The Force Awakens General Star Wars Episode VII News/Speculation/SPOILER Thread - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Part 35

[Octoberist]

I'm more weirded out that the only theatrical poster we have so far is still that simple logo poster.

The Drew S. poster was an exclusive to D23, and the posters from Force Friday aren't used being used for theaters.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

Yeah, where the heck is my poster!?

 

[Gianakin_]

Actually, where the heck is anything?

 

[MagnarTheGreat]

About 72 days until release.

# of official (non-teaser) posters released: 0
# of official (non-teaser) trailers released: 0
# of official plot synopses released: 0
# of official scene clips released: 0

 

[BatLobster]

Has anyone heard about this podcast with Mike Verta? He's a professional composer who's done some work for LFL, but probably more known in the SW community as the guy behind the Star Wars legacy restoration project.

In a nutshell, he says that some of his friends at ILM didn't have the most encouraging things to say about TFA. Check out the 14:30 mark:

http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/rob-marvin/undressing-underground/e/episode-27-mike-verta-40405853

For context, he's not a Star Wars fanboy, he's someone more interested in the cultural impact of Star Wars (particularly the original film, hence the Legacy project). I think this could easily be a case of him and his ILM friends having the highest of high standards when it comes to wanting to see something as iconic and influential as the original film (which we all know is impossible)- which even even admits to.

Still, given the absence of a trailer right now, I'm okay with taking a moment to digest the entirely real possibility of this movie being underwhelming. Because once that trailer hits, I know my expectations are going to skyrocket right back up to 11. I honestly need to hear stuff like this and Gleeson's recent quote to help keep me balanced. Hate to be a downer, but blame Disney for giving us a lack of more exciting things to talk about.

 

[DigificWriter]

J.J. Abrams could end up delivering a phenomenal film, but he really shouldn't have been allowed to dictate the way that the film has been handled from a marketing standpoint, as it could end up backfiring spectacularly and torpedo the film's success.

A small yet incredibly loud minority of people believe that the Prequels 'killed' the franchise, but J.J. Abrams' insistence on secrecy and general viewpoint on what the franchise's ultimate meaning is actually present a far greater threat to the franchise than anything that Lucas did in the Prequels, and are the biggest reasons why my excitement level is nowhere near where it was for the Prequels and nowhere near where I wish it were for a franchise that I continue to love.

 

[Apollo]

I had a dream last night the trailer was released. Everyone went bonkers!..

 

[Apollo]

Starwars VII News now claims the trailer is coming out October 19th..

http://www.starwars7news.com/2015/1...the-force-awakens-coming-on-october-19th.html

Now one of our readers sent us something very interesting that we have a good reason to believe in. From Dave Olden:

I spoke with friend who manages a chain Multiplex in Victoria, BC. He confirmed that IMAX tickets for Star Wars the Force Awakens will be available for online purchase 12:00 am, Monday October 19. He first confirmed the IMAX ticket availability, which he added would apply to all shows, not just IMAX. (If you can buy for one, you can buy for all).


That’s when he told me, verbally, that The 19th of October is when we get the new trailer. I asked, “Is that for SURE?” And he nodded and said, “Yup.”
He also told me this means for North America (Canada + US), not just here.

​

As I said we have another reason to believe that October 19th is indeed the date when the trailer will be officially released, but still keep in mind that this is not 100% confirmed. Apart from that reason, the release date also matches with the previous rumors about the advance ticket sales.

It’s very uncommon to release a trailer on Monday, but I think Disney has proven that they don’t care much about these things. Also we still believe that the trailer will be announced a few days before it premieres, and it would make perfect sense if they do that during the Rebels Season 2 premiere on October 14th. I won’t be surprised if we even get a teaser of the trailer on that day.

 

[Drizzle]

As obnoxious as I think Abrams's secrecy can be at times, some of you are getting all worked up over nothing. This is nothing new for Lucasfilm. I vividly remember the marketing for the prequels. There were only two trailers for each film. The teasers were released around Thanksgiving and the final trailers would show up in March, two months before the films opened in May. There was no merchandise to be found until a month to a few weeks before the films opened. Sure, there were behind the scenes webisodes that were released every so often for all three prequels, but even then, only the hardcore fans watched them. Everyone knew that a new Star Wars film was coming, but the hype didn't start reaching a fever pitch until maybe about a month before each film was released. Mainly for The Phantom Menace, because it was the first new Star Wars film in years, and Revenge of the Sith, because it was (then) the end of the saga.

