Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens

Roughly 30 years following the destruction of the second Death Star, the whereabouts of Luke Skywalker, the last known surviving Jedi Master, remain a mystery. Both the First Order, a faction that succeeded the fallen Galactic Empire, and the Resistance, a military force supported by the New Republic and spearheaded by Luke's sister, General Leia Organa, are searching the galaxy to locate him.

Leia dispatches Resistance pilot Poe Dameron on a clandestine mission to Tuanul, a village on the desert planet of Jakku, to rendezvous with village elder Lor San Tekka. Tekka has acquired a map that pinpoints Luke Skywalker's location. During their meeting, First Order stormtroopers, led by Kylo Ren and Captain Phasma, launch an assault on the village. Poe and his astromech droid, BB-8, attempt to escape in their T-70 X-wing starfighter, but a pair of stormtroopers disable the engines using their blasters. With no other option, Poe entrusts the map to BB-8 and instructs the BB unit to flee, while Poe stays behind to provide cover.

After stormtrooper FN-2187 is deployed, FN-2003 is struck by blaster fire from Poe. FN-2187 rushes to aid his comrade, but FN-2003's injury proves fatal. In his final moments, FN-2003 smears his blood on FN-2187's helmet, deeply affecting him. Following the securing of the area, the remaining villagers are gathered in the town square. Tekka is captured and brought before Kylo Ren, who demands to know the whereabouts of the map leading to Luke. Tekka retorts that he knows who Ren once was and admonishes him for being unable to escape his true identity. Growing impatient, Ren uses his lightsaber to strike down Tekka, killing him.

Poe fires a shot at Ren from cover, but Ren effortlessly halts the blaster bolt mid-air using the Force. Poe is captured, and Ren decides to interrogate him further on their ship. Before departing, Phasma inquires about what to do with the captive villagers, and Ren orders their execution. Stormtrooper FN-2187 is horrified as the massacre unfolds before him, remaining motionless and refraining from firing his weapon.

Upon returning to the Resurgent-class Star Destroyer Finalizer, FN-2187 is overcome with emotion due to the death of his squadmate and the massacre of the villagers. He retreats into an empty shuttle to remove his helmet, breathing heavily. Phasma notices him and instructs him to submit his blaster for inspection, having previously observed that he did not fire a shot. Aware that he will be punished and re-evaluated for his failure to fire on the villagers, and with his faith in the First Order severely undermined, he resolves to desert. Meanwhile, after unsuccessful attempts to torture Poe for critical information about the map to Luke Skywalker's location, Ren employs his Force power of mind probe to extract the information from Poe's mind. Ren discovers that the map is contained within a BB series droid that fled the village and informs General Armitage Hux of this revelation.

Elsewhere on Jakku, a scavenger named Rey navigates the corridors of a wrecked Imperial-class Star Destroyer at the Graveyard of Giants. While scavenging through the Imperial Star Destroyer, she comes across a valuable piece of salvage and places it in her satchel. Rey makes her way to Niima Outpost, carrying the sack of salvage through the town. She then visits Unkar Plutt to exchange her scraps for foodstuff, and he offers her a quarter portion for her salvage. After accepting the foodstuff, Rey returns to her home, a downed AT-AT, and prepares a meal for herself. After finishing her meal, she watches a starship depart from the planet and then hears a distant sound. She immediately grabs her quarterstaff and rushes off to investigate.

There, she finds BB-8 struggling to avoid capture by a green-skinned humanoid scavenger named Teedo. She frees the droid and directs it towards Niima Outpost, but BB-8 insists on accompanying her. Rey visits Unkar Plutt again to exchange her salvage for foodstuff, and the Crolute offers to buy BB-8 for sixty food portions; although tempted, Rey declines the offer. Plutt then dispatches two thugs to steal BB-8.

In need of a pilot for his escape, FN-2187 frees the captured Poe Dameron from his cell, and the two steal a TIE/sf fighter. FN-2187 operates the guns, eliminating several of his former comrades in the hangar, and then disables the Finalizer's turbolasers on the outside of the vessel. During the escape, Dameron asks the stormtrooper for his name, to which he explains that he has been raised from birth to be a stormtrooper, and the serial number "FN-2187" is the only designation he has ever had. Unwilling to call a man a number, Dameron names the trooper "Finn", derived from the FN in his name. Finn embraces the name and begins to use it. Dameron also informs him that the map crucial to the Resistance is located within his astromech droid. Before they can continue their conversation and escape, the TIE is struck by a missile fired from the Finalizer, sending it spiraling towards the planet below.

