StarWars.com Reveals The Inspirations Behind The First Order Dreadnought & AT-M6

By: Benjamin Hart

Yesterday on The Star Wars Show we were treated to our first looks at two new vehicles that will be appearing in Star Wars: The Last Jedi. It appears the First Order will be bringing in the big guns with the AT-M6(All Terrain MegaCaliber Six) Walker and the Mandator IV-class Dreadnought. Both will be featured prominently in The Last Jedi, and today StarWars.com discovered what inspired these vehicles.

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New Black Series 'Rogue One' & 'The Force Awakens' Titanium Series Helmets Uncovered

By: Benjamin Hart

One of the newest additions to Hasbro's Titanium Series, which is part of the Black Series line, is a new selection of the die-cast mini-helmets. While we've previously seen helmets based on ones from Star Wars: The Force Awakens, including Kylo Ren's, Captain Phasma's and X-Wing Pilot's, there's still plenty more on the way.

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Hot Toys Reveals Stormtrooper Finn 1/6 Scale Figure

By: Benjamin Hart

Hot Toys has become well know to collectors for creating some incredibly detailed and high quality figures and vehicles from an assortment of franchises. Hot Toys' most recent addition to their Star Wars line is none other than FN-2187 himself, Finn. This iteration of Finn is dressed in his Stormtrooper armor, complete with a bloody handprint on his helmet, as seen in the opening scenes of Star Wars: The Force Awakens. The 1/6 scale figure is fully articulated and detailed and includes the aforementioned removable helmet, as well as a Blaster rifle, blaster pistol and hexagonal display stand that matches the First Order's insignia. The figure is only available in select markets in limited quantities. You can can see photos of the figure below, and even more on Hot Toys' Facebook page:

Source: Hot Toys

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The Obamas Dance With Characters From Star Wars: The Force Awakens

By Ciaran Duggan,

Star Wars Day may have officially come to an end, but there are still plenty of Star Wars news stories in the works, including an awesome video of American President, Barack Obama, and, his wife Michelle, dancing with characters from The Force Awakens.

To celebrate Star Wars Day, the White House released a video featuring President Obama, his wife Michelle, R2-D2 and First Order troopers. They engaged in a crazy dance-off. Their dancing skills proving equally as funky as the soundtrack they are dancing too.

Take a look at this great clip down below:

Source: ABC

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Rian Johnson Shares More 'Episode VIII' Set Photos, Announces Filming Is Halfway Done

By: Benjamin Hart

Filming for Star Wars: Episode VIII is halfway done, so says writer and director Rian Johnson. In a new post on his Tumblr today, Johnson announced the news, and even better, revealed some brand new set photos from the film. Johnson has made a habit of revealing things on his Tumblr blog, previously posting photos of the Millennium Falcon set and Lupita Nyong'o performing Maz Kanata. This time we get a sneak peak at a crew members cleaning various sets, including a Resistance X-Wing and a First Order work station, both of which are manned by actors in full costume. In addition he wrote:

"I can’t believe we’re halfway through the shoot. (We’re halfway through the shoot!)"

You can see the photos above and below!

Star Wars: Episode VIII hits theaters on December 15th, 2017!

Source: Rian Johnson(Tumblr)

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AMC Reveals Another Exclusive IMAX Poster For 'The Force Awakens'

By: Benjamin Hart

As if you needed an incentive to go out to the theater and see The Force Awakens again, AMC Theatres is sweetening the deal for those going on Sunday. Each week since the film premiered AMC has unveiled a new exclusive poster, featuring artwork by Dan Mumford, that is given out to those who see The Force Awakens in IMAX 3D on Sunday.

The first poster featured Rey and BB-8 amidst the ship graveyard on Jakku. The second shows Poe Dameron on his X-Wing with fighters flying overhead. And the latest one, which is slated to be given away this Sunday, January 3rd, features a striking image of Captain Phasma standing amidst the burning ruins of Maz Kanata's castle.. You can check it out below:

So no matter if you're seeing it for the second or tenth time, this Sunday is a great time to head out to your local AMC Theater to see The Force Awakens in IMAX 3D. And there is still one yet to be revealed poster that will be given away the following Sunday on January 17th, so be on the lookout for it!

Source: AMC
Via: Inside The Magic

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Wired Reveals Starkiller Base Blueprints From 'The Force Awakens'

By: Benjamin Hart

Lots of awesome behind the scenes content from The Force Awakens has been surfacing recently and some of it has been thanks to Wired. They are now continuing their coverage with a brand new article focused on Starkiller base. In it, the reveal blueprints for the Starkiller base set from the film along with some info about how the First Order's stronghold was constructed.

