Gwendoline Christie’s Awesome Star Wars Armor Originally Intended for Adam Driver & More Character Tidbits

You may have heard that Gwendoline Christie will play an imposing figure in The Force Awakens beneath Captain Phasma’s fancy chrome armor, but there is a sad, desolate timeline off in another universe wherein it didn’t happen because Adam Driver wore the armor instead—and that was almost our timeline.

Almost.

Phasma’s not the only character in the movie who wears a mask (aside from all the other stormtroopers). Kylo Ren’s Vader fanboyism has him covering up, as well, but his costume wasn’t always the look we’ve all seen:

Originally, Captain Phasma’s armor had been designed for Kylo Ren, but J.J. Abrams liked it so much that he wanted to create another new villain and give the role to a woman. He told Entertainment Weekly,

I just thought it would be really cool if we could find someone to play the part who was female, and I’m a fan of Game of Thrones; Gwendoline is in that show, [The Force Awakens casting director] Nina Gold casts it, she knew Gwendoline, obviously. We were very lucky to get to have her in the movie. She’s not in many scenes, but her presence is powerfully felt when she’s there.

We’re couldn’t be happier that the change was made and look forward to our new, prospective fan-favorite villain.

The Entertainment Weekly look at The Force Awakens also brought some new images and character details about the rest of the cast, as well (possible spoilers ahead!):

Daisy Ridley says Rey was abandoned on Jakku when she was five years old—solidly young enough not to know who her family is, and it’s been rumored that we won’t find out in The Force Awakens, either. Dammit, J.J.! Ridley commented,

She’s been alone for a long time. When something occurs when you’re 5, you know what went on but you don’t understand the reasoning. She’s hopeful for what lies ahead, whether that involves the past or not.

[…]

Hope makes people good, a lot of the time. You hope for a brighter future, and resentment is outweighed.

Oh, and she also says her staff is just a staff—no lightsabers to be found.

Meanwhile, Finn runs into Poe Dameron before he leaves the First Order and lands on Jakku. Maybe Dameron sets him straight about what he’s been brought up to believe, and that’s how things get started? It seems likely, as the stormtroopers of the First Order have been taught that the rebel alliance, and Luke Skywalker specifically, are villains who disrupted their glorious Empire. I wonder why Luke wouldn’t want to hang around a whole lot with all that going on?

What do you think of the going theories as the picture of the story and character motivation for The Force Awakens becomes clearer?

(via Vanity Fair)

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