Check Out These 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' Photos

Star Wars Day, May 4th (“May the Fourth Be With You”), was this week, and with so much from the beloved franchise going on this year, there was a lot to celebrate. One of the biggest things to come out was a spread of photos from Vanity Fair of the upcoming Star Wars: The Force Awakens. (We also learned that the second so-called standalone “anthology” film, formerly to be directed by Fantastic Four helmer Josh Trank, will be a Boba Fett origin story, which gives us mixed feelings.) Check them out after the jump.

The VF photos show off a ton of cool stuff. First, we learned once and for all that Adam Driver is indeed playing the new villain Kylo Ren, who is shaping up to be one hell of a bad guy.

There’s our first good look at Gwendoline Christie in her chrome armor as the badass Captain Phasma, an officer in the First Order, the new offshoot of the Empire. That’s going to be cool to learn more about.

Oscar-winner Lupita Nyong’o plays a character named Maz Kanata, who is both a pirate, apparently a rather successful one, and will be all GGI/motion capture.

Not CGI, however, are the characters featured in this rogues gallery. This just drives home what director J.J. Abrams has been saying about the use of practical special effects whenever possible, which is music to all of our ears.

Oscar Isaac strikes a pose as Poe Dameron, hanging out on his X-Wing, looking dapper.

And there’s a shot of Abrams directing Daisy Ridley’s character, Rey, on her speeder, with some fantastic looking aliens hanging out around the periphery. Again, this gives you an idea of the look and feel for The Force Awakens, and we love what we’re seeing. It looks natural and organic, and, most importantly, like what we want out of Star Wars.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens opens December 18.