Do You Like The Spoilers And Speculation? Why?

Anyone see the original in the theater?

Why speculate? Why is there a need to know what you cannot know? Why assume?
Over the past year and several months I have purposely stayed far and away from the rumors, leaks and potential spoilers for Star Wars VII. 
Here is why:
For myself, the unknown is what makes Star Wars so great. A pure experience is the essence of why Star Wars was created. In 1977, no one knew what to expect. People obviously didn’t have the computers and the cell phones or the internet like we are privileged to have. They had the newspaper and the occasional movie trailer. And you know what? That’s all it took. 
The simplicity and the sheer intrigue of Star Wars IV is what propelled it into history as one of the greatest movies of all time. It was rejected by both Universal Studios and United Artist, a mistake later realized shortly after the film’s release. The newness of what its creators were doing was a complete gamble and even 20th Century Fox was getting prepared for the fall out to what they were already considering to be a flop, but by the summer of 1977 the Star Wars phenomenon was inescapable.
This is where the three questions come in at the beginning of this article.
For those of you, whom have read the leaks and searched for the spoilers and the rumors, let me say this….. I don’t feel sorry for you, but I do. 

Before you want to crucify me, hear me out. 
This could have been your 1977.

In a time where the unknown is so very accessible at the finger tips, we see the world unfold in real time or find out about it within minutes or a few hours later, this could have been your chance at going into the unknown with one of the things you love the most, possibly like your father before you.
Now, I completely understand some care and some don’t. Some want the upper hand or the edge on others and want to have an idea of what will or could happen and some want complete and utter ignorance. I’ve seen questions in the form of meme’s asking the identity of this character or that, what if this guy is this guy and what if that girl is really this. Arguments abound that have gotten completely vulgar and disrespectful towards fellow SW fandom……why?
I guess, what this entire article I am writing here now boils down to is that, at one point we all wished we could have seen it in the flesh opening night back then. The sights, sounds and smells of a theater full of people not knowing what to expect from this modern day fairy tale about a princess, a scoundrel and a farm boy. Some of you had the privilege then and will possibly experience that same nostalgia once again with the opening of VII now. Some of you will see this and love it and some will hate it. It is an inevitability.
With only a month and a hand full of days, it’s hard to say what is fact or fiction and what was true that was rumored or leaked. I will tell you this though, just enjoy it. Let it flow through you and don’t give into hate.

Remember, this is your time. This is your 1977. 
Experience it through the story tellers point of view, not someone else’s speculation or assumption.
It’s not too late.

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Written by Guest Writer - Gary Dickerson

(SPOILERS) Ep. VII Leaked Images Reveal Scene - Characters & Names Revealed - Also: SW Rebels in Ep. VII???

It's been a busy week in the world of Star Wars spoilers, revelations & speculations! Without further delay, let's get cracking!

SPOILER!

Earlier in the week, leaked footage made it onto YouTube where it was subsequently removed just as quickly as it arrived.....but not before screenshots were saved! The footage expanded on the scene shown in the trailer where Finn & Rey are running across an open area in the desert and an explosion erupts behind them.

In what appears to be the moments before that explosion, the scene shows a marketplace/bazaar like location where Finn & Rey are hiding from Stormtroopers. In the scene, Rey says "Let go of me!" and Finn replies with "We gotta move!" The images show what appears to be Finn & Rey making a run for it as a one trooper gives chase.

Checkout the slides below (Click to enlarge):

REVELATION!

Back in late July, we posted an article about a new alien species that was revealed to be one of the Resistance's X-Wing pilots. At the time, he was nicknamed Bullhead, on the count of the resemblance to a Bullhead fish. 

You can find that article HERE.

Thanks to the keen eyes of a JediTempleArchive staffer (who is also a Wal-Mart shopper), we now have a name for this pilot as well as the image and identity of a new character. Check them out below!

Bullhead (Real Name: Asty)
Affiliation: Resistance

Sarco Plank

Affiliation: Unknown

SPECULATION!

Thanks to that same staffer who snapped pix of Asty & Sarco Plank, something else was discovered. Something quite interesting if you consider the possibilities...

The case load-out that comes with Asty & Sarco is listed as follows:

2x Asty

2x Sarco Plank

2x Stormtrooper

2x Snowtrooper

2x Kanan Jarrus

2x Ezra Bridger

That's right. Kanan and Ezra are part of the new TFA toy line! According to the source, they are Rebels figures packaged on the new TFA card! Is this just a marketing ploy to resell repackaged figures or is there something deeper? This opens up a whole new possibility (as well as a unique canonical connection) between Rebels and the new trilogy!

If  Kanan & Ezra are a part of the new trilogy, that would mean Ezra would be about the same age as Luke. Rebels takes place 5 years before ANH. Ezra is 14 at this time.  5 years later in ANH, Luke is 18/19 years old. That also means Kanan would be pushing into his 80's......about the same age as Max Von Sydow!

