Star Wars returns to Comic-Con this week after a long hiatus, and it’s shaping up to be the biggest info dump about the future of the franchise since Celebration Anaheim in April.
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There are a handful of panels covering the upcoming books, video games and collectibles set to debut later this year, but all eyes will be on Friday’s main event, in which director J.J. Abrams, producer Kathleen Kennedy and screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan will discuss The Force Awakens. It’s been confirmed that there will be no new footage coming out of this panel, but that doesn’t mean we won’t get a dose of insight into the new film.
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Entertainment Weekly reported that Disney is looking to include several of the film’s main cast members who have not gotten the chance to speak publicly about their roles. At Celebration, we heard plenty from the film’s three leads as well as returning cast members like Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher. But this would be the perfect time for the filmmakers to air out the speculation surrounding all the announcements and leaks since then.
In the following slideshows, we take a look at who could show up, what we know and don’t know about their characters, and their chances of popping up in San Diego this weekend.
WARNING: Possible spoilers for The Force Awakens contained herein.
Next: The First Order General
The General (Domhnall Gleeson)
What We Know: Of all the new characters being introduced in The Force Awakens, Domhnall Gleeson’s role as “The General” may be the one most shrouded in secrecy. Not only are we unclear about what his importance in the plot of the film, but we also haven’t been given any hints as to what he will look like in the film, with the exception of the above image.
What’s Rumored: Going off of several reports, Gleeson’s character is a high-ranking officer within the First Order, and he’s rumored to be in direct command of Captain Phasma, played by Gwendoline Christie (more on her later), whom he sends to hunt down Finn. The leaked screenshot appears to hint that they at least have some sort of relationship in the film.
Other rumors say his character defected to the Empire after learning that the Rebel Alliance constructed a superweapon, and he’s now playing both sides to rid the galaxy of both sides’ dangerous arms.
But Making Star Wars dropped a bomb a few months ago that suddenly elevated the importance of The General. According to the site, he is actually the son of Luke Skywalker.
Chances of Appearing: Even though Gleeson’s character hasn’t been the focus of too much press during this frenzied speculation period, that may be because the filmmakers are trying to keep his role a secret. If Disney and Lucasfilm really want other actors to speak up about their parts, I’d say Gleeson is one of the likelier prospects to appear on Friday.
Next: The Alien Space Pirate
Maz Kanata (Lupita Nyong’o)
What We Know: The reveal of Maz Kanata pulled the rug out from under Star Wars fans who were expecting to see Lupita Nyong’o in a Rebel jumpsuit or a Jedi robe. The space pirate was the first confirmed motion-capture creation involved in The Force Awakens, and also the first main character who is not a humanoid (as far as we know). We don’t know much about Kanata, except that she runs some sort of castle hideout for pirates and smugglers.
What’s Rumored: First off, Kanata’s lair is reportedly located on Yavin IV, the jungle planet the Rebels used as a base in A New Hope. This is rumored to be where Han Solo takes Rey and Finn after they escape the First Order, as Han is associates with Kanata because of his smuggling past.
More recent rumors indicate that Kanata receives a vision when she meets our heroes, revealing that Rey is Han and Leia’s daughter. Fans are speculating that this vision is triggered by the lightsaber Rey brings to Kanata, which may or may not be the same one shown in the second trailer. That alien-looking hand definitely could belong to Kanata.
Chances of Appearing: It’d be interesting to hear from Nyong’o about what it was like playing a motion-capture character. But I’m guessing Disney will more heavily favor the actors and actresses who portray themselves in the film, and from what we’ve heard, Kanata’s role doesn’t seem as significant as Supreme Leader Snoke, the other special effects-based role played by Andy Serkis.
Next: Who is Max Von Sydow Playing?
Unnamed role (Max Von Sydow)
What We Know: Practically nothing. Max Von Sydow is the wild card of The Force Awakens cast right now. There hasn’t been a single photo of his character leaked, but there has been a steady stream of rumors and speculation, and even some concept art.
What’s Rumored: Most sites reported early on that Sydow was a former Rebel Alliance member who now lives on Jakku either near or with Rey. He’s taken on the role of a mentor for the child, but he also has crucial information about the lightsaber that Rey comes into contact with.
Leaked concept art appears to show Sydow aged figure, along with diagrams of some cybernetic accessories that he’s now sporting.
But all of this is window dressing to the elephant in the room that came out a few months ago. According to an article from Moviepilot.com that is no longer on the site, Sydow is playing an older version of Boba Fett, who survived the Sarlaac’s stomach but was severely hurt. That’s supposedly why the character has altered his body with robotics, and it would provide an interesting dynamic if Fett is indeed looking after Han’s rumored daughter.
