of in the footage that has already been released. EW also spoke withDomhnall Gleeson, who revealed that, unlike most villains in theStar Warscanon, Hux doesn’t carry a signature weapon, since he has others to do his bidding for him. Here’s what the actor had to say about his nefarious character.
“There’s an air of superiority, and being better than those people around you. He’s pretty ruthless. A strong disciplinarian would be a mild way of putting it. You don’t get that high up in your life that quickly unless you’re pretty ruthless. You have to put a few people down on the way to get there.”
We know that the First Order was created out of the ashes of the fallen Empire, in the 32 years betweenStar Wars: Episode VI - Return of the JediandStar Wars: The Force Awakens. The organization was modeled after the Galactic Empire, but there isn’t too much we know about the First Order, aside from the fact that General Hux, Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) and Captain Phasma (Gwendoline Christie) are all a part of this evil clan. When asked why the First Order appeals to Hux,Domhnall Gleesonhad this to say, while teasing his intriguing relationship with Kylo Ren.
“It’s in the title: order. It’s a desire to lump everything in its place and just have power. The desire for power is hugely motivating for a lot of people and normally the people who want all the power are not the ones who should have it. People who are messed up themselves often want to squash the individuality out of other people because they’re afraid of what it means. He’s kind of opposite Kylo Ren. They have their own relationship, which is individual and unusual. One of them is strong in different ways than the other. They’re both vying for power.”
J.J. AbramsdirectsStar Wars: The Force Awakensfrom a script he co-wrote withLawrence Kasdan. With just 34 days left untilStar Wars: The Force Awakenshits theaters on December 18, it isn’t known how much more information we’ll get about the heroes and villains of this highly-anticipated sequel. Do you think we’ve learned enough aboutStar Wars: The Force Awakens? Or are you still craving more details about this galaxy far, far away?
