With the arrival of J.J. Abrams’ Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens, the galaxy far, far away is back and fans couldn’t be happier. As the record-breaking box office numbers indicate, many moviegoers have been making multiple trips to the theater to see the next generation of the Skywalker saga unfold. The thrilling action, fun story, and memorable characters are enough to warrant repeat viewings, but there are plenty of other reasons to check it out.
Knowing that the rabid Star Wars fan base was planning on seeing The Force Awakens more than once, Abrams and his team made sure to include a ton of Easter eggs and hidden references so there was always something new to see the next time people went to see it. Get ready to buy another ticket so you can try to find one of these 10 Amazing Hidden Details in Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
The Falcon’s New Dish
Towards the end of Return of the Jedi, the Millennium Falcon is damaged a bit, losing its iconic circular radar dish during the Battle of Endor. Obviously, some repairs were in order, and presumably before Han Solo lost his ship, he got the vehicle fixed. Throughout The Force Awakens, the Falcon has a rectangular dish, creating a necessary link between the original and sequel trilogies.
The decision to alter the Falcon’s appearance slightly makes a great deal of sense. It illustrates the passage of time between Jedi and Force Awakens, subtly honoring the franchise’s in-universe history with a cool detail. If the Falcon looked the same as it did in the first three films, it wouldn’t seem right. This was the only way to go.
Ello Asty
It’s no secret that Abrams loves the Beastie Boys, utilizing two of the rap group’s classic songs - “Sabotage” and “Body Movin’” - in his Star Trek pictures. However, since Star Wars does not take place on Earth, Abrams couldn’t use their music in the Force Awakens soundtrack without causing an uproar from disapproving fans. With that in mind, Abrams managed to pay tribute to the Beastie Boys in a completely different way for Star Wars 7.
One of the Resistance pilots featured in the film is named Ello Asty, which is a reference to the Beastie Boys’ Grammy winning album Hello Nasty. And the nods don’t stop there. The passage on the side of Asty’s helmet is translated to “born to ill,” bringing to mind the Beasties’ legendary debut record, Licensed to Ill. There’s no word on whether or not Episode VIII will feature a place called Paul’s Boutique, but we can certainly hope.
007: Stormtrooper
Before The Force Awakens hit theaters, it was rumored that James Bond himself, Daniel Craig, was going to cameo as a First Order stormtrooper. But it was a report that Craig denied. When fans settled in to watch the film, they learned that the actor was pulling a fast one on everybody. Craig is indeed playing a stormtrooper in the film, and he’s very easy to spot.
Craig’s trooper (who is humorously named JB-007) falls victim to Rey’s Jedi mind trick when she is escaping from captivity on Starkiller base. It may be difficult to pick up at first, but listen closely during this scene and Craig’s voice becomes unmistakeable as he breaks Rey’s bonds and drops his gun. It’s a comedic moment that shows even A-list actors will take a small part to contribute to the ever-growing Star Wars legacy. Who knows who Rian Johnson will bring in to round out the ranks in Star Wars 8.
FN-2187
When Finn first appears, he’s known only by his call signal, FN-2187. That’s been his name for as long as he can remember, having spent the majority of his life with the First Order and training with them. Poe Dameron decides to give his newfound friend the nickname “Finn,” combining the two letters. That’s a nice touch, but it’s the numbers that hold a greater meaning for longtime Star Wars fans.
2187 just happens to be the number of the cell Princess Leia was held in on the first Death Star in the adventure that started it all. It’s a clever bit of fan service that doesn’t hit moviegoers over the head with its obviousness. In fact, it’s a reference that will probably go over even the most devout fan’s head on the first viewing. But it’s still a nice little detail that fits organically into the story while still operating as a fun reveal for those who have been there since the beginning.
Luke’s Training Remote
Going back on board the Millennium Falcon was sure to be a trip down memory lane, and Abrams didn’t disappoint. He used the opportunity to include a bunch of original trilogy Easter eggs, including the chess game that Chewbacca and R2-D2 played en route to Alderaan. But there’s an even better “blink and you’ll miss” cameo from a different New Hope prop: Luke Skywalker’s training remote.
As Rey and Finn board the ship and search its contents, Finn comes across the training orb in a bag of supplies, giving it a curious look before tossing it aside. It’s only on screen for a fleeting moment, but the significance is not lost on Star Wars fans. Seeing it recalls the sequence where Luke truly begins his Jedi training and takes his first step into a larger world, something that could be applied to Rey and Finn stealing the Falcon and going on a wild adventure together.
How Many Parsecs?
