We’re now three months away from the start of what represents not simply a new Trilogy, but also a complete franchise-wide reboot, hurling the Star Wars universe into a variety of storylines and viewing formats. These are exciting times we’re living in. Wrested from the hands of George Lucas, there’s great potential to be had for the project. But then, to counterbalance this, JJ Abrams has had several missteps in his career. (Alcatraz, anybody?)
The internet remains saturated with a combination of drip-fed material, and leaked photo footage, as fans try to get a hint of what the new film will entail. Naturally, hand in hand with any modern film franchise are the accompanying Lego sets, which have recently been released. Now they’re never a perfect reflection on what’s coming down the line, but do the latest Star Wars releases put any meat on the bones of what we already know?
1. Set 75100 – First Order Snow Speeder
Lego sets based on movie adaps have been known to be somewhat ‘liberal’ with their source material in the past. Who can forget the Mandarin’s flamethrower equipped battle buggy that didn’t feature in any way, shape or form in Iron Man 3? But the presence of a vehicle clearly designated to work in snow may point to the fact that the action will reflect the full galactic reach of the First Order; and won’t be restricted solely to the newly created planet of Jakku.
2. Set 75101 – First Order Special Forces TIE Fighter
Here we have a TIE fighter which has clearly been defined as ‘Special Forces’ for some reason. That on its own may not seem that odd. But then a matching set for Poe Dameron’s X-Wing (Set 75102) shows his fighter to have been created also using a lot of black colouring, which we’ve never seen before on Rebel craft. Does this represent some form of small scale face-off between rival stealth/covert operatives, rather than a bigger, high profile battle?
3. Set 75103 – First Order Transporter
And whilst we’re on the subject of specialist imperial forces, check out the flamethrower wielding troopers in this set. If this one indicates anything, it’s that the rebellion has made little or no gains in the intervening years since Episode 6. There are two rebel fighter figures included, in green fatigues and equipped with sidearms, versus a big First Order vehicle deploying heavily armoured shock troops. In comparison to this, Endor didn’t look too bad….
4. Set 75104 – Milenium Falcon
Han and Chewie are joined in this set not only by new characters Finn and Rey, but also two less-friendly looking additions, named Tasu Leech, and a member of the ‘Kanjuklub’ gang. Leech will be played by Indonesian actor Yayan Ruhlan, who played bad guys in both of the Raid films. Whilst the presence of these two bad guys seems to indicate Han hasn’t lost his flair for getting into scrapes and difficulties, the fact he’s coming into contact with a gang of some kind might suggest he may now be less the rebel general, and more the smuggler of old he once was.
The final point worth referencing isn’t what’s there, but what isn’t. Whilst we have Han and Chewie figures present, fans will also be aware that Luke, Leia, R2 and 3PO (But no Lando?) will all feature in the new film. Does their absence suggest that they’ll be little more than perfunctory cameos, rather than the more sustained appearances of the Millenium Falcon crew?
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