They explain that the set consists of a central control room surrounded by a series of corridors that were built on one of Pinewood Studios' soundstages using vacuum-formed plastic, steel, plaster and wood. It measures in at 6,800 square feet and made up of "Lego style" pieces that can be reconfigured to represent different areas of the base. It took approximately three months to build and was refereed to on set by it's codename "Evil Castle".

You can see the full blueprint at top, and be sure to head over to Wired to see a closer look as well as other diagrams.

Source: Wired 

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Michael Kaplan Reveals Behind The Scenes Photos & Info About The Costumes Of 'The Force Awakens'

By: Benjamin Hart

It seems you can't swing a Lightsaber these days without hitting a brand new piece of info relating to Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens. Even though all will be revealed in just a few weeks, it's still fun to dig into this movie and learn more about the nearly finished production. Today Wired released an interview with The Force Awakens' costume designer Michael Kaplan where they discussed the development of some of the costumes in the film. In addition, they revealed a collection of behind the scenes photographs showcasing some of the now iconic helmets and armor of First Order, such as the Stormtroopers, Snowtroopers, Flametroopers and Captain Phasma. You can see highlights from the interview and some the photos below.

First off, Kaplan discusses designing the new Stormtroopers and mentions that, as many fans have jokingly pointed out already, the sleek design draws inspiration from Apple products. He went on to discuss how the new armor differs from Stormtrooper costumes of the Original Trilogy:

"The original stormtroopers were vacuum-formed. That process required a much thinner plastic to be heated and molded. These are much harder [cast in polyurethane], so they don't crack. They're much tougher materials, plus they have more flexibility."

He also mentioned Kylo Ren, adding that Dark sider's mask is meant to emulate the character's apparent idol, Darth Vader, while also appealing to children, by request of director J.J. Abrams. He also discussed fellow baddie Captain Phasma, whose design almost didn't make it into the movie at all:

"I loved the idea of taking a stormtrooper into the world of armour, It was just something I had in my head. The concept artist took my sketch and came up with a really beautiful illustration. I loved it and I hung it on the wall of our design room... One afternoon [producer] Kathy Kennedy came by and pointed at it and exclaimed, 'That is fantastic.' JJ loved it as well, so he created the role of Captain Phasma to wear it."

Be sure to head over to Wired to read the full interview and the rest of the awesome photos!

Source: Wired

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Verizon Reveals TV Spot Featuring Chewbacca & BB-8

By: Benjamin Hart

The media blitz for Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens is in full swing and Star Wars is literally everywhere these days. One of the biggest treats to look forward to when anticipating a new Star Wars film is the television ads that are revealed, and recently a brand new one popped up from the Cell Phone provider Verizon. The ad features BB-8 and Chewbacca as they attempt to download something from a console while remaining undetected by a squad of First Order Stormtroopers. Things do not go as planned and Chewie ends up in a shootout with the Troopers. It's an amazing ad simply because it plays out like a scene from the film, even though that's obviously not the case. Verizon certainly spared no expense in giving this TV spot an authentic Star Wars feel. You can check it out below:



This one just might top the Energizer ad we saw a few weeks back. It's certainly awesome to Star Wars back on the small screen in this way. I can't see more ads from other companies as well!

Source: Verizon(YouTube)

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New 'The Force Awakens' Themed Toys"R"Us & Duracell TV Spots Revealed

By: Benjamin Hart

With the release of Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens just around the corner we can already begin to expect to see Star Wars hit the small screen as well as the big screen this Winter. Recently two new heartwarming and awe inspiring commercials surfaced from Toys"R"Us and Duracell. You can watch them both below!

First off, Toys"R"Us released a TV spot titled "Like Father, Like Daughter" which is sure to tug at your heartstrings, focusing a on Star Wars loving Dad and his seemingly uninterested daughter:



The next one from Duracell is truly epic. Focusing on a young boy and his sister, the commercial features a stunning battle with First Order Stormtroopers and also features appearances by R2-D2, C-3PO(with his red arm) and Kylo Ren's command shuttle, as well as much more:



Huge kudos to both companies for creating two memorable commercials! I can't wait to see more between now and December 18th!

Sources: Toys"R"Us(YouTube), Duracell(YouTube)

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Domhnall Gleeson Talks General Hux In 'The Force Awakens'

By: Benjamin Hart

Through various rumors and reports we have learned a great deal about The Force Awakens, but many of the new characters that are set to be introduced are still shrouded in secrecy. One of those characters is General Hux, played by Domhnall Gleeson, whom we know is one of the leaders of the First Order, and that's about it. Recently Gleeson spoke with Total Film magazine where he talked about his character and why he was drawn to the character. Games Radar reports:

"Yeah, I mean you look at him and you realise he’s not a good guy! He’s got an English accent so he can’t be good.” He said. Gleeson went on to add that Abrams described Hux as “merciless”, before getting worried he was giving too much away, “Is that what he said?”.

