# Star Wars Episode VII anticipation thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 23, 2013, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-episode-vii-anticipation-thread/666936 "2013-08-23T02:11:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2014, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-episode-vii-anticipation-thread/666936/101 "2014-07-20T18:02:32Z")
I know this is pure speculation, but I though I’d post it here since it will be fun to come back to when the actual movie comes out. It is what a guy claims is the premise of the movie, so I’ll spoiler box it even though it is likely false. [spoiler] Imagine the standard Star Wars crawl, and when it ends the camera pans up to the stars. But instead of a spaceship zooming into frame we see… a hand! A severed hand, tumbling through space. A severed hand gripping a light saber. That hand falls onto a desert planet, where it is discovered by characters who will be our heroes. One is Daisy Ridley. The other is John Boyega, who is playing someone trying to change his path in life (again, I’m keeping it vague here). They recognize the light saber as a Jedi relic and decide to return it to the proper people. Their quest takes them off world, and they meet up with Han Solo and Chewbacca, who aren’t flying around in the Millenium Falcon anymore but are piloting… well, that could be a spoiler. I’ll leave it. Anyway, Han and Chewie recognize the light saber as Luke’s, and they say they haven’t seen their friend in thirty years, since the events of Return of the Jedi. So begins a quest to find the missing Jedi Master. Meanwhile, on an ice planet, nefarious forces are building a super weapon, one capable of destroying not planets but entire solar systems… In many ways this plot of Episode VII is an echo of A New Hope. Instead of R2 coming to Tatooine it’s a hand falling from the sky, but the basic sweep of the story is similar, and intentionally so. But things that seem familiar may not be as familiar as you think - don’t assume that every ice or desert planet in the galaxy has already been visited, if you know what I’m saying. There’s more, of course - this is just the broadest of outlines, a basic synopsis. On the one hand I sort of roll my eyes at the story echoing A New Hope, but on the other I like the propulsive quest concept. I’m hearing extremely positive things about the action, and very, very good things about the characters themselves and the way the actors are bringing them to life. Again and again I’m hearing that John Boyega owns this movie. [/spoiler] If that is true, that is one weird premise. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2014, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-episode-vii-anticipation-thread/666936/102 "2014-07-20T20:57:16Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > I know this is pure speculation, but I though I’d post it here since it will be fun to come back to when the actual movie comes out. It is what a guy claims is the premise of the movie, so I’ll spoiler box it even though it is likely false. > > [spoiler] Imagine the standard Star Wars crawl, and when it ends the camera pans up to the stars. But instead of a spaceship zooming into frame we see… a hand! A severed hand, tumbling through space. A severed hand gripping a light saber. > > That hand falls onto a desert planet, where it is discovered by characters who will be our heroes. One is Daisy Ridley. The other is John Boyega, who is playing someone trying to change his path in life (again, I’m keeping it vague here). They recognize the light saber as a Jedi relic and decide to return it to the proper people. > > Their quest takes them off world, and they meet up with Han Solo and Chewbacca, who aren’t flying around in the Millenium Falcon anymore but are piloting… well, that could be a spoiler. I’ll leave it. Anyway, Han and Chewie recognize the light saber as Luke’s, and they say they haven’t seen their friend in thirty years, since the events of Return of the Jedi. > > So begins a quest to find the missing Jedi Master. Meanwhile, on an ice planet, nefarious forces are building a super weapon, one capable of destroying not planets but entire solar systems… > > In many ways this plot of Episode VII is an echo of A New Hope. Instead of R2 coming to Tatooine it’s a hand falling from the sky, but the basic sweep of the story is similar, and intentionally so. But things that seem familiar may not be as familiar as you think - don’t assume that every ice or desert planet in the galaxy has already been visited, if you know what I’m saying. > > There’s more, of course - this is just the broadest of outlines, a basic synopsis. On the one hand I sort of roll my eyes at the story echoing A New Hope, but on the other I like the propulsive quest concept. I’m hearing extremely positive things about the action, and very, very good things about the characters themselves and the way the actors are bringing them to life. Again and again I’m hearing that John Boyega owns this movie. [/spoiler] > > If that is true, that is one weird premise. Wait, this loonie thinks the actors are going to act? Weirdo. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2014, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-episode-vii-anticipation-thread/666936/103 "2014-07-21T17:07:43Z")
