According to IMDB, Star Wars: The Force Awakens is slated for a Dec. 18 release. That means we’re almost exactly six months away from what could be quite literally the biggest cinematic event in a generation. Prevailing opinion among Star Wars fans old and young alike is that George Lucas screwed things up a bit with his cheesy and CGI-dependent prequel trilogy. However, that did absolutely nothing to dull the excitement surrounding the new movie. In fact, if anything, fans are excited to see a return to the franchise in the hopes that new director J.J. Abrams can get it right, and present something that more closely resembles the original trilogy.
As any serious film fanatic knows, all the excitement about The Force Awakens will make this final six-month stretch feel particularly long and slow. So in the meantime, just for fun, here are 10 ways to surround yourself with Star Wars and prepare for the brand-new movie.
1. Obsess Over Trailers
There will be more trailers as we get closer to the release, but in the meantime it’s easy enough to obsess over the existing two. They provide a great mix of imagery reminiscent of the original trilogy along with new characters and actors we can’t wait to see in action. Here’s the first, and here’s the second.
2. … And Watch This Fake Trailer
While you’re obsessing over the trailers, it’s also not a bad idea to take in a hilarious fake trailer that imagines what the original teaser would have look like if George Lucas were still in charge. Variety posted the fan-made trailer, and with no disrespect to Mr. Lucas—without whom none of this would be possible—it’s a pretty amusing reminder of some of the things we’re looking forward to not seeing in the new films.
3. Play The Games
Pointing out specific titles at this point almost seems unnecessary because there are just so many Star Wars games for PC, consoles, and mobile devices. And that’s not even considering the LEGO versions of Star Wars adventures. Playing these games is a great way to put yourself into the mood of a galaxy far, far away, and it is worth noting that a new Star Wars: Battlefront game is expected out about a month before the new film.
4. Read Some Literature
This may come as a surprise if you’re not a particularly involved Star Wars fan, but there’s a massive library of existing Star Wars literature. As is the case with comic book movies based on old comics, it stands to reason that at least some themes and events from literature may seep into the film. In fact, according to Entertainment Weekly, Disney and the folks behind Star Wars are basically going to bundle 20 books together to comprise a narrative package that explains the gap between Return Of The Jedi and The Force Awakens. This might be the best form of preparation out there!
5. Plan Your Costume
Look, you don’t have to worry about being a Star Wars nerd when you rush out to the theater on Dec. 18, because everybody is going to seem like a Star Wars nerd. You may as well embrace the concept and plan a costume, because it’s only once or twice a decade a movie is a big enough deal for fans to dress up for the experience (and you can bet this will be one of them).
6. Watch Some Parodies
There are countless Star Wars parodies out there, and while they’re funny on their own, they’re also nice reminders that this whole franchise is meant to be at least partially comedic. Naturally, Spaceballs still stands as probably the definitive Star Wars parody, although a younger generation might first point to Family Guy’s running Star Wars parodies as the best examples out there. And then there are more obscure options. For the adult crowd, there’s an award-winning film called Star Wars: XXX, too. Adam & Eve describes it as a chance to “see smokin’ hot Lady Stormtroopers, kinky aliens, and Princess Leia getting down and dirty!” Blasphemy, perhaps, but let’s be honest: most hardcore Star Wars fans have thought about it!
7. Get A Feel For The New Actors
Part of the fun of new leading actors in a new Star Wars movie is that they’ll provide a fresh look. For some, that means it’s best to try to avoid seeing them until the movie comes out. At the same time, it can be frustrating to see people you don’t know in particularly big roles, which is why it might not be a bad idea to look through some examples of the new actors’ work. Oscar Isaac is the biggest new name attached to the saga (playing the role of Poe Dameron), and his work already includes acclaimed films like Inside Llewyn Davis and A Most Violent Year. Lupita Nyong’o (Maz Kanata) already won an Oscar for her work in 12 Years A Slave. And fellow high profile newcomers Adam Driver and Domhnall Gleeson are recognizable for projects like the TV show Girls and the film Ex Machina, respectively. These are just a few titles that showcase some of the best work of the new Star Wars actors.
8. Get A Group Together
Again, don’t be afraid to geek out a little bit. A movie like this is a true event, and you should see it with a fun group of friends and/or family, so plan ahead and make sure you get everyone involved.
9. Make A Game Of It All
This is just an idea, but with so many wild theories flying around as to what we’re going to see in The Force Awakens, why not enhance the moviegoing experience (and give yourself something to do in the week(s) leading up to the release) by making a sort of prediction game out of it? Friends can bet on various predictions, or you could even write out a list of popular theories and take turns drafting them to see whose predictions come out most accurate. Basically, make a fantasy sport out of it.
10. Binge Watch The Whole Saga
This one’s self-explanatory. And come on…. You know you’re going to do it!
Six months out, we simply can’t wait for this movie. It seems more real every day, and yet for a lot of fans it won’t fully sink in that there really is more Star Wars until the opening theme blasts out of the big screen. Until then, all this activity might just keep you sane. Maybe.