Phasma informs Hux that this was FN-2187's initial act of non-conformity. A technician then informs Hux that the TIE fighter is projected to crash in Goazon Badlands, a canyon region on Jakku. Realizing that Poe and Finn are pursuing BB-8, Hux dispatches a squadron of search teams to the area.

Finn and Dameron eject from the TIE shortly before it crashes, landing separately some distance from the wreckage. Upon reaching the crash site, Finn discovers Poe's jacket but finds no other trace of the man, as the fighter sinks into the sand. Believing Dameron to be dead, Finn begins wandering through the desert, discarding his stormtrooper armor along the way and eventually reaching the nearest settlement, desperate for water.

As Finn stumbles towards an animal trough to quench his thirst, he observes thugs attempting to steal a BB unit droid, which Finn recognizes as BB-8, from a woman named Rey, but she repels them with her staff. BB-8 notices Finn wearing his master Dameron's jacket, prompting Rey to pursue him. Rey confronts Finn, suspecting him of being a thief. Finn explains that he had met and assisted Poe in escaping the Resurgent Star Destroyer, but that Dameron had apparently died during their crash. The First Order tracks Finn to the settlement and launches an airstrike in an attempt to locate BB-8 and the map. Rey, Finn, and BB-8 attempt to flee towards a Quadjumper, but TIE/fo fighters destroy it. With only one option remaining, the trio manages to escape in the Millennium Falcon. Rey pilots it through the Graveyard of Giants, while Finn fires on and destroys the pursuing TIE fighters. With the TIE fighters eliminated, they escape into space.

Back aboard the Finalizer, Lieutenant Dopheld Mitaka informs Kylo Ren that the droid escaped on a stolen freighter and that it was aided by the deserter FN-2187. Ren ignites his lightsaber and unleashes a rage-fueled tantrum, slashing at an instrument panel uncontrollably. Mitaka adds that they also appear to have been assisted by a local scavenger girl. Kylo becomes even more enraged, using the Force to pull the officer by his throat across the room in order to choke him with his bare hands, demanding to know which girl it was.

While Finn and Rey celebrate their escape from Jakku, the Millennium Falcon malfunctions. The ship requires significant repairs, so Finn, Rey, and BB-8 begin working to fix it. As they are working on repairs, the ship is ensnared in a tractor beam by a freighter. Although they initially believe themselves to be captured by the First Order, they soon encounter their true captors: Han Solo and Chewbacca, the ship's former owners. Upon boarding their old vessel, Han and Chewie inspect their ship and discover the two stowaways, Rey and Finn, whom he assumes are the thieves who stole the Falcon. When Rey and Finn explain that they intend to bring a droid named BB-8 to the Resistance because it possesses a map that reveals Luke's location, Han and Chewie agree to assist them.

Unfortunately, Han's freighter, the Eravana, is boarded by two notorious criminal factions, the Guavian Death Gang and Kanjiklub, both seeking repayment from Solo. To protect Rey and Finn, Han hides them in the lower corridors of the freighter while he and Chewie meet with the criminals, with BB-8 accompanying them. Han attempts, but fails, to convince both parties that he will resolve the situation. The Guavian Death Gang negotiator, Bala-Tik, recognizes the BB-8 astromech droid from a First Order bounty placed on it. They demand that Han surrender the droid and any stowaways on board. As the confrontation escalates, Rey accidentally releases three rathtars. The rathtars create a distraction, allowing Han and Chewie to escape, but one catches Finn and drags him around the freighter. Rey discovers a control panel and seals a blast door on the rathtar, freeing Finn. The two join Han and Chewie, and they successfully jump to hyperspace in the Falcon. Bala-Tik then orders his men to inform the First Order that Han Solo and the BB unit are aboard the ship.

At Starkiller Base, a planet transformed into a superweapon powered by draining the energy of a star and capable of destroying star systems, Kylo Ren and General Hux are summoned by Supreme Leader Snoke, who appears as a large remote hologram projection. Hux proposes using the Starkiller superweapon to annihilate the government of the New Republic and the Resistance, and Snoke grants his permission. Snoke reveals to Ren that the astromech droid containing the map is now aboard the Millennium Falcon - along with his father, Han Solo. Ren insists that his father means nothing to him and that with Snoke's training, he will not be tempted to the light side of the Force.

During the hyperspace journey, the Falcon experiences a hyperdrive malfunction, but Rey demonstrates her ship knowledge by bypassing the compressor and resolving the issue. Meanwhile, Finn attempts to bandage Chewie's arm, which was injured during the fighting on the Eravana. After repairing the ship, Han questions Finn and Rey, inquiring about why they are fugitives. Rey explains that the First Order is pursuing the map located within BB-8 and that Finn is affiliated with the Resistance.

