J.J. Abrams says Star Wars: The Force Awakens is as much about setting the foundations for the future as it was about telling the story and was very much a balancing act between those two elements.
J.J. Abrams
The Force Awakens is one of the most anticipated films of 2015 and it will see Abrams at the helm of a Star Wars film for the very first time.
We already know that a new trilogy of Star Wars films have been planned and Abrams admits that he had to keep this in mind when filming The Force Awakens; he had to tell a story as well as think ahead to what is coming in the following films.
Speaking to Wired, the director said: "Working on this new movie has been as much about trying to set up elements of what is beyond what you're seeing as it has been about telling a story that will be satisfying in and of itself.
"But it can't feel like a cop-out - like we're just setting things up and not resolving them."
The Force Awakens is the first Star Wars film since Revenge of the Sith back in 2005 - hard to believe that that movie is already a decade old.
This new film will see some fan favourites return, in the form of Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Leia and Chewbacca, while there are a whole host of new and exciting characters to look forward to.
Daisy Ridley is set to take on the central role of Rey, in what is the first film role of her acting career. It's fair to say that this movie is going to send her star rocketing.
Ridley is joined on the cast list by other new faces including John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Andy Serkis, Adam Driver, Gwendoline Christie, and Domhnall Gleeson.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens is the first feature film for Abrams since Star Trek Into Darkness back in 2013. Like all of his film projects so far, Abrams is keeping the plot a closely guarded secret for now.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens is released 17th December.
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