The Star Wars: The Force Awakens Panel at the San Diego Comic-Con was held in Hall H, last night, and even though the folks in charge of SDCC have not come around to allowing live-streaming, for whatever reason, Flicks and the City was there to record the whole thing. So, thankfully, we can all watch the events as they unfolded in glorious HD, and not some potato phone shaky camera. Enjoy.
So here’s a list of what we’ve learned from the Panel:
- J.J. Abrams has confirmed that the film is finished and he has a cut, which means he’s doing minor editing, but The Force Awakens is complete.
- Disney is allowing JJ the time to do it right!
- Lawrence Kasdan confirms there is no beef between him and George Lucas (not anymore at least).
- J.J. Abrams is a Star Wars fan first, and a director second. I love this about him.
- The use of practical effects is a huge deal to the movie.
- over $5 million was raised through Force for Change for UNICEF.
- The creature from the first OMAZE video is called Bobbajoe (sp) and it’s a real working practical creature.
- Bobbajoe is just one of hundreds of practical creatures that will be in The Force Awakens.
- Star Wars films Episodes IV-IV were the main inspiration for TFA.
- JJ wants to tell a story that makes us “Feel.”
- Gareth Edwards will start shooting ROGUE ONE in three weeks!
- The Anthology films will not tie into Episodes VII-IX. They will be stand-alone films.
- A new Star Wars: The Force Awakens full length trailer is coming this fall. Per JJ.
- New footage was shown, but cameras were turned off. Chris Hardwick (the Host) claims it made him cry.
- The cast is brought out on stage.
- John Boyega is a HUGE Star Wars fan!
- Daisy and John did their own stunts running through the heat of the desert with real explosions.
- Oscar Isaac still claims that Poe is the best fighter pilot, and he says young Poe was probably on Yavin for the award ceremony at the end of A New Hope…confirmation of his character’s origins?
- JJ says the characters were not written with any race in mind. Color of skin had no bearing.
- The Original Cast was welcoming and helpful with the New Cast.
- Harrison Ford is hilariously deadpan.
- The bad guys are brought out on stage.
- Adam Driver — Kylo Ren — Adam can’t reveal anything about his character. He does reveal that Kylo Ren thinks he is right in his mission.
- Domhnall Gleeson confirmed as General Hux. Claims his character is evil. He is in charge of the First Order base, and it’s called “Starkiller.”
- Gwendoline Christie’s Captain Phasma.
- JJ dances around the question of Darth Plagueis’ influence in the film, finally says “no.”
- Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill and Harrison Ford finally join the rest of the cast on stage.
- Mark Hamill looks to be in great shape. Perhaps his role in the Episodes VIII-IX demand it of him?
- Harrison Ford is a soft spoken and humble dude.
- Mark teases that Luke may be in isolation in TFA. I think it is a clue about where Luke is for the film.
- Harrison Ford loved the script and was delighted to be involved.
There was a behind the scenes video shown about The Force Awakens, which you can watch below.