Star Wars: The Force Awakens is a film.
Finn (Star Wars) . He first appeared in the 2015 film Star Wars : The Force Awakens in which he is a stormtrooper for the First Order who flees and turns against it after being shocked by their cruelty in his first combat mission . Star Wars : The Force Awakens ( also known as Star Wars : Episode VII -- The Force Awakens ) is a 2015 American epic space opera film directed , co-produced , and co-written by J. J. Abrams . Set 30 years after Return of the Jedi , it follows Rey , Finn and Poe Dameron 's search for Luke Skywalker and their fight alongside the Resistance , led by veterans of the Rebel Alliance , against Kylo Ren and the First Order , a successor organization to the Galactic Empire . The Star Wars sequel trilogy is the third film trilogy in the Star Wars American space opera franchise , created by George Lucas .