Beginning with Charlie Chaplin, and continuing through to the 3D thrillers of today, the magic of the cinema has enthralled audiences across the globe for nearly one hundred years. In such a competitive atmosphere, it is difficult and very rare for a film, no matter how popular, to revolutionize the entire industry. However, in 1977, Star Wars did exactly that.

With its plot set in a fictional universe “a long long time ago,” revolutionary effects and a suspenseful orchestra made sound track, the film began a decades long dynasty that would spawn five additional movies and a host of additional products including video games, Legos and books. The most recent Star Wars film to be released was Revenge of the Sith, coming out in 2005. Its release wrapped up the story that had begun in May of 1977. In 2012 however, with the sale of Lucasarts to Disney, it was officially released that a Star Wars Episode VII was in production.

Although early in George Lucas’s work with Star Wars he had script material written for movies one through fifteen, following the final release in 2005 he made it clear that the saga had been completed, saying “I get asked all the time, ‘What happens after Return of the Jedi?,’ and there really is no answer for that. The movies were the story of Anakin Skywalker and Luke Skywalker, and when Luke saves the galaxy and redeems his father, that’s where that story ends.”

This came as quite the disappointment to many of the millions of fans the Star Wars trilogies had built up over the years. However, in 2012, the Disney Company made it known that it had entered into negotiations to purchase Lucasarts and Lucasfilm. Lucas himself then began to polish off scripts he had written decades earlier for what would become the Sequel Trilogy, hoping that having another movie in the works would boost the sales price. Disney came through, purchasing Lucasarts and Lucasfilm for $4.05 billion. With this, it also announced the future production and release for the next three movies, episodes VII, VIII and IX.

Currently episode VII is in production and is slated to be released in Dec. of 2015. The director, J.J. Abrams, who also directed Lost, two Star Trek films and two Mission Impossibles, is working with a cast that includes several actors reprising their roles in the original films. Mark Hamill returns as Luke Skywalker, Harrison Ford returns as Han Solo and Carrie Fisher continues as Princess Leia.

The film is set in the same fictional universe as the others, and takes place 30 years after Return of the Jedi, which in the flip-flopped Star Wars universe actually came out in 1983. Although few details of the plot have been released, it is known that is will revolve around the lives of Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia and Han Solo as they work do stabilize the galaxy. Other than that, little has been made known about the story of the new movie, although there have been leaks indicating the plot will involve the search for Luke Skywalker, assuming he is lost.

On Nov. 4, the name for the seventh film was confirmed by Disney as Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Filming took place last year in Iceland and the United Arab Emirates, with the majority of the scenes being shot in England. Rather than utilizing extensive computer generated images and scenery like the more modern films did, Abrams and Lucas have worked to minimize artificial images and use real sets and props in order to give off an old fashioned vibe similar to the original films. With still over a year to come before the movie is released, it is highly likely information of some kind will get out, and it is certain people are going to notice, because if it’s one thing Star Wars has done, is bring out the crowds.