Luke has trained a couple of Jedi who only surface in ACT III, no EU characters were re-used, they are all nonexistent as far as films are concerned.
Leia is a Republic leader, has been so for 30 years, their child Kira has been raised incognito to both keep her safe from Inquisitors, as well as from traitors within the Republic.
Falcon has been retrofitted by Solo, but it is implied that he has had a couple of adventures those past 30 years with and without Leia.
Luke has gone to seclusion following an event post Endor that has caused him to become hesitant when using his power to its full extent.
[When asked if Han has his old blaster] Yes he does.
Luke has 7 apprentices he has trained over the years, 2 of them surface in ACT III.
I'd say its as good as
ANH, except for the shit ventsaber
Adam driver is untrained talent in terms of the force in VII
[When asked if there are any nods to the Prequel Trilogy] Many A lot of conventional props, masks, prosthetics
[When asked for the name of something] The scandinavian planet was named "Sullarn" in the 2nd version of the shooting script.
They occasionally throw off crew of
LF members with renamed data in lesser crew scripts, so it might change and it might not Sullarn
[When asked about the side blades on the lightsaber] it is not a crossguard
Driver collects items, like a fetishist of Sith. He has a close relationship to a past character that might or might not have been fallen to the Dark Side.
[When asked how he knows about all of this] Because I work in Lucasfilm.
[Pip] Anderson is a wingman
[Domhnall Gleeson's character] Imperial officer initially who will join the core cadre of goodies
No Watto. Although you do see the Cantina, Garindan and a couple of more
ANH references.
[List of planets] Tat Yavin Coruscant Sullarn + 1 ACTIII Planet I can't spoil
[When asked about the number of lightsaber duels in the movie] 3 2 of them are brief and illustrate the vast power gap between the combatants. Last one is magnificent Heavy hitting classic trilogy style
Luke is pretty much Yoda's heir as far as the character goes. People think he's a kook since he's been missing 20 years, but he has had a purpose and plan to his decisions. His first 2 "current generation" padawans will be Boyega and Ridley
[Roles of the planets in the film] Yavin is where Darklighter is stationed. Tat is ACT I Coruscant briefer than others. Sullarn climax.
Two parallel storylines merge. The Empire is a secondary foe in this film. Or rather it eventually will be secondary.
[When asked about the number of lens flares] Havent seen a cut. Only read the script. Seen some raw/dailies
[When asked about Han and Leia's relationship] Married yes.
[When asked if there are any LGBT characters] No. Disney wouldn't dare, even though you guys think they're apeshit NWO.
[Han] Also calls Darklighter "Kid" to his annoyance
Xwing skimming is Yavin.
Sullarn is a cold desolate forest/snow planet. North Sweden as a reference. Taiga at best. Arctic at worst.
[When asked about the FIFA droid we see in the trailer] That droid is Kira's. R2 is still in the movie, with Leia.
[When asked about why he can't reveal anything about Act 3] The scripts are tagged with little minute details that differentiate each other. Especially ACT III where JJ and Kasdan forcefed themselves references to the classics. I dont want to blow my load early and get caught.
There is no LucasArts anymore. I work at Lucasfilm.
[In response to a grumpy EU purist] EU was shit. I did like Zahn's stuff immensely though. But the inane moronic Old Republic comics? Sith as a race? It was hilarious.
Palpatine is referenced a couple of times. As if Luke's decisions during his temptation and resistance.
With Kira's droid and the Artoo duo, there are 3 [droids].
Boba [still lives] but he is not von Sydow. I can tell you its not Maul. JJ, I am told, had the Lucasphobia, where he venerated Kershner and Marquand style things, and steered clear of Lucas prequel stuff like the bubonic plague.
Rebels will have connections. Especially the Inquisitors. Disney has dictated the deep and thorough implementation of the Inquisitors into the Rebels storyline.
[Oscar Isaac's character] Thats Darklighter. He's 35 years old for chrissake.
You have to understand. Sydow's character is a mild surprise yes, but nothing earth shattering. They're trying to concoct the "I am your father" shit for Episode VIII not this one. And no Luke doesn't Frelling die, or turn evil or crazy shit like that.