Gleeson also reportedly said that, aside from the obvious, what drew him to the role was his desire to "play something different". He also discussed the breathtaking experience of stepping on set:

"That’s one of those ‘pinch me’ moments. I experienced it in a major way on Harry Potter and it’s a similar thing with Star Wars, except you look down and you’re in the gear and you have stuff to say and you’re like, ‘Holy God.’ And yes, it’s very difficult to remain cool about stuff like that. There’s no two ways about it, it’s totally brilliant."

Of course you can read the full interview by picking up the latest issue of Total Film magazine!

Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens opens in U.S. theaters on December 18th!

Source: Total Film
Via: Games Radar

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Hot Toys Reveals 1/6 Scale First Order Snowtrooper Figures

By: Benjamin Hart

If Force Friday left you with a desire to get your hands on even more collectibles from The Force Awakens, look no further then Hot Toys. They have unveiled a whole new line of figures specifically for Episode VII and they've been catching a lot of eyes lately. Their most recent reveal includes a pair of new 1/6 scale First Order Snowtrooper figures. The figures are highly articulated and screen accurate, one being a Standard Snowtrooper and the other a Snowtrooper Officer featuring a red shoulder pauldron. Each figure includes an assortment of accessories, including a display stand, a pair of Macrobinoculars, backpack and Blaster rifles. Hot Toys released an official description of the products along with some photos, which you can check out below:

"Following the official reveal of the first wave of Hot Toys’ Star Wars: The Force Awakens collectible figures featuring the mysterious Kylo Ren and the First Order Stormtroopers, we are thrilled to continue to bring fans more highly detailed collectibles based on this widely anticipated movie and present the new 1/6th scale First Order Snowtrooper collectible figures!

The latest generation of Snowtrooper is equipped with completely redesigned advanced insulated armor and helmets that can reduce the glare of icy terrain when carrying out the First Order’s missions in extreme climate.

The highly-accurate collectible figures are specially crafted based on the image of First Order Snowtrooper in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Each Snowtrooper features a brand new designed Snowtrooper armor, helmet, and backpack. The standard First Order Snowtrooper will be equipped with a blaster rifle with extended stock while the First Order Snowtrooper Officer is armed with a blaster rifle with extended stock, a pair of articulated binoculars, and a red color pauldron that indicates the rank of officer. Two additional blaster rifles are included exclusively in this collectible set!

Continue to build up your First Order army with the new Snowtroopers now!"

And in case you missed it, Hot Toys previously revealed several other figures from The Force Awakens, including Kylo Ren, First Order Stormtroopers, First Order heavy gunner Stormtroopers and First Order Stormtrooper squad leader. You can check out a photos and info on all of those below, via Hot Toys Facebook page:

“There has been an awakening, have you felt it?”The newest installment of the Star Wars saga – Star Wars: The Force...
Posted by Hot Toys on Thursday, September 3, 2015

The iconic Stormtrooper is back with a new look in the long awaited sequel of the Star Wars trilogy - Star Wars: The...
Posted by Hot Toys on Thursday, September 3, 2015

In the upcoming highly anticipated Star Wars: The Force Awakens, a new group called the First Order has come to power...
Posted by Hot Toys on Thursday, September 3, 2015

The long awaited sequel of the epic Star Wars saga – Star Wars: The Force Awakens will finally hit the theatres this...
Posted by Hot Toys on Friday, September 4, 2015

Source: Hot Toys(Facebook)

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'The Force Awakens' 6'' Black Series Snowtrooper Officer Figure Spotted In UK Stores

By: Benjamin Hart

Force Friday saw the release of wave one of Hasbro's Black Series line of action figures from The Force Awakens. But that was just the beginning, and since then figures from several of the future waves have leaked online. The most recent one comes from our friends at Jedi News who shared photos of the 6-inch Black Series First Order Snowtrooper officer figure on their Instagram. We learned recently that this figure will part of wave two of The Force Awakens line, along with Constable Zuvio, Poe Dameron, Captain Phasma and a Guavian Enforcer. The Snowtrooper officer will be a Toys"R"Us exclusive and was spotted in stores in the UK retailing for £22.99. Jedi News adds that sales are being limited to one per person and only 180 were in stock. You can check out the photos Jedi News shared below, as well as some high quality promotional shots:

