This holiday season, Star Wars fans of all ages will be able to return to a galaxy far, far away when Star Wars: The Force Awakens hyperdrives into theaters December 18.
J. J. Abrams is directing the highly anticipated seventh installment in the Star Wars film series.
Classic characters, such as former bounty hunter Han Solo, played by Mr. Harrison Ford, and android C-3PO, played by Mr. Anthony Daniels, return to star in the film. The Force Awakens also features newer characters, such as Resistance pilot Mr. Poe Dameron, played by Mr. Oscar Isaac, and First Order member Kylo Ren, played by Mr. Adam Driver.

Fans know little about the film outside of its basic plot, which takes place thirty years after Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (1983). It follows a new conflict in the galaxy between the First Order, a militant political group born out of the ruins of the Galactic Empire, and the Resistance, a rebellion effort against the First Order, according to ew.com.
Mr. Abrams and the Walt Disney Company instructed the cast to reveal as little as possible.
“When the fans get really excited and addicted to new content, I’m the guy that comes in and goes, ‘guys, you’re just gonna spoil it for yourselves and by the time you watch the movie, it won’t be as effective,'” actor Mr. John Boyega, who plays Finn, an ex-stormtrooper in the movie, said in an interview with buzzfeed.com. “I want them to go in like it’s 1977 again.”
The cast’s secrecy has made fans like Convent of the Sacred Heart senior Tess Driscoll even more enthusiastic for the movie’s release.
“I love Star Wars. I watched it as a kid, so it has a special place in heart from my childhood,” Tess said.  “I’m excited for the movie in general and for all the characters to come back.  The trailers are very ambiguous, and I have a lot of hope for this movie.”
Longtime Star Wars fan and Upper School History Teacher Mr. Matthew Meyer is also excited to see the film.
“I hope that The Force Awakens provides good storytelling and a good plot twist, with an emphasis on characters over special effects,” Mr. Meyer said.
Fans have been able to buy tickets online for Star Wars: The Force Awakens since October 19. According to variety.com, the movie has broken the record for selling the most Image MAXimum (IMAX) tickets within 24 hours of its online ticket release, earning over six and a half million dollars.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens is the first addition to the Star Wars film franchise in 10 years. This is also the first film in the franchise that will not be produced by Lucasfilm. In October 2012, Disney bought Lucasfilm for $4 billion and will be the studio behind all future films, according to usatoday.com.
Disney plans to expand the Star Wars universe by releasing four new movies over the next four years. These include Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Star Wars Episode VII, an untitled Han Solo film, and Star Wars Episode IX, according to fortune.com. Disney will release the movies in 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019 respectively.
Mr. Meyer is excited to experience Star Wars: The Force Awakens and the future Star Wars movies with his family and to help introduce the movies to a new generation.
“I get to re-experience my youth through not just the movie, but seeing new Star Wars merchandise in stores,” Mr. Meyer said.  “It’s a very fun and exciting time.”
– Izzy Sio, Co-Arts and Entertainment Editor and Co-Photo Editor