Star Wars Episode VII teaser trailer reveals new cast-members, a brand new lightsaber It is maddeningly short, but the first official glimpse of Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens serves as a fitting reminder that a galaxy far, far away is actually much closer than we thought.Â While returning cast-members Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher are absent from the 88-second montage, fans are given a first look at the younger generation of cast-members to feature in this, the first of three planned sequels.Â Opening some 30-years after Return of the Jedi, the teaser kicks off with British actor John Boyega racing across a desert landscape dressed in full Stormtrooper regalia.Â Â Opening shot: New cast-member John Boyega races across a desert landscape in full Stormtrooper regaliaÂ A parched, disembodied voice tells us of an 'awakening' and reminds us of the dual energies that are 'the dark side... and the light.'Â British actress Daisy Ridley is the next new star to appear as she drives a hover vehicle towards a desert town, while Oscar Isaac is seen as a fighter pilot, looking rather like a young Luke Skywalker when he's headed for the Death Star.Â 97 shares The trailer also delivers what was initially suggested during the forthcoming film's development - a clear departure from the over-indulgent use of CGI that blighted parts one, two and three of the science fiction saga.Â It also confirms the welcome return of the iconic Millennium Falcon, and it is seen dodging laser blasts in a brief battle sequence. A new lightsaber makes its debut as an ominous cloaked figure marauds through a dark, snow-layered forest setting. Here they come: The Stormtroopers are on the attack in the forthcoming seventh instalment in the science fiction franchiseÂ On the march: The emergence of Darth Vader's former henchmen suggests all is not well in the ForceÂ With a fresh outlook, a young, visionary director and the return of its original stars, anticipation has been steadily building ever since wheels started turning on plans to add three further films to the Star Wars galaxy. The result of an ambitious $4.05 billion buyout that saw Disney acquire complete autonomy over the franchise from LucasFilm in November 2012, the JJ Abrams directed Star Wars Episode VII is their first offering as they endeavour to build on the universe originally devised by George Lucas in the mid-70s. The coup followed similar buyouts from Pixar ($7.4bn) and Marvel ($4.2bn) with Disney unveiling plans to release a further three episodic films and an additional stand alone film every two or three years - a reaction to 'pent-up demand' from fans.Â With a proven pedigree in TV and film, Lost creator Abrams signed up to direct the first after initially ruling himself out. Welcome back: The Millennium Falcon Â makes a fleeting return in the maddeningly short first teaser trailer, released on Friday afternoonÂ Ready for take off: Oscar Isaac is seen in an X-Wing pilot jumpsuit as he prepares for battle Thrilling: X-Wings race past a remote, mountainous backdrop in another brief action shot from JJ Abrams' new filmÂ Directly responsible for redefining and reinvigorating the Star Trek franchise, Abrams' decision made him the first director to work across two rival universes.Â Speaking of his U-turn, he told Entertainment Weekly: 'As a kid I was always a fan of special effects. Watching movies I was constantly trying to figure out how they did it, whatever the effect was. Star Wars was the first movie that blew my mind in that way. It didn't matter how they did any of it because it was all so overwhelmingly and entirely great.' New face: Daisy Ridley - a virtual unknown prior to her casting - also features in the new trailer. The British actress is rumoured to play Han Solo and Princess Leia's adult daughter in the new film, which is set 30-years after the fall of the Empire On the move: A futuristic robot, similar to the one featured in Abrams' Bad Robot production company logo, urgently races across the desert X-rated: An army of fighters are on the attack in what promises to be a welcome addition to the franchiseÂ Remote: Ridley races across a desolate homestead on what appears to be desert planet Tattoine He added:Â 'It was funny and romantic and scary and compelling and the visual effects just served the characters and story. 'It galvanized for me; not for what was exciting about how movies were made, but rather for what movies were capable of.'Â A further coup, the return of original cast-members Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher in their respective career-defining roles as Han Solo, Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia further whetted the appetite. Watch out: The Falcon is seen dodging laser blasts from enemy fighters in another shot from the 88-second teaserÂ In flight: Perhaps the most enduring spaceship in the Star Wars universe, the Millenium Falcon was last seen in 1983 smash The Reurn Of The Jedi The old enemy: While Han Solo is absent from the new trailer, his beloved Falcon is at the heart of the actionÂ Anthony Daniels (C3PO), Kenny Baker (R2D2) and Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca) were also confirmed, with all three having previously featured in the Lucas directed prequel series depicting the rise of Darth Vader and ultimate fall of the Jedi counsel. New additions include Oscar Isaac, Andy Serkis, Domnhall Gleeson, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver and legendary Swedish actor Max Van Sydow â€" best known for his role as Father Lankester Merrin in 1973 shocker The Exorcist.