#starwars #theblackseries @toysrus uk 6" #firstordersnowtrooper officer exclusive figure £22.99 now arriving in uk stores #theforceawakens #starwarstheforceawakens one per person as only 180 in stock in the uk thanks to #blowtorchscorch for the report

A photo posted by JediNews.co.uk (@jedinewsuk) on Sep 17, 2015 at 10:38am PDT

A photo posted by JediNews.co.uk (@jedinewsuk) on Sep 17, 2015 at 10:38am PDT

All of the wave two figures are expected to hit stores in October, so keep an eye on your local retailers, especially Toys"R"Us, to be among the first to get your hands on this one and others!

Sources: Jedi News, The Toyark

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Promotional Images From 'The Force Awakens' Surface

By: Benjamin Hart

The folks at CosmicBookNews are reporting that a collection of promotional images featuring characters and ships from The Force Awakens have been revealed. They come to us via Reddit and show some very detailed looks at Rey, Finn, Kylo Ren, and an assortment of Stortroopers, as well as Poe Dameron's black X-Wing and TIE Fighters. Unlike a lot of photos and artwork we've seen adorning everything from toys to posters, these feature the single characters and ships by themselves on solid backgrounds. We've seen plenty of photos like this from the original six films, but these are the first of their kind from Episode VII.

It's especially intriguing to get a detailed look at these still unknown characters. Below you can see two different photos of John Boyega's Finn, one of which(white background) appears to show Anakin Skywalker's Lightsaber in the right pocket of his jacket, which he now famously wielding in the recent Instagram teaser. In addition we also see Daisy Ridley as Rey striking several different poses, most of which she appears ready for a fight holding mysterious staff. Also, scroll down for looks at the First Order Star Destroyer Finalizer and Kylo Ren's command shuttle.

You can see even more photos by visiting CosmicBookNews!

Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens hits theaters on December 18th in the U.S!

Source: Imgur
Via: CosmicBookNews

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Rumor: 'The Force Awakens' Star Destroyer Schematic Revealed

By: Benjamin Hart

In the second teaser trailer for The Force Awakens you most likely noticed a large wedge-shaped ship that we can assume is a new and improved Star Destroyer being used by the First Order. We don't know much beyond that, but the guys at Star Wars 7 News have got their hands on something very interesting that might shed some light on it.

Star Wars 7 News reports that they have received a photo of one of the pages in the upcoming "Star Wars: Ships Of The Galaxy" book. The page features a spread of schematics for the Star Destroyer, providing top, side and rear views of the ship. The book, which is listed on Amazon.com, is slated for release on September 4th(Force Friday) and the front cover teases a "giant foldout that reveals new ships." This could be from that foldout section:

Near the bottom you can see that the Destroyer is named "Finalizaer".

Source: Star Wars 7 News

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JJ Abrams Reveals the Inspiration for The First Order

By: Dominic Jones

Empire Magazine has released a short snippet from their upcoming piece on Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens online.  The excerpt features director JJ Abrams revealing the real world inspiration behind The First Order, the main bad guys in the new film.  According to Abrams,

"That all came out of conversations about what would have happened if the Nazis all went to Argentina but then started working together again?  What could be born of that? Could The First Order exist as a group that actually admired The Empire? Could the work of The Empire be seen as unfulfilled? And could Vader be a martyr? Could there be a need to see through what didn’t get done?"

It sounds as though The First Order may have very few connections back to the Empire seen in the Original Trilogy, and sounds more like something new that was formed in the years since Return of the Jedi.  In other words, The First order is not just a re-branding of the Empire, but it's own thing entirely.  And the Nazi inspiration makes sense too.  Fans have already drawn comparisons between the scenes of the First Order troops massing to the imagery from Nazi rallies.

As for the perceived leader of The First Order, Kylo Ren (Adam Driver), Abrams revealed a few more small details, mostly clarifying things we'd already heard before.  Abrams said, "Kylo Ren is not a Sith.  He works under Supreme Leader Snoke, who is a powerful figure on the Dark Side of the Force."

Abrams had previously revealed that Kylo got his name after being part of the mysterious Knights of Ren.   When that news got out, most assumed that this meant he was not a Sith buy it's still nice to get a confirmation.  I believe this is also our first official confirmation that Andy Serkis' Supreme Leader Snoke is Dark Side user.  This had been rumored and assumed by fans, but never actually confirmed until now.

The entire interview with JJ Abrams can be found in the August 27th issue of Empire Magazine, which features two The Force Awakens covers!

Source: Empire

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