Giant Freakin Robot

Since the very moment it was announced, there has been an endless stream of chatter and speculation surrounding J.J. Abrams’ Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and that won’t end for some time. It’s probably the most anticipated movie since the first prequel, The Phantom Menace, so you have to expect that. We’ve heard all kinds of rumors and reports about the various characters, old and new, but of the fresh additions to the franchise, there hasn’t been all that much circling around Domhnall Gleeson’s character, that is until now.

There are loads of potential spoilers beyond this point. You’ve been warned. Also, this is an unofficial report from unnamed sources, so take it with a grain of salt and make of it what you will.

We all expected the first Star Wars: The Force Awakens trailer to incite a great deal of conversation when it dropped just after Thanksgiving, but a lot of people were surprised by just how much people focused that new lightsaber. The uproar certainly surprised director J.J. Abrams, and the notoriously tightlipped filmmaker recently opened up on that topic, as well as others, like practical effects, future Episode movies, and more.

Collider caught up with Abrams on the red carpet for Visual Effects Society Awards, where he received their Visionary Award. Though he is for being secretive about his films, the Star Trek director did talk a little bit about the lightsaber controversy, and shared a few more pieces about the film.

Odds are, if you read this site on any kind of regular basis, you’re a Star Wars fan to some degree and are probably excited for the upcoming The Force Awakens, at least a little bit. I sure am going out on a limb, aren’t I? Part of the reason you’re looking forward to this is likely because we know that we’ll get to see some of our returning favorites from the franchise, especially Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, and Han Solo. While we’re stoked to see some familiar faces, we don’t really know how much we’ll be seeing them, and one cast member indicates that it might not be all that much.

As usual, there are possible spoilers for Star Wars: The Force Awakens beyond this point, so tread carefully.

No matter what, for good or ill, Hayden Christensen will likely never be able to escape the shadow of his time spent in the Star Wars universe. To be fair, the same can be said of others, especially Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher—whatever else they’ve done in their careers, whatever their successes or failures, we’ll always think of them as Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia. (Harrison Ford, for his part, managed to move beyond his Han Solo character.) For all of the things people criticize about the prequels (even if you’re a fan, you have to admit, they’re widely panned films), one of the elements most often pointed out and derided is Christensen’s performance as Anakin Skywalker, who, of course, becomes Darth Vader (sorry if I spoiled that for anyone). Still, he’s not without his supporters, including one very famous champion, a little dude we like to call Nicolas Cage.

The two actors worked together on the upcoming fantasy adventure Outcast, and while doing press for that film, Cage took a few moments to praise his costar to IGN, specifically his turn in both Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith. He says, “I watched George’s movies, and the work Hayden did with George, and I was very impressed with Hayden’s sort of edgy, dangerous, dark and still soulful performance. I thought it was superb. And so I really connected with him.” He also calls Christensen a “lovely man,” and hopes they can continue to be friends.

With new Star Wars movies on their way to theaters beginning later this year, many fans are diving back into their love of a franchise the prequels may have tarnished, or just embracing it with even more excitement and enthusiasm. Well, in between Rebels marathons and reading the comics and novels, now you can explore Star Wars’ history courtesy of a new traveling Smithsonian show focused on the franchise’s amazing costumes.

From Darth Vader’s imposing silhouette to the Rebel pilots’ orange jumpsuits or the elaborate garb of Queen Amidala, Star Wars’ costume design has been an integral part of making George Lucas’ galaxy far, far away feel rich and detailed and real. An exhibition entitled “Rebel, Jedi, Princess, Queen: Star Wars and the Power of Costume” opened in Seattle on January 31 and will remain on display at the EMP Museum through October 4, 2015, after which it will travel to 11 more as-yet-unannounced cities. The show is a collaboration between Lucasfilm, the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, and the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES).

Okay, it feels like it’s been a while since there have been some big time potential spoilers for Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Part of that is probably due to Disney’s new war on leaks, and I like to imagine it like how reporters wait in bars where political aides congregate, hoping the one or another has one drink too many and lets a juicy tidbit slip (at least that’s what TV has told me happens). I also imagine the House of Mouse would subsequently disappear this person. That said, they’re fighting an uphill battle, and a new report has a ton of potential spoilers for The Force Awakens.

Just a warning, if these are true, a big if, they’re the holy shit, ruin-your-day variety of spoilers, so maybe you just want to watch the trailer for The Force Awakens again and call it good.