The last decade ofStar warfare — hell , even thelast half - 10 — has beenan consequential one . It may be 12 class since Disney first bought Lucasfilm , but we ’re still feel the aftershock of that acquisition in different ways . And it all start with Thanksgiving weekend and the first - ever unwrap ofStar Wars : The Force Awakensto the cosmopolitan populace .

Walt Disney releasedForce Awakens’original laggard on November 28 , 2014 , ab initio across blue-ribbon theaters in the US and Canada , and then expand its reach that December . At 88 second long , it was the text edition definition of a teaser , with glimpses of its primary type headingsomewherewe were n’t on the nose privvy to contrasted by stretches of dim screen . Is that a ball droid , who ’s the Stormtrooper , is that Andy Serkis , why the heck is there a crossguard lightsaber ? These were all question that rushed to the cutting edge of social media , followed in short by : what is thisabout ?

While the2008Clone Warsmoviewas the last actualStar Warsfeature to hit theaters , there had n’t been a lively - natural process movie since 2005 . In universal , the integral franchise was in a weird place at the clock time : Star WarsRebels’first season had just lead on vacation fracture , theExpanded Universegot declared non - canon months earlier , and it ’d been a twelvemonth since theStar warfare 1313game was scratch . This trailer was the launching point of a monumental wise kickoff for everyone , and it bear off bounteous clip . A week after launching , it had58.2 million views , and mercantile establishment commended it for call forth the look of the original trilogies . Luke , Leia , and Han were nowhere to be run into , but the abbreviated visuals and John Williams ’ score did their line of work in making you think of whatStar Warshad been at its best , and that it could flow in that same district .

Force Awakens Stormtrooper

© Disney/Lucasfilm

Say what you require about Disney ’s ownership ofStar Wars , the studio knows how to raise it . This was true then withForce Awakens , and it ’s become even more true a decade later as it’ssnatched up more propertiesand found more ways topromote them . When it ’s got something on its hands that it has religious belief in , Disney will move heaven and ground to insure you do it it exist , whether you require to or not . This dawdler did the trick ; people fully realized it at the time , but they did finally missStar Warsand what it lend to the table . Disney empathise that , hence this and subequent   house trailer doing their best to sellAwakensas the riposte ofStar Warsfirst and a film secondly . Think back to how hard the merchandising worked to sell the temptingness of new characters and worlds with the tease of stay the stories of the original characters , bringing back the music , and the “ Chewie , we ’re home ” that ’ll always feel like it was specifically written for applause in theaters .

All trailers are case unto themselves , particularly when it come to film and video games . Things have only become freehanded and bigger over the years , and nowadays , trailers are process more like the second approach , much of which you’re able to put onForce Awakens’first teaser . Can theystill do thatnow ? require us again in about , hrm … three - to - five days ?

Want more io9 news show ? Check out when to anticipate the latestMarvel , Star Wars , andStar Trekreleases , what ’s next for theDC Universe on film and idiot box , and everything you need to know about the future ofDoctor Who .

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