Luke is pretty much an urban legend by the time the film starts. He has come to the conclusion that Jedi are not meant to be an open, SJWi transparent quasi-police force. He is in closer connection to the living force, and how balance must be maintained by non interference to mundane conflicts within the galaxy. He believes that the Jedi, while they must promote peace, order and harmony wherever they go, can't actively become an SS for any government, Republic or not. Past events, and the demise of the Old Jedi Order have taught him that. Consider also that he is in contact with Yoda, Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon.
[About the surprise behind Max Von Sydow's character] I said it would be a surprise to fans, but to ordinary people, they wont get the reference. I AM YOUR FATHER however, was a universal "oh shit" moment. Sydow does have meaning, but it is in context.
Boyega is for all intents and purposes, the new Luke Skywalker proxy with a touch of Han Solo mixed in. He realizes he is force sensitive when the Force tremors something to everyone, as if some fundamental thing has changed regarding its nature.
[On whether or not Luke has kids] We dont know yet.
[On how Boba Fett survived] There were a couple of things Disney got from the Del Rey / Bantam books, and considered it legit. His short story from the Del Rey Jabba's Palace story collection is assumed to be how he escaped. Boba Fett does appear, very briefly.
There is Blue Squadron, and Red, and Gold. Blue is Isaac's.Red is Driver's.
[On the quality of the movies] I think they will be good. The script is solid. I admire Kasdan.
[Explaining "The Force Awakens"] Its the whole premise of the film. The Force becomes stronger, more potent, all of a suddent force sensitive people realize that they have the gift. This creates a great dichotomy of where to go, because neither Luke nor the antagonists are ready for this new liberation of force awareness.
[When asked about the accuracy of his statements] I'll be 95 percent correct in all things.
Boyega is an orphan. Driver is a hot shot pilot with dreams of grandeur. The collector is von Sydow.
Serkis is an Alien sith. His machinations and outlook are far different than Palpatine. He considers Palpatine as having made a couple of mistakes, and that the rule of two was a very foolish edict.
Driver is an ambitious fighter axe. He has a fascination with power.
[More about the awakening of the Force] Its explained that after the repression of the Empire and the cataclysm right before it concerning the Jedi, the Force is finally manifesting itself in more people able to use it.
I dont access to concept art.
No Cumberbatch.
Serkis is speaking [in the trailer], it is Driver with the shoddy saber.
[Serkis's teacher] ACT III cant reveal
[Max Von Sydow = cyborg collecter, Adam Driver = Sith collector, Andy Serkis = Sith Lord] All correct, but Sydow and Driver's reasons are different. Driver is fascinated with power and the Sith.
[Regarding coverage of his post] Just as planned.
[On if the OTT will be released on modern formats] No idea.
["I imagine that since the force wants to "balance" and all Jedi are pretty much dead that there is a finite amount of Midichlorians that can be utilized in the universe and now that 2 strong users died people have more access to them. So Luke is in hiding and a bunch of people are figuring out they can use the force..."] No midichlorians but the gist of it is correct. Luke isn't really hiding, but rather doesnt want any attention to his activities.
Rule of two since Palpatine wanted Luke as an "ally" has been an extinct rule [which means that Palpatine abandoned the rule long ago].
[Asking if Adam Driver's mask belonged to Revan] It is not.
[When asked about if Kira's name "Fawn" and he leaked it] No that was before I figured out how to get a tripcode, some guy posed as me. Kira is Kira as far as my copy of the script is concerned.
[On how strong Serkis is] He is legit. He is a worthy foe to Skywalker.
[How powerful John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, and Adam Driver are in the Force/with a lightsaber] Theyre noobs. Daisy inherit's Luke's original blue [lightsaber] in ACT I.
Abrams hates Disney and all the oversight at this point. Everytime we occasionally see him at post, he is 10 years older. We fear he might kill himselr to Iger and Co.'s nonstop interference.
[On Luke's lightsaber] His saber is actually one of the things that sets the entire film to motion.
[On whether or not Serkis's species is one we've seen or something original] New.
[Disney] literally shoehorned that cute droid, we have a memo saying R2's form is "outdated"
[Disney's executive meddling decsions] - No kissing till Episode VIII - No blood - No colored permanent antagonists - New extra droid
And a spoiler.
Han Solo-- does not die