TGM

interesting, no Luke

E Unit

Hey, so Leia is in this. Nice hair.

Mabuse

Is it Drew Struzman?

What's that thing the lead chick is holding?

Seeing JJ Abrams' name on there still makes my heart sink. They guy is thoroughly mediocre. I hope he pulls this off.

bluetoast

It doesn't look like Drew at all, with his stuff you can tell it's an illustration, these look like straight up pictures. Plus is signature is usually prominent in the posters in some location.

Solid Snake

It's a staff/pole of some sort. I believe you see her hold it in ads. ALMOST looks like the lightsaber beam/blade was part of her staff/pole.

I dunno. I feel that Abrams is the right guy for this considering his film work and style.

joe_b

Just what it looks like: a big 'ole staff she uses to whoop ass with.

Ridley learned a Japanese fighting style called Bōjutsu (or "staff technique") for the movie.

ViewAskewbian

Yes, the lack of Luke is interesting.

Cellar Door

Too busy, but I like the overall composition.

stvn1974

The best part of the poster is that George Lucas' name is nowhere on it.

Mike86

The poster sort of reminds me more of the special edition posters for the Original Trilogy or the Prequel Trilogy posters than the classic Original Trilogy posters. Honestly though with the way film posters are now days I can't say I'm surprised and it makes sense to have it fit in the style of the others.

OldBoy

love BB-8!

joe_b

I'm wondering if this was artwork created for merchandising purposes and they just decided to use it as the one sheet. The style look very similar to the graphics we've seen on merchandise from Force Friday:




There's also a landscape version of the poster on the official site that in my opinion has better composition. Maybe this was the original version. Either way, it'll work better for desktop backgrounds:

It is kind of an insult that they didn't use Struzan's artwork. I know he got paid, but the man confirmed he'd spent seven months working on different concepts for the movie poster. Why is Hollywood so opposed to traditionally illustrated one sheets? It really is a dying art.

stvn1974

I can't wait for another run on the Death Star.

Mike86

Despite the fact that it's been done I wouldn't mind another Death Star like scenario where the heroes are trying to escape or are infiltrating to get information or something.

Strevlac

I have a feeling that's what they wanted to do but Struzan just didn't deliver. Honestly, not everything he's done is gold. Take a look at the comic con poster. Not that great.

Artman

Yeah, disappointing they didn't go with the classic OT style... same with the logo. But for what it is, it works fine.

Mabuse

Interesting that the words "Episode VII" appear nowhere.

The prequels were all: Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones

This is simply: Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Mountain Biker

Yea I seriously don't get the absence of Luke. I though the return of the original cast was one of the main selling points. Or are they just trying to keep his appearance a secret still?

Solid Snake

I guess they're going w/ a narrative element in not having him there. Seems like they are hiding him from marketing cuz he's possibly not in this one aside from the end. I'm fine w/ that. As long as it's a good story... I don't care that he's barely in this if he's in the others w/ more focus on him.

They're not hiding that he was cast. You can't hide that anymore cuz it's a public fact. May be a narrative fact that he's not in this one much though.

stvn1974

I would think that if Luke is hardly in this Mark Hamill would have his name at the end with "featuring Mark Hamill" or "with Mark Hamill" instead of being listed second behind Harrison Ford.

Mike86

I bet eventually there will be a poster to match the others with the full title on it. I think for now Disney is just trying to downplay the "Episode" part of the title.

Yeah but him getting top billing probably makes sense as he's one of the bigger name stars in the film. It could also be that he's got a decent role but maybe it's only the last fifteen minutes or something. It seems like at least part of the story of the film is about finding him so even if he's not in it a bunch it's kind of about Luke.

DthRdrX

So there is another, new looking, Death Star then?

Mountain Biker

True, perhaps his return will be the primary focus of Episode VIII

Josh-da-man

Interesting that Finn is holding a lightsabre, but Rey isn't. The assumption is that she's playing a Skywalker daughter.

Also interesting that her staff is lined up with Kylo Ren's lightsabre.

I'm not surprised that Luke is absent from the poster considering some of the information that has been divulged. He's probably going to be a big reveal that they don't want to give away in the promotion materials, even though we all know Mark Hamill is in the movie.

Mabuse

I don't know why you guys are playing a guessing game. He is in the film. He is top billed on the poster. They are obviously teasing his appearance to build suspense.