[Here is a peek at the new X-wing they are using in the movie.\*](http://sploid.gizmodo.com/new-official-star-wars-vii-video-teases-full-sized-x-wi-1608232012) I’m glad it looks really roughed up. Things aren’t supposed to look rounded, shiny, and smooth like they did in most of the prequels. \*It was confirmed to be an Episode VII X-wing via twitter. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2014, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-episode-vii-anticipation-thread/666936/104 "2014-07-21T17:19:13Z")
I thought the prequels being shinier was perfectly fine, just because things started to look shitty and cobbled together after many years doesn’t mean they had to start out that way. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2014, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-episode-vii-anticipation-thread/666936/105 "2014-07-21T17:45:43Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > I thought the prequels being shinier was perfectly fine, just because things started to look shitty and cobbled together after many years doesn’t mean they had to start out that way. I understand the idea that times were better and so ships would look better, but they went too far towards the shiny and new. I think they should have looked better, but not as good as they did. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2014, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-episode-vii-anticipation-thread/666936/106 "2014-07-25T12:25:17Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Meanwhile, on an ice planet, nefarious forces are building a super weapon, one capable of destroying not planets but entire solar systems… Oh, no, not the fucking Sun Crusher! ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2014, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-episode-vii-anticipation-thread/666936/107 "2014-08-01T17:53:49Z")
[Here is what Mark Hamil is looking like during filming. I can picture him with a robe(if he wears one) and he looks about like what I expected. His hair looks like it did in Jedi if he combs it.](http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/star-wars-in-kerry-the-force-is-strong-with-this-one-277290.html) ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2014, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-episode-vii-anticipation-thread/666936/108 "2014-08-13T13:14:13Z")
[Harrison Ford walked into the Expendables 3 premiere without crutches or cane. He looks like he’s recovering.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJCVmo3WZSk) I bet he is back filming Star Wars soon. ---
**Author:** ![Jman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jman/32/4416_2.png) [@Jman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jman)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2014, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-episode-vii-anticipation-thread/666936/109 "2014-08-13T20:06:10Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > [Here is what Mark Hamil is looking like during filming. I can picture him with a robe(if he wears one) and he looks about like what I expected. His hair looks like it did in Jedi if he combs it.](http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/star-wars-in-kerry-the-force-is-strong-with-this-one-277290.html) That’s awesome…looks like Luke-i-wan Kenobi. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2014, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-episode-vii-anticipation-thread/666936/110 "2014-08-13T20:24:07Z")
[And here is Hamil outside the studio they are filming in.](https://twitter.com/BryanFuller/status/499405606243946497/photo/1) ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2014, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-episode-vii-anticipation-thread/666936/111 "2014-08-13T20:33:01Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > [Here is what Mark Hamil is looking like during filming. I can picture him with a robe(if he wears one) and he looks about like what I expected. His hair looks like it did in Jedi if he combs it.](http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/star-wars-in-kerry-the-force-is-strong-with-this-one-277290.html) Here’s a shot of [Skellig Michael](http://farfarawayradio.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/skelligmichael.jpg), the rock/atoll mentioned in that article where they were filming. Very cool. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-episode-vii-anticipation-thread/666936/112 "2014-08-19T00:10:31Z")
[Tatooine set looks nice.](http://www.darkhorizons.com/news/33474/photo-tatooine-recreated-for-new-star-wars) ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2014, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-episode-vii-anticipation-thread/666936/113 "2014-08-29T17:06:54Z")
CNN says Harrison Ford’s back on set: [http://www.cnn.com/2014/08/29/showbiz/movies/harrison-ford-star-wars-vii/index.html?hpt=hp\_t2](http://www.cnn.com/2014/08/29/showbiz/movies/harrison-ford-star-wars-vii/index.html?hpt=hp_t2) ---
**Author:** ![JKilez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e5b9ba/32.png) [@JKilez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKilez)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2014, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-episode-vii-anticipation-thread/666936/114 "2014-08-30T01:49:07Z")
> [@Jman](#): > > That’s awesome…looks like Luke-i-wan Kenobi. Exactly. I had a hard time imagining how his presence (and the rest of the old gang) could be anything better than wince-inducing, but now I see how it could work. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2014, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-episode-vii-anticipation-thread/666936/115 "2014-11-07T00:05:48Z")
