Another Bantha herd of Star Wars rumors have stampeded the web in what may be our best guesses at just who’s pulling the strings behind the first chapter of J.J. Abrams’ new universe.
In the rather illustrious work of art above, some industrious souls uncovered what looks like a look at our heroine battling a (very) apparently evil guy wielding a lightsaber. (Probably a Sith?…) Some estimate our leading lady with the blue saber’s our very own Daisy Ridley, who might or might not be Han Solo and Princess Leia’s daughter, the afore mentioned Kira Solo according to reports. There’s no word of a brother in that equation, nor any guess as to what his name would be (Kyle, Kaden, maybe?).
Taking a closer look at the probably mad man with the red saber in hand, he’s apparently initiating some form of a classic force-choke on her from behind along with some other individual by his side, and quite possibly an apprentice. John Boyega or Adam Driver’s characters have been called into question as such.
Courtesy of the Internet’s snoops, we’ve also gotten a peak at the concept art of that same presumed villain in question. Sporting a cyborg hand, a Doctor Doom mask, and what some are surmising is a scraggly old man beard, the dark figure is holding the burnt husk of Darth Vader’s mask in his hands, Hamlet style. Did he know Vader all too well, or is he just waiting to sell it on eBay?
We’re not sure either way, but according to a few astute Star Wars theorists, his/her/its scraggly visage might match the same hobo beard Mark Hamill’s been rocking these past few months as you can see below. Could Luke Skywalker have turned decades later?
You can also look no further than Darth Malgus for another similarly garbed cyborg, starring villain of 2011’s Star Wars: The Old Republic from EA and Bioware for reference.
An unlikely candidate given the chronological distance: The Old Republic was set over two millennia prior to Episode VII, but since former “canon” narrative was tossed out the window, there’s influences to be had from anywhere in the Star Wars lore.
The notion would fall in line with what Lucasfilm had exposed as “taking inspiration” from any and all previous Expanded Universe materials this past April per the announcement of the canon switch-up.
Of lesser note, a throne room of sorts is also present in the collection of concept art reminiscent of the original concept art for Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi‘s intended throne room for Emperor Palpatine and Darth Vader’s duel with Luke Skywalker.
That concept art, which you can see to your left, certainly mirrors the newest one on the right, both with a hooded figure of some malcontent sitting on it before some unwitting guest.
Among the planetary art gallery on the left is a planet that’s remarkably Tatooine-ish in this writer’s eyes; speeder-vehicle, homestead, and all. the higher-res graphics even suggest it’s a CG image unlike the ones above and complete with some impressive lighting effects fem both the desert and the speeder.
The right pic promotes what looks like a makeshift shelter from a faller AT-AT walker whose foot was previewed earlier this year in the film’s first set-photo. The home/base of sorts genuinely testifies to the “lived in” feel that Lucasfilm and intended to return to in making Episode VII akin to the Original Trilogy. Junk and debris cover a modest abode maybe all too similar to a certain Jedi hermit’s ingenuity from a movie long ago.
And it looks like we’ve got even more friends along for the ride if any of the concept art proves true. Everyone’s favorite Wookie looks like he got a big booboo of some kind, with a shiny metal arm standing in place of a furrier one.
Further, the fan-dubbed “Chrome Trooper” in the center falls in line with recent art depicting the assumed Imperial soldiers with their long-rumored capes and silver armor. The cloaked ones allegedly serve the Sith as a private (and Force wielding) security team while the rest serve as basic foot soldiers.
Meanwhile, the gentleman on the far right looks to be a bounty hunter type that calls up images of Dengar. Probably not much more than a background extra, but one you know will flood your local Walmart’s shelves when you’re looking for the Han Solo figures you can’t seem to find.
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Star Wars: Episode VII, as it’s titled for now, releases Dec. 18th, 2015 in theaters and IMAX. The J.J. Abrams (Cloverfield, Star Trek: Into Darkness) directed sci-fi epic stars Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Adam Driver, Andy Serkis, Oscar Isaac, Domhall Gleeson, Gwendoline Christie, Lupita N’yongo, and Max Von Sydow.
Via i09