NumberWan

I still wonder about the hair/fur shader in JA. When we see Chewie on tatooine – it works just fine. But in foggy environment the shader acts strangely. I haven't tried to figure that out yet, but what does effect that? Luke has the beard, so it might look strange in fog.

And here's a very new trailer for Season II. https://youtu.be/YfeWNZqVYsE I really hope, Palpatine will appear in the flesh. And they say, each character will receive their own backstory, flashback episode in Season II, so that might mean, that we will see Mandalore after the Clone Wars, and learn why Hera doesn't want to return to Ryloth, among other things. We'll definitely see Mustafar and more planets, including the one with the peculiar city with lots of domes. There is also a small video about the Seventh Sister and Ezra. You can watch it here: link

Hopefully Vader is just a rumour for Episode VIII. For now I am positive, that Andy Serkis' character is something. The rumour about the political affairs in the Galaxy suggest his role is nothing like the Emperor, but still quite interesting. Careful, the info is taken from an article at SWU, which might include SPOILERS.

There is a small video, if you haven't seen already, about this Seventh Sister. http://vk.com/video-31434822_171336465

We now know, that Sith Inquisitors have "names": Fifth Brother and Seventh Sister, indicating, that the Sith order has many of members to serve the Dark Side.

There is a new info on the Galactic affairs before, during and after The Force Awakens.

@@DrXann I also thought about this: why all the secrecy? The other one being as secretive (at least regarding the measure of security) is Game of Thrones. But nevertheless the information leaked into public was somehow under control. The first rumors surrounded some characters. Then nothing about aliens, what made me feel suspicious. Later the names of the characters - we don't know their full names. And many other things. Comparing to how the info was leaking for Episodes II and III, I would say, this is odd. Meanwhile it's about 2,5 months until Episode VII, and this graffiti appeared in one of the Shopping Malls in Moscow near IKEA:

I have a few friends, which stay away from the rumors regarding Star Wars and most other projects. They claim to lose interest in what would come in December, and thus they know nothing of Leia and Luke returning, of Rey, of the actors and some haven't seen the trailers, so they don't know about the new stormtroopers, etc. Some people got spoilers by simply entering the Toy Shop. But for me it has always been a very much important part to analyze and make theories on various aspects of the future film. This was with Episode II and III, as well with others, though Star Wars is perhaps the only franchise I am digging into so much (the other being Lost series, perhaps). Even knowing so many facts/non-facts about Episode VII, I am waiting for it. I am most puzzled with whether the film will be hated or loved a lot. Spoilers won't help here. )

@@DT85 I don't think they intended to release it by any means other than Facebook or similar services. After December 2015 - they can make more like these and of higher quality. It seems we now know another character - Lor San Tekka.

Have you tried this??? JAKKU 360 EXPERIENCE Try this one in Google Chrome browser, as you pass through Jakku on Rey's speeder near the remains of the Imperial vessels in the desert.

The enforcer can be seen in the small teaser, where a stormtrooper takes Poe Dameron through the corridor. Two of these enforces are seen rushing through a corridor of another ship.

@@Nikomaru14 Use mod view to check animations and see the acrobatics. In most cases this these are the ones used to create dancing. I can remember one being used in Redemption SP mod.

I really like this seat, but it looks a bit too stylish for a ship like Raven's Claw. I guess later additions in dirty textures or old materials will do.

@ My thoughts exactly. I think Rey might be a nickname or a false name she is using (or she was called like that by her parents due to some reasons). But I think there might be two children of Skywalkers nonetheless. Kylo Ren is most likely just a different guy - Darth Vader is as iconic within Star Wars as he is for the fans of the franchise. So probably Kylo is worshipping the former Sith Lord, believing in the myth, surrounding his personality, as created by the First Order after the collapse of the Empire. This Leader Snoke is also revealed to be not a Sith somehow. I wonder if there is any connection to Palpatine's most loyal servants...

I remember there were 4 IGs, one was destroyed by Dash Rendar on Ord Mantell (the droid went there to track down Boba). You might be right about the yellow droid on Bespin. IGs head can also be seen in Episode IV in the cantina, as part of the gadgets to create drinks. These all are an easter egg. We already know, there will be a lot of such things in Episode VII, and I hope to see more than just a droid from the background. Also, not big news, but some believe that Daisy Ridley actually confirms her connection to one of the notable families - Solo and Skywalkers. In this video: https://youtu.be/dyvjHHMLeKY

I don't think that is IG-88. The various screenshots revealed many new characters which remind a lot from the classics (though one background character from A New Hope was confirmed to appear in Episode VII himself). Perhaps this unit is close to IG-88 variants (like IG-84 or IG-90, whatever appeared in the Galaxy). In Episode V IG-88 is seen not just like a bounty hunter near Boba Fett, but also as a piece of junk in Ugnaught's facility in the Cloud City.

@@Jolly Not at all. The shooting has started already, some actors confirmed and more news will be coming next month. Shooting in Ireland has already been finished, or so they say. It is known, that Mark Hamill participated in the scene for Episode VIII (which raised multiple rumours). It is also known now, that Kenny Baker no longer will reprise the role of R2-D2 in any visual appearance, the role is likely to have passed into the hands of the new generation now - Jimmy Vee.

More pictures show some more characters. I am still not sure whether all of them are official.

Another teaser for Season 2 was shown some time ago. It reveals nothing new really, except the AT-ATs better views, AT-AT pilot and some other things. The curious thing might be the new picture of a female inquisitor. Her face is now seen from a different angle It's still difficult to say, whether we see Bariss Offee there. I hope @@Cerez will be right.