I know people have been hoping/speculating that Von Sydow's character ends up being an old Fett, but what if he ends up being Kanan under an assumed identity? If that's the case, then the new EU has got a lot of explaining to do as to where Kanan & Ezra have been throughout the war between the Rebels and Galactic Empire.

Unfortunately, due to issues with the store manager the staffer was unable to get pictures of all 6 figures in the case.

I guess we'll all find out more about our two Rebels once #ForceFriday arrives!

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Sources: MakingStarWars.net, JediTempleArchives.com

Moff Tarkin Returns For Rogue One

In what is surely a very controversial move, Star Wars Rogue One will feature Grand Moff Tarkin. Why is this contraversial you ask? Simple.This isn't a look alike actor or an actor with prosthetic facial make up.....it's a full on CGI rendering of Peter Cushing!

A source on the set has revealed that "This is one of the most complex and costly CGI recreations ever". Obviously it would make sense that Moff Tarkin would be around, as he oversaw the construction of the Death Star, but there is also a new angle being introduced to us...

Contrary to what Revenge of the Sith showed us, apparently Moff Tarkin had a pivotal roll in the transformation of Anakin Skywalker into Darth Vader. An idea that was never relayed in ROTS, as it was portrayed as a decision by Palpatine alone.

The source goes further and discusses the fact that in A New Hope Peter Cushing was always stationary in his scenes so there is not footage, edited or otherwise, showing what Moff Tarkin's feet look like or how he walked. "They are going through hours and hours of old footage from the horror movies to recreate his legs and feet to produce realistic movements. It is eerie to see someone who has been dead for so long come to life on a screen."

I'm sure some of you will share my sentiments below about this, as Cushing was an amazing actor, and Moff Tarkin was a very unique character that no one could have portrayed as well as Peter Cushing:

This is DANGEROUS territory. In order to preserve the character, they'll have to go above and beyond any CGI project that has been attempted. Not only that, but they'll have to find one hell of a voice actor to fill in for all the dialogue, or face some serious backlash from the fan base.

One person who comes to mind for bringing Tarkin's voice to the screen is Stephen Stanton. He voiced a younger Tarkin in Star Wars: The Clone Wars TV series as well as in the new Star Wars Rebels TV series, and I think he could pull off an older version very well.

A side by side of Stephen Stanton & Tarkin from The Clone Wars

Stephen Stanton in costume as a young Tarkin

What do you think of this new development? Do you think Disney will pull this off, or will they put the first mark of imperfection in the return of Star Wars to the big screen?

You can bet there will be discussions about this all over the fan-verse, so why not get in on the action and be a part of one of the largest Star Wars communities on Facebook! Join our FB Group and like our FB page for all sorts of Star Wars news, fun, and all around fandom!

Source: The Guardian

Kylo Ren: 6 Revelations Raise More Questions

From the first glimpse we got of him as a cloaked character hiking through a snow filled forest with his back to us.....and that loud crackle of a lightsaber spewing raw energy, we were all hooked. We wanted to know "who IS that?"

As time went on, we got to see the face of the actor. Then the mask. Oh that mask....it reminded us of the ancient Sith Acolytes, Darth Revan, and to some extent even Darth Vader. 

Debates about whether or not the cross guard saber was cool or smart faded away as they were replaced with conversations and questions about who Kylo Ren is. Some wondering if he was related to the Skywalker line, or perhaps tracing back to Emperor Palpatine as a clone.

The problem is that with every tidbit that is revealed, more questions arise, adding more mystery to the character. Whether this is by chance or is something orchestrated is irrelevant, because we can all agree that it makes the character that much more intriguing.

Entertainment Weekly spoke with J.J.Abrams to try to get a better understanding of the character, and while some revelations were made...new questions arose that the director would not (thankfully) answer.

Straight from J.J. Abrams, here are 6 things we now know about Kylo Ren:

• He is allied with the First Order. (okay, so that was an obvious fact, but still...)

• He's aware of what happened before his birth (The downfall of Darth Vader), and it plays a major role in the story.

• The movie will explain the origin of his mask...where it came from. (In real life, the design was chosen as a nod to Darth Vader when costume designers were throwing around ideas)

• The cross guard saber was constructed by Kylo himself, without any guidance. It is "as dangerous and as fierce and as ragged as the character" Abrams says. (Okay, but he HAD to have a source for reference, right? That source remains a mystery)

• He might be the anti-Luke of this trilogy. Kylo possibly rose from obscurity, and made his own way. However unlike Luke, his path lead him down a darker road. Abrams said "As you see in storytelling, and no doubt the best of Star Wars, these are tales in which an everyperson has to step up. And I think that what makes Ren so unique is that he isn't as fully formed as when we meet a character such as Darth Vader, and I think that there are two sides to the force.Both sides, agruably, would see themselves as the hero of their story, and I think that applies here".