Chances of Appearing: This would be my No. 1 pick for who I want to see at Comic-Con, as Sydow has a great presence onstage and could give us some insight into his character. But with the intense secrecy surrounding his role, I wouldn’t bet on any more information being revealed this soon, at least not through official channels.
Next: A Peak Behind the Armor?
Captain Phasma (Gwendoline Christie)
What We Know: We’ve seen so much of Captain Phasma and yet so little of Gwendoline Christie. The vaunted Chrome Trooper is an elite shock trooper in the service of the First Order who is tasked with hunting down Finn, and, as mentioned before, appears to report directly to Domhnall Gleeson’s General. She made an appearance in the second teaser trailer and some set photos, along with some concept art, but nothing has been shown of the character under the armor.
What’s Rumored: Phasma reportedly is equipped with a blaster rifle as well as a lightsaber, which would make sense considering Christie’s role as a knight on Game of Thrones. While the character is supposedly an uber-evil character, her profile in the Entertainment Weekly Star Wars feature in May appeared to hint that Phasma may not be so evil after all.
Chances of Appearing: Comic-Con would be a fantastic way for Christie to finally make a public appearance for the role outside of her chrome armor. She’s a fan favorite in the Game of Thrones community for her superb performance as Brienne of Tarth and is also one of the prominent women in the main cast of The Force Awakens. I wouldn’t be surprised if Phasma paid San Diego a visit.
Next: The Leader of the First Order?
Supreme Leader Snoke (Andy Serkis)
What We Know: The biggest clue to the identity of Supreme Leader Snoke is tied not to his appearance but his voice. It was confirmed that the opening narration of the first Force Awakens teaser belonged to none other than Andy Serkis. “There has been an awakening. Have you felt it? The dark side…and the light.”
Other than that ominous line, we only know that Serkis will be performing the character in a motion-capped role, which, when considering the actor’s varied filmography, means it is impossible to predict what Snoke will look like onscreen.
What’s Rumored: As our editor-in-chief David Harris speculated, it would make sense that Snoke is some sort of Sith Lord because of his reference to the light and dark sides of the Force. It’s also possible that he is the master of Kylo Ren, his apprentice, and may be so degraded in appearance that he must be depicted through CGI.
Chances of Appearing: If this character turns out to be the big bad not just of The Force Awakens but of the entire sequel trilogy, then the filmmakers will likely want to continue to keep his motivations under wraps. Still, Serkis is the face of motion-capture technology and represents the best opportunity to sell Disney’s dedication to using CGI in a wise capacity. However, I’m betting Serkis stays behind the scenes for now.
Next: The Villain of The Force Awakens?
Kylo Ren (Adam Driver)
What We Know: It’s downright mystifying that we’ve seen and talked so much about Kylo Ren and yet nothing really substantive has been released from official sources about his role. The character divided fans with his unusual lightsaber but definitely won some back with a badass faceguard. Ren is a higher-up in the First Order, as evidenced by photos showing him commanding a squad of stormtroopers at a snow base, and he’s also undoubtedly Force-savvy, but the background of his character remains sketchy.
What’s Rumored: No character has been scrutinized more than Ren, most likely because he projects to be the film’s main villain. According to all the cobbled together rumors and leaks, Ren is hunting down Sith artifacts, including the remains of Darth Vader, for some nefarious purposes. He’s reportedly looking for a secret tomb that’s being guarded by Luke Skywalker, who has disappeared to watch over the sacred place.
Chances of Appearing: This is who I would bet on appearing at Comic-Con this Friday. Adam Driver is the biggest new cast member who hasn’t yet addressed his role in The Force Awakens. It’s understandable, but now’s the perfect time to juice up fan anticipation and give us a peek at the rogues’ gallery of the upcoming film.
Next: A Familiar Face
Han Solo (Harrison Ford)
What We Know: “Chewie, we’re home.” Harrison Ford has never been one to seek public attention, but keeping him out of the press tour for The Force Awakens only sweetened his sudden appearance at the end of the second teaser. It was an absolute rush to finally see Han back where he belongs after a nearly 40-year absence. It’s only left us clamoring to know where the smuggler stands at the beginning of this new trilogy.
What’s Rumored: Unless you’re incredibly adept at avoiding spoilers, you’re probably familiar with the rumors that Rey is Han and Leia’s daughter. She and Han are paired up early in the film along with Finn, and as mentioned before, they reportedly pay a visit to Maz Kanata on Yavin IV. But there are a lot of questions remaining.
Chances of Appearing: The only limiting factor here is whether Ford has fully recovered from his recent airplane crash and is ready to make a public appearance. Beyond that, the actor has always begrudgingly performed his press duty, but this would be a golden opportunity for Disney to finally cement their new franchise’s connection to the original trilogy. Let’s hope the Falcon can make the jump to hyperspace and arrive in time.