Star Wars fans may never fully understand the mythology of the Kessel Run, since parsecs are a measurement of distance and not time. Whatever the case may be, Han Solo knows that it only took him 12 parsecs to complete the run in his beloved Millennium Falcon, and he’s very proud of that fact. Upon meeting Rey and Finn, Rey excitedly remarks that she’s on the ship that made the Run in 14 parsecs, and Han is quick to correct her.
Those two parsecs obviously make a big difference in Han’s mind, similar to an aging athlete recalling a great game, remembering every little detail exactly as it happened. He’s not going to let his legacy get tarnished by false information. For fans, this confirms that the Kessel Run is actually a real thing (and not some mumbo jumbo Han came up with to impress Obi-Wan and Luke) and is a fun moment in a movie that’s full of them.
Ben Solo
One of the biggest reveals in The Force Awakens is that villain Kylo Ren is actually Ben Solo, the son of Han and Leia. It’s never confirmed why the two named their child that, but fans have a few ideas. Ben could be a reference to Obi-Wan “Ben” Kenobi, the one who was partially responsible for bringing the star crossed lovers together all those years ago. The name could also be a nod towards the old Expanded Universe.
In the now non-canon series of novels called “Star Wars Legends,” Luke Skywalker and Mara Jade had a son named Ben Skywalker. When Disney wiped the slate clean after acquiring Lucasfilm, it upset many fans who had taken a liking to the EU stories and characters. While they’ll never officially be part of the galaxy’s history, it would still be nice to see them be acknowledged in the new films - especially since they do borrow certain elements from those original books. Whichever way you look at it, Abrams seemed to be honoring the franchise’s storied history when naming the new antagonist.
Voices of the Force
One of the most talked about sequences in The Force Awakens is when Rey comes into contact with Luke Skywalker’s old lightsaber and has a disorientating Force vision featuring what has passed and things still to come. There’s a lot happening during this scene, including vocal cameos by the two wise Jedi that trained Luke in the original trilogy: Obi-Wan and Yoda. Frank Oz came back to record a line as the tiny Jedi Master, but the most impressive feat came when both actors who played Kenobi reprised the role.
Obi-Wan has a single line in the new movie, “Rey, these are your first steps.” Ewan McGregor, who portrayed Obi-Wan in the prequels, supplied the “these are your first steps” portion, echoing what the character said to Luke long ago. For the “Rey,” the Force Awakens audio team took an instance of the late Alec Guinness saying “afraid” as Obi-Wan and editing it to say “Rey…” While Force ghosts are not present in Star Wars 7, the presence of the old teachers that taught us so much about the ways of the Force is still strongly felt.
BB-8’s Human Voice
New droid BB-8 was an instant fan-favorite thanks to his cute look and personality. A lot of credit for the character’s success has to be given to the two human comedians that supplied his voice. SNL alum Bill Hader revealed in an interview that he worked with Abrams to create BB-8’s sound. Abrams attached his iPad to a talk box operated by Hader, using a sound effects app to create the right voice. In addition, Parks and Recreation actor Ben Schwartz provided a helping hand, earning a credit as a vocal consultant.
As far back as the original film, George Lucas knew that the most prominent droids in the movies were going to need a human touch. That’s why actors Anthony Daniels and Kenny Baker were hired to play C-3PO and R2-D2, respectively. Abrams obviously followed that lead, knowing that BB-8 wouldn’t connect with audiences unless he had a little living spirit in him. By all accounts, the team was successful and fans can’t wait to see what the sequels have in store for the robot.
R2-KT
Most Star Wars fans are probably familiar with the story of R2-KT, the pink astromech droid that 501st legion member Albin Johnson had constructed for his daughter Katie when she was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Becoming a symbol of love and hope for the fan community, R2-KT has become a fixture in Star Wars media ever since she was made, appearing in the Clone Wars cartoon series, attending fan conventions, and visiting sick children in the hospital. Abrams gave the droid her live-action cinematic debut in The Force Awakens.
During the scene where Poe reunites with Finn on Starkiller base, R2-KT can be seen standing under the pilot’s X-wing fighter, apparently serving as Poe’s new wing mate while BB-8 was trekking across the galaxy with Rey, Finn, Han, and Chewie. Even though R2-KT doesn’t have the biggest part to play in Episode VII, her inclusion is a touching moment for those aware of the character’s creation and the heartfelt inspiration behind it. Hopefully she becomes a fixture at Resistance HQ as the sequel trilogy progresses.
Conclusion
Those are our picks for great hidden details inside The Force Awakens. Are there any we missed? Which ones are your favorites? Sound off in the comments section below and be sure to subscribe to our channel for more fun videos like this one!