Someone posted the latest photos from Rogue One set. It reminds me of several things - the first being the Jedi Transport shot down in Jedi Academy video game. The engines look a bit like classic ships like X-Wing or Moldy Crow from Dark Forces. But I guess it's Imperial, as we can see many dead stormtroopers around. More

@@Cerez There are people, who would argue the lack of depth in the prequels. I don't agree with them, but in some ways they are right. I am not saying the new films are as good as the OT, which were after all the initial reason, why I loved Star Wars long before The Phantom Menace was released. The prequels are just different in story, and the reason is that we see a different epoch. But as you said - every movie has mistakes and errors. We might see the difference in the way we see one reading Greek and Egyptian mythology. Or comparing Egyptian and Babylonian stories. The first is closer to Sun, while the second is more like Moon. Another example would be Hercules and Gilgamesh Quite often I hear, that Episode I should have shown Anakin at the age of 20 or so, and that Amidala had to be a Jedi rather than a queen, and that they should have flied a ld junky ship with pirates, not with royal guards. While Obi Wan had to participate in battles on swampy planet, to take part in Western-like adventure, rather than sitting in a library in the Jedi Temple and meeting with Prime Minister of Kamino. But that is the way of things, that was a time of the Republic, when decisions of politicians could save millions, but sent the whole Galaxy into disarray, while in the OT we see the true heroes - a band of different people, like princess, a pirate, an old mentor and a farm boy, who would do what the predecessors - a Jedi Knight, a Queen, a Soldier, a true Leader - could not. And I guess, it is the wisest decision to show the Galaxy after some sort of collapse in Episode VII. It looks more like the OT, and for that the director uses the minimum necessary CGI tech, while most effects stay true to the good old ways. Some mistakes are left in the OT, like the one with the trooper, hitting the door on Death Star. Most people don't know of its existence. =)

While we are waiting for The Force Awakens in December, a new movie is already on its way... The rumors pop up here and there, the first being that Benicio Del Toro would participate in the next chapter of Star Wars. Nothing is yet confirmed, except for the director - Rian Johnson ("Looper' with B.Willis). IMDB has Poe Dameron as the returning character, as well as Benicio Del Toro's status is now "announced". In an interview he was (surely) secretive about his role, but hinted, that he is most likely playing an evil guy. Also possibly coming back (Episode VII rumors!). Here are the latest pictures (and probably the first) from shooting of Episode VIII (if they are real of course). HINT: (pictures)

@@DrXann This question was raised during the production of Episode III. There was an actor with prosthetics, so that he would look like younger Tarkin. I actually believe, that Tarkin would have looked differently in that age.

@@Cerez I see what you mean. It's like the postcards from the XIXth century - they have their own charm not just because of the style, but because of the printing technology, which isn't perfect, but that what makes it great. However the original unchanged trilogy is still available to fans, and as far as I remember it was even included into certain releases, or not? Anyways, the changes made in 1997 seem to be still somehow reasonable - Lucas said himself back those years in an interview, that when he envisioned Star Wars, a lot of things couldn't be done with the technologies they had. And they don't much regarding the original scenes, only adding rather than changing the picture. By 1997 Lucas felt, that he wanted to make some things he couldn't earlier - like larger panoramic views, deeper background. I am not saying seeing more of the city is better than seeing a tiny street. But I think it's always good to be able to have expanded views of the familiar things, like Mos Eisley. More creatures and quarters, as well as Millennium Falcon leaving the spaceport - I actually like that. The sequence with Jabba, as mentioned above in this thread - well, it is the scene that should have been added, but the Jabba character himself, probably, should have been introduced in a bit different way, without the comic effect with Han stepping on his tail. Of course, the animatronics are much older. But they differ greatly from contemporary "droids", What I mean, is that the animatronics of 1970s was probably the only way to make a convincing character (for starships and other effects they could still use some cinematic tricks other than animatronics). In 1990s the era of CGI began, keeping aside the older technology. For The Force Awakens they reasonably use more animatronics than for the prequels - the time has come for this technology to blossom. More than 100 characters are believed to have come to life through this method in the new film. So the technology developed beyond recognition since 1970s, and whereas Jabba would have been a puppet, controlled by several people in ROTJ, now he can be as alive as any other character through basic remote controlling. As for celebration - here I would disagree. It is spectacular and shows different worlds freed from the Empire. When I watched the film as a child, I didn't have the feeling, that battle of Endor was somehow so significant for the Galaxy. It was - in my opinion - for the characters, for a small group of Rebels, etc. The personal conflict resolved between Vader and Anakin, or between Vader and Luke. Light and Dark. Besides seeing Coruscant in the OT was very-very important to me. Its coming to Star Wars had been postponed since Episode IV, which was supposed to include the Imperial Capital with the Emperor (though a puppet in the hands of such people as Moff Tarkin). Bespin is another de-facto incarnation of early looks of Coruscant. The Death Star II was supposed to be orbiting Coruscant, while the duel between Luke and Vader would take place in the Imperial Palace. I am glad, that it was Endor after all, but still Coruscant had to reenter the Original Trilogy. And I like the EU a lot, so I am glad, that the legendary world eventually made it into the films, where it was supposed to appear. Perhaps I am seeing the Galaxy from the point of view, that it can include lots of different (opposite) things, and they ought to be seen, be it a cantina, a gang base, a tall skyscraper, an elegant office or a mud hut on a swamp.