"Star Wars 7" helmer J.J. Abrams discusses the upcoming movie's plot.
The visionary director sat down with Wired and elaborated on how he and co-writer Lawrence Kasdan (writer for Empire Strikes Back) structured the film's narrative.
"We wanted to tell a story that had its own self-contained beginning, middle, and end but at the same time, like A New Hope, implied a history that preceded it and also hinted at a future to follow," Abrams explained. "We've been able to use what came before in a very organic way, because we didn't have to reboot anything.
"We didn't have to come up with a backstory that would make sense; it's all there. But these new characters, which Force is very much about, find themselves in new situations-so even if you don't know anything about Star Wars, you're right there with them."
Little is known about "Star Wars 7's" plot although it has been confirmed that it takes place 30 years after the events in "Return of the Jedi."
The movie features Daisy Ridley (Mr. Selfridge), John Boyega (Attack The Block), Domnhall Gleeson (About Time), Oscar Isaac (X-Men: Apocalypse, A Most Violent Year), Andy Serkis (Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, Lord of The Rings), Lupita Nyong'O (The Jungle Book), Adam Driver (Girls), and Gwendoline Christie (Game of Thrones).
Reprising their iconic roles are Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker, Harrison Ford as Han Solo and Carrie Fisher as Leia Organa.
"The Force Awakens" is the seventh installment to the long running saga that began with George Lucas' "Star Wars: A New Hope" in 1978 and is Disney's first "Star Wars" film since the company acquired its rights in 2012.
Furthermore, two more "Star Wars" films under the Disney banner are already being developed. "Star Wars 8" will be directed by "Looper" helmer Rian Johnson and will release in 2018. The franchise's first standalone film, "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story," arrives in 2016.
"Star Wars 7" releases in theaters on December 18.
