As the release date of the new Star Wars movie draws ever closer, fans are eager to find out more details about the plot. Though much about Star Wars: The Force Awakens has remained closely guarded, clues within the trailer and hints dropped by the actors have provided a fuller picture about what moviegoers can expect in less than two weeks.
According to People, one of the most mysterious characters in Star Wars: The Force Awakens up to this point has been the X-Wing pilot Poe Dameron, portrayed by Oscar Isaac. But Isaac recently opened up and shared some secrets about the creation of the character, even claiming to have helped develop Poe Dameron alongside Star Wars director J. J. Abrams.
“We collaborated on the character and what it could be,” Isaac explained. “Poe evolved from the initial idea to what ended up being in the film.”
Oscar Isaac. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney)
Isaac also told People that his character is “the best frickin’ pilot in the galaxy.”
While much of the Star Wars universe has focused on the Jedi knights in past installments, it appears that Star Wars: The Force Awakens will be centered more on characters who would otherwise be nameless extras. In the original Star Wars films, the X-Wing pilots and Stormtroopers were mostly forgettable characters who barely got to show their faces; but this time around a pilot and a Stormtrooper appear to be two of the main characters. And, according to Oscar Isaac, the fates of these two characters are “intertwined.”
The brief scenes in the trailers how Poe Dameron and the Stormtrooper-turned-rebel Finn (played by John Boyega) start off their relationship by fighting, then apparently start working together not long after that. The trailer also reveals that Isaac’s character will be captured by the major villain in this Star Wars film, Kylo Ren, and even tortured.
But what is Poe Dameron’s role in the grand scheme of the plot? According to Isaac, “he’s been sent on a mission by a certain princess.”
Anyone who’s a fan of Star Wars will know that Isaac is referring to Princess Leia, a role reprised by Carrie Fisher for the sequel. But, according to director J. J. Abrams, Leia will not be referred to as “princess” for this Star Wars film, and instead will be receiving a more military title.
This appears to be one of many decisions made by Abrams to make the new Star Wars film more female-friendly. According to NME, he was criticized in the past for saying that Star Wars had been a “boys club” up to this point, but that the new film should help to draw in more women and girls by allowing them to identify more easily with characters like Rey, played by Daisy Ridley.
“Star Wars was always a boys’ thing, and a movie that dads could take their sons to. And although that is still very much the case, I was really hoping this could be a movie that mothers could take their daughters to as well.”
Star Wars director J.J. Abrams. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney)
J. J. Abrams recently took to Twitter to clarify those remarks by saying that he only meant people tended to think of Star Wars that way, though it never was a “boys club.” Even so, Abrams seems to have made a pointed effort to attract a larger female audience. In addition to the return of a stronger, less royal Leia, and Rey, Star Wars: The Force Awakens will also see the additions of actresses Lupita Nyong’o as a space pirate named Maz Kanata, and Game of Thrones actress Gwendoline Christie’s as Captain Phasma.
Because I was stupid and exhausted. I meant to say that so many have perceived SW as a boys’ club & it ain’t. (1/2) https://t.co/6YytJd5Mqt
