When the very actors starring in the upcoming film are excited by the newest Star Wars: The Force Awakens trailer, you know there’s something special there.
Released to universal acclaim Monday night, the latest trailer for Star Wars: The Force Awakens nearly destroyed the internet. It did end up overloading and crashing the servers of more than a few movie theater websites from people trying to pre-order their tickets. Needless to say, December 18th — or 17th depending on whether or not you’re one for a midnight showing — can’t come fast enough.
The excitement felt by millions of fans across the globe is even felt by two of Star Wars: The Force Awakens main stars: John Boyega and Daisy Ridley. The “Star Wars babies,” as they’ve been dubbed by the fandom, released reaction videos of themselves watching the trailer for the first time and they’re both more adorable than a dump truck full of kittens and puppies. Ridley, who plays Rey, was filled with squeals of joy and a few tears in this video of only a few seconds:
Boyega, who plays Finn, had a video a bit longer but no less animated and excited than his costar:
Whether or not you’re looking forward to Star Wars: The Force Awakens, the importance of these two and the characters they will be playing cannot be ignored. Star Wars played such an important role in the growth and development of so many, but an area it has always been lacking in is the portrayal of minorities and women.
With the inclusion of Boyega, Ridley, and Oscar Isaac, a new generation can experience the same wonder at seeing such an engrossing universe, with characters that look like them.
As is the unfortunate norm today, there are people out there who want Star Wars to remain the domain of Caucasian men and are actively “planning” on boycotting the film because of its focus on a black and a female character as the main protagonists. These misguided people need to understand that the future of the series looks as bright as it does because of the diversity JJ Abrams and Co. are bringing to the universe; Star Wars: The Force Awakens is the first step to that future, and if initial reaction is any indication people have been waiting for this moment for a long time.
