RUMOR R2D2: What do we know?

Given talk of a "flashback" (which I think is part of a force vision) I believe that is a younger version of Luke in the trailer and the scene is related to the rumored massacre of Luke's academy -- if true that would seem to be a seminal event in the story of the ST.

As per the question posed in the topic header: great question. We've heard a lot of stuff. The way I see it there are really two options, he has to either be with Luke or with Leia. If Luke is to have little screen time I would lean more toward R2 being with Leia for the bulk of the film. My thoughts on where the scene with R2 and Luke takes place, is covered above, at this point I believe its related to the aftermath rumored massacre of the Jedi padawans (in a sometime prior to the current events of the film manner).

 

the set up here is completely different than the one from the trailer. In the trailer Luke is on the other side of R2 as is the Camera, I've no doubt that they were shot on the same day, but this is a completely different shot.

Yes, by underexposing a daytime shot you can give the look and feel of a night shoot. This is often done for cost reasons. I don't like the look of it myself, but perhaps I just haven't seen it executed very well.

In this instance you might do it to avoid having to drag power supplies to 20k lights all the way out in the desert. I don't think JJ has to worry about cost here so. I imagine they are setting up a different shot.

 

However one of the keys that this is probably not a day for night shot is that you have ember and fires. It would be really had to properly expose the underexposed sky, but not mess up the fire burning. the fires being there to me are a clue that shot was actually taken at night and not a day for night shot.

They would have figured the basic set up on the storyboards, unless they changed their mind.

 

Just an observation- this isn't the desert. It's Pinewood. There are trees and a soundstage in the photo (right side).

Could it be raised because it's been built at the studio? Ie: it was built indoors and transported an exterior set?
I don't know...I'm not an expert on these things.

 

All the more reason you would not use day for night photography. If you are on a studio lot clearly power supply is not a problem.

There is one other thing. In the shot we see in the trailer R2 is stationary, however if R2 moves in the shot then this could be a set up. however that does not alleviate the problem that the camera is in the wrong place. To me this is clearly a different shot than the one we see in the trailer.

There is one other thing I thought about. There is a chance that this is a "flashback" as we have discussed, but what if Luke is actually on Jakku ala obi wan. If Rey is a solo, Luke could simply be in the background hiding, but watching over her at the same time.

Perhaps in this scene, the daylight scene is Luke arriving at the location of Ren's massacre and the night shot, the embers we see is Luke burning the bodies of the dead, much like ANH? Luke would then be in more than one scene, but we may not see his face until the end of the movie.

 

Don't forget too, there are new "flametroopers" AKA fire-troopers so the R2/Luke scene may be after the noted "Zippo Raid"(First Order burns the Jakku village) scene.
This may also be where the "blue" elf like creatures live. The main TFA helicopter pilot said in his media interview a bunch of elves were around the desert sets, many forum members(like me) may of thought the pilot meant Jawas.
BUT these new aliens might be the extras/village residents. Muppets or puppets for animals, background, etc isn't a huge leap. JJ and ILM might have gone the 1970s old school route to avoid the Lucas Special Edition CGI backlash.
The human hand by R2D2 in the desert set pic might be a stand-in or stunt double too. I'm sure Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher etc were NOT on set all day or night.

 

Jakku is to Tatooine as John Harrison is to Khan.

 

It's a brand new planet.

 

OR...maybe..... the First Order renamed Tatooine after a regime change.
Jakku is to Tatooine as Leningrad is to St. Petersburg.

or.
It's just a new planet.

 

I met my wife in one of those Soviet Cities that was renamed. It is very confusing. It's Russian name is Lugansk, its Ukrainian name is Luhansk and during soviet Times is was Voroshilovgrad.

 

Crashed Star Destroyer from the trailer most likely. But why is there a sand crawler? Jawas on Jakku? Why make a completely new planet that's just like Tatooine...when you've already got a perfectly good Tatooine? Tatooine has been in 5 of 6 SW movies. Why start using a clone planet now? And if Kylo is really hunting for Vader relics, there's no better place than Tatooine to start your search. I think JJ is just jacking with everyone. I don't trust that man!

Then there's the possibility that Jakku is not ALL desert. More earth-like with deserts, mountains, snow, oceans, etc. Who know? But I do know one thing...Just because JJ says something, that doesn't mean it's true.

 

JJ is a master of the mindf*ck. We need to stroke the furry wall and there we will find the answers within...

 

My main reason is that JJ likes to trick people. Which is cool, and I respect it...but it also makes me not necessarily believe any of his official announcements. Are Jawas native to Tatooine in canon? I don't know. Have they been seen on other planets?

I'm just thinking, if it looks like a duck, smells like a duck, quacks like a duck...its probably Tatooine.

 

I have been saying that Luke is on Jakku since the teaser came out. The feel of the scenes is so similar, plus the structures in the background.

I think Luke is who Harry Knowles is referring to as who Rey is speeding across the sand to meet. I think he's Obi-Wanning her, watching from afar.

Which raises all kinds of questions.

 

would you go ape blast crazy if luke appeared in the first 3rd? ..... I WOULD