Â It has been speculated that British actress Ridley â€" a virtual unknown whose limited TV credits include a fleeting appearance in Casualty â€" will play the daughter of Han Solo and Princess Leia after the release of an official cast photograph showed her sat between the two stars during what appeared to be a read-through of the script. Mysterious: A cloaked figure passes through a forest as the trailer climaxes. Andy Serkis - best known for his role as Gollum in the Lord of the Rings franchise - is believed to play an adversary in the forthcoming filmÂ Something new: A striking. sword shaped lightsaber emerges as the cloaked figure prepares to do battleÂ Imposing: The figure moves through a rural setting... could this be the new Dark Lord? Actress Lupita Nyongâ€™o also signed up for a role in the forthcoming film after winning praise for her Academy Award winning role in 12 Years A Slave, telling fans: â€˜Iâ€™m going to a galaxy far, far away.â€™ Meanwhile Girls star Adam Driver hinted that he is poised to play a villain in episode VII after co-star Lena Dunham told him to â€˜rip a hole in da forceâ€™ in a congratulatory tweet posted shortly after his casting. Much like the original trilogy, released between 1977 and 1983, the bulk of principal photography took place at Buckinghamshireâ€™s Pinewood Studios, with additional location shoots taking place in Ireland and Abu Dhabi - where filming began in June. The dusty set suggested desert planet Tattooine was set to feature, and early shots indicated that Abrams was keen to move away from the heavily digitised prequels that provided a back story to the original trilogy, opting instead move away from the blue screen techniques favoured by Lucas in favour of traditional sets. On board: Lost creator JJ Abrams directs the seventh Star Wars film after originally turning down the offer. Explaining his U-turn he told Entertainment Weekly:Â 'Star Wars was the first movie that blew my mind in that way. A UNICEF video message featuring Abrams on set at Pinewood confirmed a return for the X-Wing fighters used to battle the Empire and ultimately destroy the Death Star, with the director filmed standing beside one of the iconic vehicles. Snapshots and teaser videos also confirmed the welcome return of the Millennium Falcon, but the shooting schedule suffered an unexpected hitch in May when one of its hydraulic doors fell on 71-year-old Ford, breaking his leg. A statement published on the official Star Wars website confirmed the shoot would be delayed by two weeks while the actor, who last played Solo in 1983, recovered from his injury. A spokesperson confirmed at the time: â€˜Harrison Ford sustained an ankle injury during filming today on the set of Star Wars: Episode VII. He was taken to a local hospital and is receiving care. Shooting will continue as planned while he recuperates.â€™Â A welcome return: A bearded Mark Hamill, pictured outside Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire, reprises his career defining role as Luke SkywalkerÂ Read through: A shot of the principal cast-members reading their lines suggested Ridley would play Solo and Leia's daughter. The actress (third right) was seated between Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher during the read throughÂ Shooting continued in rural County Kerry in the Republic of Ireland, where a heavily bearded Hamill was spotted between takes over the summer. Speaking in July Hamill revealed that he had to grow facial hair for the seventh film and described his casting as 'an unexpected gift'. 'I thought even if they did a third trilogy, we couldn't be involved because it's really about the new generation of characters,' he said.Â How it was: Stars Wars helped define the careers of Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford. All three actors return for new movie Star Wars Episode VII: The Force AwakensÂ 'You know we're just there to lend our support and grow contractually obligated beards. It was certainly unexpected. He added: 'I already had a beginning, middle and end. I never thought we'd come back. To go on to those sets that evoked so many memories, it is just astonishing. It just seems like an unexpected gift. The new trailer will play in 30 selected cinemas across the United States from Friday until Sunday November 30 - after which it will screen in cinemas across the globe.Â Star Wars: Episode VII: The Force Awakens goes on general release nationwide on December 15, 2015. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Star Wars Episode VII: Attack of the Spoofs As Star Wars fans eagerly prepared for the release of Abrams' 88-second trailer the internet became awash with spoof teasers. Ranging from the authentic to the downright absurd, each is reliant on clever editing techniques, computer graphics and a fast-paced montage of shots from the first six films.Â Bold graphics, a clear narrative and the use of Abrams' own Bad Robot production company logo make this one of the more believable teasers to emerge in the build up to Friday's release. It had many fooled, but the 90 second teaser is a cleverly constructed montage comprised of footage from the previous six films and spin off games.Â Somewhat less plausible, this fake once again draws from existing footage, but also cheekily steals a shot of Harrison Ford from 2013 science fiction adventure Enders Game. It's impressive, but not particularly convincing.Â Poorly executed and awash with rich animation commonly associated with the prequels released by LucasFilm between 1999 and 2005. Whatever narrative it attempts to convey is undermined by Â the use of old fashioned graphics.Â Crumbling planets, vengeful Jedi warriors and a galaxy at war makes this another engagingÂ additionÂ to the array of fakes finding their way onto the internet in the run up to Friday's official trailer release.Â