Remember the contest happening on Omaze to win a chance to appear in Star Wars: Episode VII? You’ve only got four days left to make a donation and be entered to win, and J.J. Abrams has just delivered a reminder in a video message from London. I’m sorry, J.J., I didn’t hear what you said because there’s a X-WING IN THE BACKGROUND.
Starting a Monday with a peek at Episode VII, even a small one, is the best possible way to kick off the week. The video starts by focusing in on a small piece of the X-wing and pulls back for the big reveal – it’s perfect. That’s not all, either! There’s a pilot dressed in a similar outfit to what the Rebel pilots wore in the original trilogy and an adorable mouse droid. See for yourself:
Sure, the ship style is slightly different (it looks much like Ralph McQuarrie’s X-wing concept art), but it appears as though the Rebellion is still active. The ship looks like it’s seen action; it’s not pristine and unused. Have they been in operation since the end of Return of the Jedi? Who are they fighting? Why is J.J. Abrams giving us information on purpose?
Once I calmed down and watched the video again, I learned that there’s another sweet prize on the table: the opportunity to attend an advance screening of Episode VII. Yes, you’d probably have to swear an oath on everything you own and sign 1,000 non-disclosure agreements, but it would be worth it. To win the screening or the trip to London to appear in the first film of the sequel trilogy, visit Omaze. Your donation goes to UNICEF’s Innovation Labs and just $10 will get you a single entry.
Who else is excited about that X-wing? Let us know how you feel in the comments.
HT: Deadline
Update: For more on this story, check out today’s episode of Nerdist News!
Even the bloody Lego shop can tell the difference. http://shop.lego.com/en-AU/Z-95-Headhunter-75004 <> http://shop.lego.com/en-AU/X-Wing-Starfighter-9493
J.J. Abrams does a video to benefit charity, and all commenters can talk about is whether or not the vehicle in the video is an actual x-wing. Good to see priorities are in order.
Hackneyed and derivative, as I would expect. This isn’t going to be Episode VII, it’s going to be Return of the Jedi Part II 30 years later.
With my examples being X-wings/Z-95s, mouse droids, AT-ATs, Tatooine, original cast… please tell me I’m wrong.
You mean a movie about the Star Wars universe is going to feature people, places, and things from the Star Wars universe? How dare they!
I get your point, but in this case it’s not enough advancement within the universe as expected. It’s holding on to too much of the OT simply for cameos and rehashing.
At least you didn’t tell me I’m wrong. 😛
Seen postings on other news sites about “It’s not an X-wing, it’s a Z-95”. The folks at the movie have tweeted specifically that it is not a Z-95, but an X-Wing… So – this looks like it was built from McQuarrie’s original art for an X-wing (http://www.modelermagic.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/90-ralph-mcquarrie-x-wing-tie-fighter-death-star-500×281.jpg). The final one in the original trilogy was longer, and had 4 distinct engines, not the 2 that split. For the EU, the original artwork was used for the predecessor, the Z-95. But, since the EU isn’t counting in the new cinematic universe, it is going to be what we see for an X-wing.
The Z95 is not EU, it appears in the Clone Wars series which is canonical.
I stand corrected on that, though I’d also point out that the Z-95 was a 2 wing/gun craft, this has the S-foils and 4 guns.
Yeah, and J.J. Abrams has NEVER lied to fans in the past.
it looks like a z-95 headhunter- in that the wings don’t have a clear split into a pair on each side. There were some earlier ‘fabrication-in-progress’ stills released that did show an x-wing w/ more mcquarrie like engine designs
You can see the split for the s-foil – but it is tricky, halfway down the wing it switches from being like a sandwich to cutting down the middle just past the engine (you can see the line on the top of the wing). Look at the gun mounts and you can see how they attach to the two sections.