Star Wars Bits: Spin Off Code Name, Force Awakens Trailer Controversies, Speculation And New Actors

Lots of talk, discussion and speculation surrounding The Force Awakens trailer are in this edition of Star Wars Bits, but lots more too. Below, read about the following:

  • How many views did the Star Wars: The Force Awakens trailer get in the first 72 hours?
  • The code name for the 2016 Star Wars Stand Alone has been revealed.
  • Two new actors have been revealed for The Force Awakens along with their roles.
  • Watch Good Morning America's "exclusive" revelation about The Force Awakens trailer.
  • Marvel announces big events for release of Star Wars #1.
  • Benedict Cumberbatch talks about not being in the Star Wars: The Force Awakens trailer.
  • The mystery of Clone Troopers vs. Storm Troopers is settled by the official Star Wars Twitter.
  • John Boyega responds to hateful comments of his role in The Force Awakens.
  • David Prowse would have loved to be in The Force Awakens.
  • Watch a video of the Alamo Drafthouse Force Awakens trailer event.
  • Read a line of dialogue from The Force Awakens, a setting description and maybe the opening of the film.
  • The release of the Star Wars: The Force Awakens trailer was a big deal Friday. How big? The 88 second video was watched 40 million times in just 72 hours according to the Hollywood Reporter.

    Recently, /Film gave you an idea of what the 2016 Star Wars Stand Alone movie would be about. It'll tell the story of how the Rebels got the plans for the first Death Star, with the help of some bounty hunters. Of course we don't have a title or anything for the movie but Star Wars Underworld has revealed a piece of information that could back that up. They're reporting the title/codename being used when describing the movie is: Los Alamos. Read more about it at the link.

    BBC reporter Lizo Mzimba took to Twitter to reveal two more actors who reportedly appear in The Force Awakens, along with their roles. SW Underworld posted the tweets which reveal actor Sam Carr is playing a Padawan (which is incredibly interesting) and Tony Bailey is a Stormtrooper. Also, actor James McArdle is reportedly playing someone called Xavier.

    Over the weekend, Good Morning America teased they'd have exclusive new information about The Force Awakens trailer. And you thought, maybe because they're owned by Disney, they would. Well, they said it was Andy Serkis doing the voice (which we knew) and that the sound effect at the very end of the trailer is Luke's from A New Hope. Big news. Watch it at this link.

    On January 14, Marvel's new Star Wars #1 hits comic book shops and on that date, fans who buy the comic will be able to get some exclusive swag like posters, pins and more. Read more at this link.

    Though everyone (including himself, kind of) has confirmed Andy Serkis is the voice in the Star Wars: The Force Awakens trailer, some people still swear it's Benedict Cumberbatch. Well, on a recent red carpet, the actor officially "put that to bed." Fast forward to four minutes in, thanks to CBM.

    With the introduction of John Boyega as a unique, individual Stormtrooper, many were wondering about the Clone Troopers versus original trilogy Stormtroopers. Even though Star Wars Rebels has a full episode of kids training to be Storm Troopers, the official Star Wars Twitter settles the debate:

    Speaking of Boyega, though his casting was announced several months ago, the teaser trailer was an excuse for lots of Internet hate over the black actor's appearance in the Star Wars universe. Well, Boyega saw this and responded in a wonderful way. Here's his Instagram:

    With love xxx

    A photo posted by @jboyega on

    One iconic Star Wars actor who is not in The Force Awakens is David Prowse, the man who wore Darth Vader's outfit when his mask was on. Prowse recently told the Daily Mail he will not be returning for this film and is a bit disappointed by that. However, he was recently diagnosed with dementia and doesn't think he could remember lines anyway.

    Phil Noto Force Awakens

    Here's a video of the recent Alamo Drafthouse event where they showed The Force Awakens trailer 17 times in a row.

    Was the wait between shots too much in the Force Awakens trailer? This fan made TV spot fixes that problem and adds some new music too. Well, not SO new.

    And finally, we'll end with a few potential spoilers for Star Wars: The Force Awakens. We can't for sure confirm if any of this is real but, if it is, spoilers abound.

    Making Star Wars has a detailed description of a city they believe will be the setting of the finale of the film, whatever that is. They describe a city that has a very rustic feel, but designed in a modern way. "It's like Wookiees made the Capital Records building," is a great description. Read more at the site.

    The site also is reporting they know a very important line of dialogue from the film. Not only that, they know who says it to who and about what, and it involves severl of the film's heroes and villains. Major spoilers, but you can read it here.

    And finally, pulling together all the speculation we've heard and combining it with the teaser trailer, the site thinks they have a good idea of how the first act of the film unfolds. Read it here.