And now it has a title (scroll down for some good spoofs): [http://www.cnn.com/2014/11/06/showbiz/movies/star-wars-7-the-force-awakens/index.html?hpt=hp\_t2](http://www.cnn.com/2014/11/06/showbiz/movies/star-wars-7-the-force-awakens/index.html?hpt=hp_t2) ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2014, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-episode-vii-anticipation-thread/666936/116 "2014-11-07T00:09:51Z")
I thought the force was balanced now. What’s it need to wake up for? ---
**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2014, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-episode-vii-anticipation-thread/666936/117 "2014-11-07T00:52:45Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > I thought the force was balanced now. What’s it need to wake up for? The midichlorians all fell asleep from the booze party after destroying the last Death Star. Evidently, midichlorians can’t handle alcohol. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2014, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-episode-vii-anticipation-thread/666936/118 "2014-11-07T02:21:50Z")
Not a great title, but I don’t mind it. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2014, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-episode-vii-anticipation-thread/666936/119 "2014-11-07T03:24:43Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > [Here is what Mark Hamil is looking like during filming. I can picture him with a robe(if he wears one) and he looks about like what I expected. His hair looks like it did in Jedi if he combs it.](http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/star-wars-in-kerry-the-force-is-strong-with-this-one-277290.html) Huh, I see he also reads _FMDDE Magazine_. I have a subscription. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2014, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-episode-vii-anticipation-thread/666936/120 "2014-11-07T05:30:28Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > I know this is pure speculation, but I though I’d post it here since it will be fun to come back to when the actual movie comes out. It is what a guy claims is the premise of the movie, so I’ll spoiler box it even though it is likely false. > > [spoiler] Imagine the standard Star Wars crawl, and when it ends the camera pans up to the stars. But instead of a spaceship zooming into frame we see… a hand! A severed hand, tumbling through space. A severed hand gripping a light saber. > > That hand falls onto a desert planet, where it is discovered by characters who will be our heroes. One is Daisy Ridley. The other is John Boyega, who is playing someone trying to change his path in life (again, I’m keeping it vague here). They recognize the light saber as a Jedi relic and decide to return it to the proper people. > > Their quest takes them off world, and they meet up with Han Solo and Chewbacca, who aren’t flying around in the Millenium Falcon anymore but are piloting… well, that could be a spoiler. I’ll leave it. Anyway, Han and Chewie recognize the light saber as Luke’s, and they say they haven’t seen their friend in thirty years, since the events of Return of the Jedi. > > So begins a quest to find the missing Jedi Master. Meanwhile, on an ice planet, nefarious forces are building a super weapon, one capable of destroying not planets but entire solar systems… > > In many ways this plot of Episode VII is an echo of A New Hope. Instead of R2 coming to Tatooine it’s a hand falling from the sky, but the basic sweep of the story is similar, and intentionally so. But things that seem familiar may not be as familiar as you think - don’t assume that every ice or desert planet in the galaxy has already been visited, if you know what I’m saying. > > There’s more, of course - this is just the broadest of outlines, a basic synopsis. On the one hand I sort of roll my eyes at the story echoing A New Hope, but on the other I like the propulsive quest concept. I’m hearing extremely positive things about the action, and very, very good things about the characters themselves and the way the actors are bringing them to life. Again and again I’m hearing that John Boyega owns this movie. [/spoiler] > > If that is true, that is one weird premise. No way it’s true, it doesn’t make any sense. Luke’s hand would’ve been jettisoned out of Cloud City and plummeted deep down into Bespin (assuming it didn’t wind up in the bowels of Cloud City to rot somewhere). > [@Mahaloth](#): > > [Here is what Mark Hamil is looking like during filming. I can picture him with a robe(if he wears one) and he looks about like what I expected. His hair looks like it did in Jedi if he combs it.](http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/star-wars-in-kerry-the-force-is-strong-with-this-one-277290.html) I haven’t kept on top of VII as I’ve been busy as hell, but I’m glad to see him as I imagined, a Jedi beard, with Obi robes, I’m sure. It’s very heartening, as I believe what made the original trilogy work so well was the chemistry of these particular characters, and everything else coming together to make a whole greater than the sum of its parts. It’ll be kickass to see Luke taking a Master role, Han’s acerbic wit, and Leia’s match to it… To see how that’s aged after all these years. As for the title, I hope it’s the Dark Side that’s awakened… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-episode-vii-anticipation-thread/666936.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-episode-vii-anticipation-thread/666936.md?page=7)