So let's everyone remain calm. The marketing blitz has already started with the merchandise, but everything else is still coming. Mark my words, in two months' time, we'll be sick of the TV spots.

 

[Marvolo]

 

[Marvolo]

Rian Johnson tweeted this today:

http://i1.wp.com/**************.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/IMG_5118.jpg?w=1050

 

[Broseph44]

About 72 days until release.

# of official (non-teaser) posters released: 0
# of official (non-teaser) trailers released: 0
# of official plot synopses released: 0
# of official scene clips released: 0

 

[Solidus]

It's the calm before the storm. I'm confident the trailer will be in a few weeks. Then November will be sodden with TV spots and other things. I feel Didney and Lucasfilm have been savvy with the marketing thus far. They've taken a holistic approach with saturating every market niche with content.

Well put.

Has anyone heard about this podcast with Mike Verta? He's a professional composer who's done some work for LFL, but probably more known in the SW community as the guy behind the Star Wars legacy restoration project.

In a nutshell, he says that some of his friends at ILM didn't have the most encouraging things to say about TFA. Check out the 14:30 mark:

http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/rob-marvin/undressing-underground/e/episode-27-mike-verta-40405853

For context, he's not a Star Wars fanboy, he's someone more interested in the cultural impact of Star Wars (particularly the original film, hence the Legacy project). I think this could easily be a case of him and his ILM friends having the highest of high standards when it comes to wanting to see something as iconic and influential as the original film (which we all know is impossible)- which even even admits to.

Still, given the absence of a trailer right now, I'm okay with taking a moment to digest the entirely real possibility of this movie being underwhelming. Because once that trailer hits, I know my expectations are going to skyrocket right back up to 11. I honestly need to hear stuff like this and Gleeson's recent quote to help keep me balanced. Hate to be a downer, but blame Disney for giving us a lack of more exciting things to talk about.

If someone believes this will have the legacy of the original film, then yes, if you put it that high it will underwhelm. The original is a mix of timing and magic that will never hit again. Funny I'm visiting my parents, and talking with my step-father who saw all of them in theaters as an adult. (The originals I mean). We got into an argument because I said Empire was hands down the best SW. But then he said heck no, the first one was revolutionary and the best.

After a long discussion he admitted Empire had the better story, writing, directing, acting etc. But I understood what he meant, the original was revolutionary (duh haha) and nothing will be able to capture people the way it did. Even though Empire most would agree is the significant film, it does not have that "legacy" in terms that the original did.

Will TFA do what ANH did? No. Never ever thought that it would. Do I expect a great film? Yeah.

A small yet incredibly loud minority of people believe that the Prequels 'killed' the franchise, but J.J. Abrams' insistence on secrecy and general viewpoint on what the franchise's ultimate meaning is actually present a far greater threat to the franchise than anything that Lucas did in the Prequels, and are the biggest reasons why my excitement level is nowhere near where it was for the Prequels and nowhere near where I wish it were for a franchise that I continue to love.

No. That won't happen. The hype is already strong with this film. Look at what happened with Force Friday.

As obnoxious as I think Abrams's secrecy can be at times, some of you are getting all worked up over nothing. This is nothing new for Lucasfilm. I vividly remember the marketing for the prequels. There were only two trailers for each film. The teasers were released around Thanksgiving and the final trailers would show up in March, two months before the films opened in May. There was no merchandise to be found until a month to a few weeks before the films opened. Sure, there were behind the scenes webisodes that were released every so often for all three prequels, but even then, only the hardcore fans watched them. Everyone knew that a new Star Wars film was coming, but the hype didn't start reaching a fever pitch until maybe about a month before each film was released. Mainly for The Phantom Menace, because it was the first new Star Wars film in years, and Revenge of the Sith, because it was (then) the end of the saga.

So let's everyone remain calm. The marketing blitz has already started with the merchandise, but everything else is still coming. Mark my words, in two months' time, we'll be sick of the TV spots.

Well said.

 

[Boom]

Rian Johnson tweeted this today:

http://i1.wp.com/**************.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/IMG_5118.jpg?w=1050

Can't ****ing wait.

 

[Sawyer]

About 72 days until release.

# of official (non-teaser) posters released: 0
# of official (non-teaser) trailers released: 0
# of official plot synopses released: 0
# of official scene clips released: 0

# of seconds gone by that someone doesn't b**** that we aren't being given enough: 0

 

[ThePhantasm]

I'm actually really happy with the marketing. Its exciting that I know so little about this film. Compared to the marketing for something like AOU which showed everything that was interesting before the movie ever came out.

