Synopsis

Thirty years after the fall of the Empire, the First Order rises from its ashes under the command of Kylo Ren. On the desert planet Jakku, scavenger Rey becomes caught up in the search for a missing Resistance hero. Joined by runaway stormtrooper Finn, ace pilot Poe Dameron, and familiar rebels, she is drawn into a conflict that may determine the galaxy's future.

Factoids & Trivia

• Released on December 18, 2015, the film was the first live-action Star Wars feature distributed by Walt Disney Studios after Disney acquired Lucasfilm.

• Principal photography took place from April through November 2014. Locations included Abu Dhabi, Iceland, Ireland, and several sites in the United Kingdom, including Pinewood Studios.

• The production deliberately combined computer-generated effects with physical sets, puppets, costumes, miniatures, and animatronic elements to echo the visual character of the original trilogy.

• BB-8 was created through a mixture of practical puppetry, remote-controlled units, and digital effects. Different versions were used depending on whether a scene required interaction with performers, movement across a set, or complex action.

• The returning Millennium Falcon was rebuilt as a full-size practical set for interior scenes, while digital models and other effects work handled its flight sequences.

• Lawrence Kasdan, who co-wrote The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, returned to the series as a screenwriter alongside J.J. Abrams and Michael Arndt.

• John Williams composed the score, continuing his association with the episodic Star Wars films and introducing new themes for Rey, the First Order, and other elements of the revived saga.

• The film became a major commercial milestone, earning more than $2 billion worldwide and launching a new trilogy centered on a new generation of characters.