Because J.J. Abrams' "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" will feature original trilogy characters Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher), fans have come to expect several connections between these new films and the old. Some of these connections have to do with the rumored parentage/origins of new characters such as Kylo Ren (Adam Driver), Rey (Daisy Ridley), Finn (John Boyega) and Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac). But some of the other connections are much more technical.
Speaking at San Diego Comic-Con over the weekend, production designer Darren Gilford explained how J.J. Abrams used old school special effects to give the new film a familiar look and tone similar to the 1977 classic.
"J.J.'s mandate from day one was authenticity and being as true to the original trilogy as possible," Gilford said via Thompson on Hollywood. "And he felt the prequels were flawed by the fact that they have every [CG] tool known to mankind and used everything at their disposal. I use the metaphor of disco when the synthesizer came about and everyone was using it in an way possible. And I think J.J. wanted to reconnect with how the original films were made."
That is welcome news for every "Star Wars" fan whose childhood was scarred by the prequel trilogy. The fact that Abrams is relying on mostly practical effects will help give "The Force Awakens" a grounded and relatable tone that the prequels sorely lacked. Given the extensive and exhausting work this strategy must have required, it's clear that Abrams his pouring his heart and soul into this project.
Gilford said as much when he described the process as being: "about reconnecting with my childhood and playing with those toys and helping to steer that for the next generation [so] some kid has the same experience that I had."
"Star Wars: The Force Awakens" will hit theaters on December 18.