• Kylo Ren isn't his real name....at least, not the name he was born with. (Wait, what?!? That's not his real name?? Dammit Abrams! Why do you torment us so?!?)

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MTFBWY!

Source: Entertainment Weekly

First Order TIE Fighter Upgrades Revealed

Let's face it. This year's main attraction at SDCC was Star Wars. This was where Hasbro unveiled the new TIE Fighter toy to attendees. Up until that point, the only glimpse we saw of this craft were quick shots of it flying and shooting in the teaser & trailer. Those who saw the new toy up close definitely noticed some key differences from it's predecessor in Episode VI.

The unveiling also inadvertently revealed some SPOILERS about the redesigned TIE fighter.

For those who were not so fortunate to see it in person, we give you an up close look at the new TIE fighter, and how it differs from the old generation outside of having a new paint job.

We're going to break it down for you one image at a time:

1.  FULL FRONTAL VIEW

As you can see, the ship hasn't changed too much in design, but there are key differences. In addition to the kick ass paint job, you have a more robust design with thicker arms that extend out to the wing panels. It also looks like the First Order has given their fighters more bite....

2.  UNDERBELLY ARMAMENTS

Here we can see that in addition to the standard twin lasers, the TIE fighter has been equipped with a rotating turret with 2 additional lasers...Definitely more bite. 

3.  A "SHOULDER" MOUNTED ROTATING GUN TURRET

I know what you're thinking....How is a pilot supposed to keep track of so many targets in order to utilize all these weapons? The answer lies in the next photo.

4.  BACK-TO-BACK SEATS

That's right my friends. The First Order has converted this fighter into a 2-man craft. They've gone Top Gun on us and made the TIE into the F-14 Tomcat of a galaxy far far away. A Pilot & Navigator/Gunner will occupy the cockpit. Now we know who will be using that shoulder mounted gun. The view must suck though. The only thing they'll see is the targeting screen.

...or maybe not.

5.  REAR VIEW PORT

It looks like the gunner will also serve as a lookout and track any pesky Resistance fighters that manage to come up behind them. Plus that turret will definitely make it a challenge for enemy craft to line up a good laser lock.

I'm sure you've already noticed by now that the TIE shown in the footage screenshot at the top of this article is noticeably without the extra turrets and signature red splash. This leads me to believe that there may be standard and heavy and/or Elite versions of the TIE fighter in the New Order Navy.

Do you like the new design? Head over to our Facebook group to discuss. Don't forget to check out our Facebook page either. The one that started it all!

Photos obtained from imgur.com

Additional source reference: International Business Times

Martial Arts Superstar Donnie Yen Confirmed As A Jedi Master In Ep. VIII

Hong Kong martial arts superstar Donnie Yen, has secured a spot on Star Wars Ep.VIII as a Jedi Master. Yen is famous for his roles as Ip Man in Ip Man I and II. These movies were based on the true life events of the real Ip Man, who was a Master of kung fu's Wing Chun style, but most notably as Bruce Lee's martial arts teacher. If you haven't seen the movies, they are definitely worthy of your time. Both films are available on BluRay/Streaming.

Yen's definitely got the background to pull off a Master Jedi. Just check out this fight scene from IP Man, where an imprisoned Ip (Donnie Yen) fights (as entertainment for the Japanese commanding officer) against Japanese black belts after witnessing his friend get executed for fighting to win scraps of food .

WARNING: Episode VIII Spoiler below the video clip!

SPOILER ALERT!

Yen's Jedi character is said to meet up with Han Solo in Episode VIII and become his ally. I guess we can finally toss out the rumors of Han's death in Episode VII.

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Sources: StraightsTimes, IGN, Twitch Film

New Episode VII Character? We May Have Found Some!

We've all been there. You know how it feels...You're sitting at home bored out of your mind with nothing to do, so you decide to browse the internet. Today was such a morning for me. Only I decided to just search the heck out of anything I could find about The Force Awakens.

That search is what brought me to a page called DisneyWiki, and upon searching for Star Wars Episode VII, I came across a gem of a database. It contains NO PLOT SPOILERS, but it does have an up to date character list, that has yet to be completed. Keep in mind, that while one is a confirmed character, the other two remain classified as rumored.

I would like to share with you 3 names in particular that I found on that list. Two of these names have been subject to a great many guesses as to who they are, and the third was recently revealed as an un-named character in one of our previous articles.

CHARACTER SPOILERS AHEAD!!

1.  Max Von Sydow

The most prevalent speculation has been that he would portray an aged Boba Fett, who survived the Sarlacc pit. The only image of him in character has been this production artwork, and a few other design sketches that suggested he may have cybernetic implants.

