Star Wars: The Force Awakens 360 Degree Jakku Environment Video

In a video exclusive to Facebook (but no login required to view), is an interesting video that lets you get a 360 degree look at The Battle of Jakku location which is desert looking environment from the trailers. The reason the area is littered with destroyed ships and a Star Destroyer is because it was the last major battle between the Rebellion and the remnant of the Empire after the death of the Emperor in Return of the Jedi. To check out the video click here.

Toy Descriptions Provide Character, Plot Details for Star Wars: The Force Awakens

With the release of the first of probably many new toys around Star Wars: The Force Awakens comes bios and descriptions that finally provide a little meat to the bone that is what little we know about the movie. Due to the descriptions we know have a little background on the characters of Finn the Stormtrooper (John Boyega) and Rey (Daisy Ridley) along with some of names of other characters and locations in the movie. Believe it or not the info below is more detail about the movie than the totality of leaks from the last year so SPOILER WARNING!

Finn

"Sometimes, heroes come from the unlikeliest of places. The Galactic Empire has been dead for decades, but evil never really dies. With villains rising to take the Empire's place, heroes must rise to oppose them.

After becoming stranded by himself in the deserts of Jakku, and meeting up with a girl named Rey, a Stormtrooper named Finn has joined the side of the Resistance. He began his adventure as a part of the New Order, but now he's one of the few people that can stop them.

With a new look, Finn is ready for a new mission. Since trading in his Stormtrooper armor for a new set of gear, Finn's outfit might not be flashy, but it's all that a hero needs to succeed."

Rey

"The mission to take down the First Order is underway! After invading the Starkiller Base, one member of the Resistance has split from her group and found herself in a massive room full of First Order soldiers.

Completely surrounded by Stormtroopers with blasters and Knights of Ren with lightsabers, she seems to be totally outnumbered. Unfortunately for her enemies, though, they've made a big mistake: it's not about the strength of the weapon, but the strength of the warrior that wields it."

Starkiller Base

"An ice planet converted into a stronghold of the First Order and armed with a fiercely destructive new weapon capable of destroying entire star systems."

New Characters

Resistance star fighter mechanic Goss Toowers and his co-worker B-U4D, Resistance tactical co-ordinator PZ-4CO, intergalactic criminal kingpin Tasu Leech, the scavenger and trader Sarco Plank, the skilled if reckless Resistance pilot Ello Asty

Wave One Star Wars: The Force Awakens Toys Revealed

Starting today the first wave of Star Wars: The Force Awakens toys will become available. To no surprise everyone under the sun will be releasing merchandise related to the movie but the big ones to pay attention to are those from Hasbro, and Lego. The key piece is Spero BB-8 that looks and moves just like the character in the film using a smartphone app with the corresponding $150 cost. Of the group that is probably going to be the hardest to get hold of. For a quick review of that toy look at the video below or click here for more details. To check out images of some of those toys click here and another look at the Lego sets here.

Shortlist for Star Wars 8 Lead Revealed

The Wrap is reporting that Star Wars 8 director Rian Johnson and the Star Wars brain trust have a shortlist for the potential female lead in Star Wars 8. The list is Gina Rodriguez (Jane the Virgin), Tatiana Maslany (Orphan Black), and Olivia Cooke (Bates Hotel). Part of the final round of auditions include a "chemistry-read" with The Force Awakens star John Boyega suggesting they will be part of at least a romance and/or flirtation subplot for the film. The movie is aiming for a May 26, 2017 release date so filming is expected to start soon.

You can't fault the taste of those involved as all three are up and coming actors with short but impressive resumes that have shown a deep well of talent that frankly surpasses most current "movie star" despite their mostly TV background. While I found Cooke to be the stand out actor on Bates Hotel, Maslany stands head and shoulders above the trio thanks to her amazing work on Orphan Black. After you watch her pretend to be another character who in turn is pretending to yet another character and completing understanding what is happening and at no point be confused is a level of acting that few actors would be able to pull off. (If not watching Orphan Black, you are missing out.) Due to the nature of the TV series she now has extensive knowledge of CGI, practical effects, and stunts that far outpaces the other two actors which for something as effects and stunt heavy as Star Wars can only be a bonus on her side. Good luck to all three of them, nice thing about this short list is any choice from this trio is a win for Star Wars.