5 questions raised by The Force Awakens poster

THE latest poster for Star Wars: The Force Awakens raises many questions about J.J. Abrams’ new Episode, finds Matthew Dunne-Miles.

There is clearly a 'bantha in the room' when it comes to this new theatrical poster. Picture: Lucasfilm / Disney

When it comes to Star Wars, it’s nigh-on impossible not to get lost in the minutiae of every leak of information from inside those studios.

Whilst the fans wait patiently for the latest official trailer, set to be screened Monday evening during half-time at an NFL game in Philadelphia, it’s time for the force adept to look into the questions raised by this first theatrical poster.

Where is Luke Skywalker?

The ‘bantha in the room’ of this latest piece of the puzzle. Despite Han, Leia, Chewbacca, C3P0 and R2-D2 all featuring on the iconic artwork - backwater swamp rat-shooter turned Jedi Master Luke Skywalker is noticeable by his absence.

Mark Hamill has been reported to have visited the Force Awakens set, but so far has been completely unseen in any of the marketing campaign. Could it be that Skywalker goes the way of his mentor Obi Wan Kenobi and disappears early into this particular trilogy.

Has the Death Star returned?

Despite last being seen exploding over the skies of Endor in Return of the Jedi, the spherical spaceship pictured top right of the poster is certainly no moon. Does the return of the most dangerous weapon in the galaxy signal that the Galactic Empire is still going strong?

Who is the alien next to R2-D2?

Star Wars fans are right to squirm in their seat a little at the inclusion of a new alien on the theatrical poster, with many still discussing Jah Jah Binks with their therapists. The small extraterrestrial pictured between R2-D2 and a rolling droid, featured in the previous trailer, must play a crucial roll in Force Awakens if it can get on the poster over Luke Skywalker himself.

Who is the chrome-clad stormtrooper?

With the Galactic Empire losing a number of their key figures in the battle of Endor, could it possible that a stormtrooper could have risen through the ranks? With a reflective chrome uniform separating them from other stormtroopers - maybe this soldier is a survivor from the original clone troopers of Episodes I, II & III.

Why can’t the Rebel Alliance afford new uniforms?

The Empire can stretch their budget to a third edition of the Death Star, new modified stormtrooper helmets and one-off chrome numbers - and yet, judging from the one X-wing pilot featured, the Rebel Alliance are still going for orange jumpsuits with a white padded waistcoat. How slow does fashion move in the galaxy?

Star Wars: The Force Awakens will be released worldwide on December 18.