According to the wiki entry, his name is Vicar Montross. An elderly man who is a friend to Rey, and spends most of his day at Rey's repair shop/home.

2.  Domnhall Gleeson

He as only been known as "The General" thus far. A man who serves the First Order and reports to the Supreme Leader. No images exist of Domnhall in character as "The General" as of yet.

The wiki has him listed as GENERAL TARKIN! This may bring the adversarial rivalry between the Resistance and First Order to a whole new personal level! General Tarkin is the descendant of Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin. He will undoubtedly be out for blood to make them pay for the death of his father (or perhaps grandfather?). All I can say is old wounds do not always fully heal.

EDIT: At SDCC It was revealed that his name is actually General Hux of Starkiller Base. The wiki entry has been updated to reflect this new information.

While the above turned out to be a rumor, Hux is said to be a vicious adversary.

3.  Greg Grunberg

We recently revealed that Greg Grunberg will be playing an X-Wing Pilot in Episodes VII though IX.

Click HERE to see Greg's character and his name.

You can click HERE to see the full Disneywiki entry.

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Daisy Ridley Reveals Rey's Origin? ALSO: Who Is Supreme Leader Snoke?

ROUND 1: THE SPOILER

This first part isn't really much of a spoiler as it is a confirmation of sorts.

Daisy Ridley was in Japan last month along with Kathleen Kennedy to talk about Star Wars on a Japanese TV network when Ridley dropped a not so subtle hint about Rey after the host asked her about the family history of the character.

She answered with "I'm not sure how much I can say. I guess because I've said that I'm solitary, and that's how I begin, that is probably a big clue as to what it is". That seemed like a harmless answer at face value, except for a couple of small details.

1. Before answering, she looked over at Kathleen and immediately got nervous.
2. She pronounced the word "Solitary" as "Solotary".

Check out the video below and you be the judge.

ROUND 2: SPECULATION 

Ever since the images of Andy Serkis wearing MOCAP gear surfaced, the web has been abuzz with questions about who Supreme Leader Snoke may be.

The Supreme Leader is confirmed as the narrator in the first teaser, speaking the lines "There has been an awakening. Have you felt it? The dark side, and the light"

If that's any indication, it is that the Supreme Leader is attuned to the Force. Furthermore, the fact that he leads the 1st Order, and has Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) and "The General" (Domhnall Gleeson) reporting directly to him means he is definitely not a nice person.

While no images have surfaced as of yet, Snoke has been described as "Zombie-Like" (I'm guessing they don't mean gory un-dead looking, but more pale & dead looking) it could mean that he is an ancient being that has existed in the shadows for a long time, waiting to make his move.

There was an interview back in 1983 with ROTJ director Richard Marquand about the final trilogy (7-9) in which he stated:

Why is this relevant? It talks about a supreme intellect that created a man who was able to shape the destiny of an entire galaxy. Snoke may be that supreme intellect!

You must remember that George Lucas originally planned for a 9 episode saga. Although Disney has stated that they do not plan on using Lucas' original ideas, that doesn't mean they wont pick and choose certain plot points or characters from those ideas and mold them to their version of how the saga will continue.

There is some speculation that Snoke is a pseudonym and that the Supreme Leader may be Darth Plagueis returned or resurrected. Could this trilogy reveal that Darth Plagueis has been watching from the shadows the whole time, even unbeknownst to Palpatine, only to mark his return after the death of his traitorous former pupil? 

He looks pretty pale and zombie-like to me...

Imagine the implications. One being, so powerful with the dark side that he was able to fool his pupil into thinking the plotted murder worked, then managed to stay shrouded from everyone. The Republic, the Senate, the Jedi Order, Darth Sidious and all his apprentices leading up to Darth Vader. Whatever he had foreseen was important enough for him to remain patient for over 50 years before marking his return.

In this storyboard image for the new trilogy, the character does look a bit like he 
could be Plagueis. It's not Kylo since he's not wielding the cross-guard saber.

What are your thoughts? Do you think Snoke is Plageuis, or do you think it's just a coincidence?

Let us know on our Facebook Group!

Source: Mirror.co.uk, Metro.co.uk

New Canon Change For Han Solo. Spoiler From Today's SW Marvel Comic!

Hang on Forcestrong! Today’s issue of Star Wars #6, written by Jason Aaron, contains a surprise that changes one of the series’ main characters completely. You all know the new Disney mandate makes everything 100% Star Wars canon. Get ready to have your mind blown.

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Ready?

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Meet Sana Solo...

Well, looks like Han had a wife?  Has a wife?  Or is she crazy?  We really don't know much more yet.  Sound off on what you think on our Facebook Group. 

Source:  Comic Book Resources

NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT...

Yoda IS the Dance Master!  See more Forcestrong videos here.