‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ News Roundup – Stunning Concept Art, Deleted Scenes and More
Here’s a roundup of all things ‘Star Wars.’ Blu-Ray/DVD details, deleted scenes photos, deleted scenes bonus features, and more.
Walt Disney Pictures and Lucasfilm have released a batch of stunning new concept art from ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens.’
Alternate Design for Kylo Ren:
Deleted Scenes Photos:
This shot is from a bonus deleted scene that will be available only digitally. (But remember, each Blu-ray combo pack includes a free download, so you can get it that way.) When the First Order attacks the castle run by Lupita Nyong’o’s Maz Kanata, Han, Finn, and Chewie face down this squad of stormtroopers in her basement. Han does his usual stellar job talking his way out of trouble. For those craving a little more of Solo’s smart-ass swagger, this moment will make you say: “I love you …”
In this deleted scene, Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) leads a squad of stormtroopers to the crash-site of the Millennium Falcon on the surface of Starkiller Base. Inspecting the abandoned starship stirs bittersweet memories for the Dark Side acolyte, who is still battling the pull to the light side … and now knows his estranged father is conspiring against him.
“You never go into a day of shooting and say, ‘This is probably going to be on the cutting room floor,’” says Abrams, seen here in a newly released behind-the-scenes shot with Harrison Ford. “Every day feels as essential as anything else. It’s always annoying to realize that you wasted anyone’s time on shooting something that wasn’t necessary.” Most of the deleted scenes from The Force Awakens don’t radically change the story, but each deepens the characters in some way. Here are details on some more…
In one of the deleted scenes planned for early in the movie, John Boyega’s FN-2187 hasn’t yet fled from the First Order, but he’s already a lost person. This shot is from before the troopers round up the villagers but after his mask is marked with the blood of a fallen fellow soldier. The conscience-stricken Finn comes face-to-face with a woman in the shadows of a small building. He raises his weapon … and makes a fateful decision. (You didn’t think we were going to spoil it, did you?)
“There are so many things that end up getting cut because of the greater good, because of the rhythm of the sequence or the need to get on with it, a sense of redundancy,” director J.J. Abrams tells EW. “You don’t know any of these things when you’re making the movie, of course. It was sometimes after months of working on something that you realize finally — you just don’t need it.”
Another deleted sequence would have introduced Carrie Fisher’s General Leia much earlier in the film as she weighs what to do after the First Order’s massacre on Jakku. Emun Elliott, best known for playing Moray on the British series The Paradise and Marillion in Game of Thrones, also gets a moment to shine as the Resistance communications officer Major Brance, who receives an early distress signal from BB-8 informing them of the attack. (Note: The image above was released with the movie and isn’t from the deleted shots.)
Blu-ray Combo Pack and DVD:
‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ comes out on Blu-ray Combo Pack and DVD on April 5.
Secrets will be revealed through extensive footage, never-before-seen deleted scenes, and exclusive interviews with the actors and filmmakers. Bonus features include*:
Secrets of The Force Awakens: A Cinematic Journey – For the first time, discover the complete story behind the making of The Force Awakens, revealed through in-depth footage and exclusive interviews with the actors and filmmakers in this feature documentary
The Story Awakens: The Table Read – Cast members familiar and new reflect on the memorable day they all first came together to read the movie’s script
Building BB-8 – See how the filmmakers brought the newest droid to the screen, creating an instant fan favorite in the Star Wars universe
Crafting Creatures – Watch movie magic as the filmmakers bring a cast of new creatures to life
Blueprint of a Battle: The Snow Fight – Go deeper into the epic, climactic lightsaber battle between Rey and Kylo Ren
John Williams: The Seventh Symphony – The legendary composer shares personal insights of his work on Star Wars and The Force Awakens
ILM: The Visual Magic of The Force – An insider’s look into the remarkable digital artistry of the movie’s visual effects.
Force For Change – Heroes come in all shapes and sizes. See how the Star Wars: Force for Change initiative has united Star Wars fans all over the globe to help others
Directed by J.J. Abrams. Screenplay by Lawrence Kasdan and J.J. Abrams. Produced by Kathleen Kennedy, J.J. Abrams, and Bryan Burk. John Williams will also return as composer. Stars Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Andy Serkis, John Boyega, Domhnall Gleeson, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Max von Sydow, Lupita Nyong’o, Gwendoline Christie, Peter Mayhew, Kenny Baker, Simon Pegg and Anthony Daniels.
‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ opens worldwide on December 18, 2015.
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