A teaser for the upcoming movie Star Wars 7: The Force Awakens, starring Kenya's celebrated Hollywood actress Lupita Nyong'o, is generating significant buzz in the movie industry.
Released just a week prior, the teaser has broken records, with 88 million views on its first day, surpassing the previous record held by Fast and Furious 7: Vengeance Hits Home. This has led to a surge in the stock price of Walt Disney, the production company, with a 1 percent increase to $108.30, resulting in $2 billion earnings in 24 hours.
Evidence of Hype ¶
The teaser's impact is evident, with the hashtag #StarWars trending globally on Twitter and Japanese Airline All Nippon Airways launching a Star Wars-themed Boeing 787 Dreamliner in a five-year deal with Walt Disney.
According to the Daily Telegraph, previous installments in the Star Wars franchise have been hugely successful, both financially and in terms of mass appeal, with four of the six released films ranking among the top 10 top-grossing films of all time.
Context and Response ¶
Lupita Nyong'o joined 19 other stars to film the movie, including Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, and Mark Hamill. Although the plot details and character roles have not been released, director JJ Abrams hinted at the introduction of a 'substantial' female character, sparking speculation about Lupita's potential role.
Lupita's involvement in the film marks a significant milestone in her career, following her Oscar-winning debut in 12 Years a Slave. She is also currently filming The Jungle Book and Queen of Katwe, both set for release in 2016.
Consequences and Speculation ¶
The success of the teaser has raised expectations for the movie's release on December 17. With the film's story set 30 years after the events in 1983's Star Wars 6: Return of the Jedi, fans are eagerly anticipating the return of beloved characters, including Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill reprising their roles as Princess Leia and Luke Skywalker.
