Star Wars: The Force Awakens Comic-Con Footage Analysis

There’s a ton of details to pick apart here. Let’s get started.

The footage that debuted at the Star Wars panel at San Diego Comic Con this year was spectacular. Full of care and heart, it not only showed us just how much effort the entire cast and crew put into the production, but that they were doing everything correct to make a true successor to the original trilogy.If you haven’t seen the footage, watch it just below before we get started.

The three and a half minutes of footage of filled with tons of the production. Let’s break it down and see what we find.

Our first shot is of the desert planet Jakku. Is that a moisture vaporator out in the distance?

Next up is the interior of the Falcon. We’re pretty sure the branching corridor heads toward the cockpit.

We have a long hallway reminiscent of the prison hallway on the Death Star. There are two possibilities here, either it takes place on Starkiller base or on a Star Destroyer. Given that space would be at a premium in… well… space, we’re guessing it’s the narrow corridor inside a Star Destroyer.

Here we have R2-D2, a little scuffed up but looking rather well for being a full 30 years older.

You may recognize this shot from the first trailer, which seems to be stormtroopers on a troop transport:

Some galactic riff raff, bringing to mind the shots of the Mos Eisley Cantina. Note the stone walls behind the characters. If the rumors are to be believed, this is part of Maz Kanata‘s castle.

Here we have a series of shots from concept to execution of a crashed tie fighter, which rumor has it belongs to Finn.

A storyboard of the Falcon, which looks to be parked next to a rather large man-made structure above.

A miniature mock up of the Falcon’s interior, most likely used for preparing the actual set and planning out how to shoot scenes.

Here are some animatronic aliens, though we’re not entirely sure what the species they belong to.

BB-8 on the Falcon from the same shot as the teaser.

A captured Poe Dameron being forced along by a First Order stormtrooper. Again, this is either in Starkiller Base or a Star Destroyer.

Lupita Nyong’o doing motion capture for Maz Kanata.

The C-3P0’s mask being put on Anthony Daniels. Notice the less shiny finish we last saw in Return of the Jedi and the red arm we first saw in the leaked merchandise.

The crew shooting the desert for Jakku.

Kathleen Kennedy giving an interview on set… but check out those AT-AT feet in the sand behind her.

The arch on Jakku we saw in previous trailers. Is it the gateway to a settlement of some kind? Also, notice the ramp to a partially built Falcon on the far right.

Check out this rather large explosion in the desert. What’s strange here is that the actors aren’t in costume for the shoot, so is this a test or are they just filming the explosion?

This looks like Poe Dameron in the jacket he was wearing with the stormtrooper. He’s urgently running near his X-Wing, which makes us think he’s about to be captured. We’re wondering why he’s being so actively hunted…

Kylo Ren coming out of his ship, flanked by stormtrooper guards.

Check out these stormtrooper extras: the one on the right has an officer shoulder pad. Looks like they’re keeping the same ranking system for the most part.

A flametrooper burning stuff. If the rumors are to be believed, this will be very close to the start of the film.

Simon Pegg on set and in heaven.

A close up of an unfinished Chewbacca mask. Notice the material they’re using for the character’s skin underneath the hair.

The finished Chewbacca mask.

Check out the creature workshop. Is it us, or does the concept art on the right have the head of a pit droid or something close to it?

Peter Meyhew in the co-pilot’s seat of the Falcon with Daisy Ridley next to him. That council between them has a glowing blue cylinder sticking out of it. We don’t think that was there before…

More creature effects, showing off some impressive – and new- aliens.

A new hookah smoking alien, carrying on the tradition of the lizard guy from the Mos Eisley Cantina and Jabba the Hutt.

A member of the art department hand painting the helmet of a Resistance pilot.

Here is a guy that seems to be… a box of snake like creatures. We’re really curious what his face prosthetic will be.

Simon Pegg is playing a background alien, apparently. He must be burning under all that latex.

It seems we’re getting the return of the Gonk droid!

This alien looks familiar, but we can’t quite place it. Does anyone know if this is new or a returning species?

Here we see the construction of the new X-Wing and Falcon on a soundstage. Note they appear to be made out of wood.

The lineup of Stormtroopers we saw earlier from a wider view.

Here’s a shot from the film being viewed on a monitor in what we assume is a set’s video village. Note the soldiers with the red helmets. Could they be Resistance fighters?

Daisy Ridley giving a derp face before she boards a version of the Falcon’s cockpit on a hydraulic suspension. It seems she’ll be piloting the ship for at least one point of the film. Judging from the fact she’s wearing her Jakku costume, it may be from the chase we’ve seen in the trailers.

First Order stormtroopers storming ruins. This is the same set where we say the Vanity Fair shot of Captain Phasma, so it’s safe to say she’ll be showing up in this scene.

Stormtroopers getting thrown like rag dolls in an explosion.

A shot of Resistance pilots and personnel surrounding the Falcon. Is this on Yavin IV? It certainly looks like the leaked hanger base shots from last year.

C-3PO in what looks like the interior of a Resistance base, which is looking more and more like Yavin. You also get a better look at his new red arm.

Domhnall Gleeson on what appears to be the set of Starkiller Base.

John Boyega and Daisy Ridley chilling the set of what appears to be a Jakku junkyard.

JJ Abrams and Lawrence Kasdan working on script pages in a First Order hanger.

Admiral Ackbar!

Nien Nunb!

Princess Leia, in what appears to be a very practical outfit. Honestly, she looks a bit more like Han Solo here with the black vest, which is a nice touch.

Oscar Isaac, being interviewed with the Resistance Base set behind him.

More stormtrooper extras in what appears to be that First Order hanger set.

Warwick Davis behind the scenes, with a fuzzy creature that is equally adorable and terrifying.

A touching moment between JJ Abrams and Carrie Fisher.

JJ Abrams looking at a shot of what appears to be a fire fight in a corridor.

Kathleen Kennedy and JJ laughing on set. We’re guessing this is Starkiller base, judging from the moody lighting and the industrial corridors.

Anthony Daniels out of costume on the set of the Falcon. Unless we’re mistaken, the lounge area where C-3P0 and R2 played Dejarick with Chewbacca is behind him, though we don’t see the table. At the very least, we’re pretty sure it’s the same room.