 

[Wheels]

I just hope to like this film. I don't have any crazy expectations or anything. I just want to connect with the story and characters in general. It doesn't need to be as good as the originals to me, just good.

 

[Snow Queen]

I expect to hear "they're showing us everything why can't they keep secrets!?" in two months.

 

[Sawyer]

I'm actually really happy with the marketing. Its exciting that I know so little about this film. Compared to the marketing for something like AOU which showed everything that was interesting before the movie ever came out.

Yeah, I really don't get where this idea of us being stiffed came from. We've gotten a short-ish teaser, we've gotten a significantly longer teaser (with an appearance by Han mother****ing Solo!), a behind the scenes featurette, D23 posters, panels with the cast, countless books paving the way for this film's storyline, a HUGE toy unveiling, we know with 100% certainty that the OT's main cast members will be appearing in the film, we know the names of the newbie characters.... How does any of that mean that Disney/JJ are holding out on us?

Answer: It doesn't, and the people complaining right now are, frankly, just being greedy little street urchins.

I expect to hear "they're showing us everything why can't they keep secrets!?" in two months.

That's exactly right. We'll get a full trailer and then, by the time clips start rolling out and we've seen more than two or three different TV spots, that is EXACTLY what we'll be hearing.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

The complaints make zero sense if you have ever followed a Star Wars movie imo. There is no one here who wants the trailer, poster, or heck movie more then me. But this is far from a drought. The coverage has been beautiful and dynamic, without giving much away. And for us spoiler hounds, it has been a feast.

 

[Drizzle]

I'm actually really happy with the marketing. Its exciting that I know so little about this film. Compared to the marketing for something like AOU which showed everything that was interesting before the movie ever came out.

We are roughly two and a half months away from the release date. Two and a half months before Age of Ultron came out, we had two teaser trailers, a clip and a teaser poster, which is exactly what we have now for The Force Awakens (substituting the SDCC sizzle reel for the clip). The Age of Ultron marketing campaign didn't kick into overdrive until March/April. I'm not saying that the trailers and TV spots for The Force Awakens will give away as much as the ones for Age of Ultron did, but like I said earlier, we aren't at the marketing boiling point yet. We'll be drowning in it by Thanksgiving.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

We are roughly two and a half months away from the release date. Two and a half months before Age of Ultron came out, we had two teaser trailers, a clip and a teaser poster, which is exactly what we have now for The Force Awakens (substituting the SDCC sizzle reel for the clip). The Age of Ultron marketing campaign didn't kick into overdrive until March/April. I'm not saying that the trailers and TV spots for The Force Awakens will give away as much as the ones for Age of Ultron did, but like I said earlier, we aren't at the marketing boiling point yet. We'll be drowning in it by Thanksgiving.

This is actually a very popular new technique. Companies have seen that spending the vast majority of their money 45 days out is far more effective then the long game.

 

[Napoleon]

Y'all a bunch of needy lil' bastahs.

As far as I'm concerned, they can take their sweet sweet time releasing promo material. Good things come to those who wait.

 

[Brother Jack]

I just hope to like this film. I don't have any crazy expectations or anything. I just want to connect with the story and characters in general. It doesn't need to be as good as the originals to me, just good.

It's very foolish to expect this to be on an Empire Strikes Back level (to go as extreme as possible). It's certainly not impossible that it will be the "Best Star Wars Movie Ever" but you're almost dooming yourself for disappointment if that is your standard of quality. There are very few movies of this type in the same league as Empire or the OT in general. The metric should be for it to just be a good, maybe great movie. To be its own thing that offers something fresh and new while being apart of a classic series.

 

[Solidus]

I think expecting Empire is probably somewhat over the top. Though there are only a few films in existence that may ever reach that level. Even though originally people did not care for it as much as the original.

In terms of the OT though, I love ROTJ but I would say it is likely TFA will surpass it in many ways. ROTJ rode the coat-tails of ANH and ESB and did great with Luke's arc but other than that was nothing spectacular. I still love the movie but I can admit it's not necessarily some untouchable film.

ANH is a classic in so many ways but mainly classic for creating the whole SW universe. Something that in itself is such a great feat. But in terms of story, acting, ect. I think TFA can do as good for the most part. ANH's story/character development is very basic.

I'd say my feelings are that it can easily do better than ROTJ, maybe get around ANH in terms of character/story. However with Empire, I truly don't expect many films to ever touch that. But that does not mean I possibly won't love the hell out of TFA and consider it one of my favorites. Just I try to keep expectations somewhat in check.