After BB-8 displays a projection of the map, Han explains that after Luke disappeared, numerous parties searched for him. Luke had attempted to rebuild the Jedi Order, but one of his apprentices turned to the dark side, destroying everything Luke had built and killing the other padawans Luke had trained. Feeling responsible and blaming himself for the failure, Luke went into exile. Han also mentions that he heard rumors that Luke was searching for the first Jedi Temple.

Solo reveals that he was able to locate the Millennium Falcon shortly after it entered space because he and Chewbacca were scanning for its signature. This also explains why the criminal gangs were able to track it down so quickly, and it means the First Order can track it as well. To deliver BB-8 to the Resistance, they need to switch to a clean ship, which Han says he can obtain from an old friend.

Solo takes Rey, Finn, and BB-8 to the planet Takodana to meet with Maz Kanata at her castle. Han explains that she has maintained her castle for over a thousand years, where she operates a bustling cantina. Unbeknownst to them, spies from different factions take notice of the group. GA-97 alerts the Resistance that the BB unit has been located, while Bazine Netal informs the First Order of the same.

Seeking guidance from his grandfather, Darth Vader, Kylo Ren sits silently in his meditation chamber. Before him rests Vader's burned helmet, recovered from the funeral pyre on Endor. With his father's re-emergence and Snoke's orders to kill him, Kylo experiences an internal conflict. He confides in Vader's burned helmet that the light is drawing him in again and that even Snoke can sense it. He then implores his grandfather to reveal the power of the darkness again, to draw him back to the dark side of the Force and assist him in overcoming his future trials.

Han and Chewie converse with Maz. Finn arranges with Sidon Ithano and his first mate Quiggold to work as payment for their passage to the Outer Rim. Rey pleads with Finn not to leave but to assist her in finding the Resistance. Finn, however, insists on leaving, stating that there is no way to defeat the First Order. He also admits that he lied about being in the Resistance, revealing that he was a stormtrooper in the First Order. He deserted after his first battle because he did not want to kill unarmed villagers for the First Order.

After Finn departs, Rey hears the screams of a young girl and follows the sound. She descends deeper and enters a chamber containing numerous relics from the past. The Force draws her to Maz's curio box, an ancient Wroshyr wood chest. Inside, she discovers the lightsaber that once belonged to Anakin Skywalker and his son Luke.

Upon touching the lightsaber, she experiences a series of visions. Rey sees Cloud City and witnesses Luke's duel with Darth Vader. She sees Luke placing his metallic hand on top of R2-D2 near a fire, (presumed to be Luke's burning Jedi temple). Next, she is lying on the ground in the rain at night. Corpses surround the Knights of Ren who slaughtered these victims. Kylo Ren notices her and approaches. Before he reaches her, she sees herself as a child yelling at her parents to stay on Jakku. When her parents were leaving Jakku, Unkar Plutt told her to be quiet. Next, she sees Ren chasing her in a snowy forest in the future. Rey pulls herself out of the vision in terror. After the vision, she finds Kanata standing outside the room. Kanata explains the lightsaber's history to her and says that it was calling to her. Kanata then reveals that she herself is Force-sensitive; although she was never a Jedi, she can simply close her eyes and feel the light of the Force within herself, and recognizes that Rey can do this too. Frightened by her vision, Rey flees into the woods with BB-8.

Following Supreme Leader Snoke's authorization to utilize the Starkiller weapon, Hux targets the Hosnian system, the location of the New Republic's capital, Hosnian Prime, as well as the New Republic Defense Fleet. His intention is to showcase the First Order's might and obliterate the New Republic's "illegitimate" government with a single, devastating blow. The test proves successful, resulting in the annihilation of Hosnian Prime, the current elected home of the Galactic Senate, all other celestial bodies within the system, and a significant portion of the New Republic fleet by the First Order's superweapon. The destruction of the Hosnian system is observed from Takodana's surface. Deeply affected by the devastation, Finn reconsiders his decision to desert.

Alerted to BB-8's presence, the First Order launches an assault on Maz Kanata's castle. Utilizing TIE fighters and Atmospheric Assault Landers, the First Order swiftly attacks and demolishes the castle, causing numerous casualties among its inhabitants. Maz entrusts Luke's old lightsaber to Finn for protection, informing Han that she lacks the time to explain how she acquired it. BB-8 accompanies Rey into the surrounding forests, and the First Order struggles to locate the droid until a stormtrooper officer informs Kylo Ren about the astromech's sighting alongside a girl.

During the battle at the castle, Finn uses the lightsaber to eliminate one stormtrooper before being overwhelmed by FN-2199, a former comrade of Finn's. Han intervenes at the last moment, using Chewbacca's bowcaster to neutralize FN-2199, saving Finn's life. Han and Chewbacca also eliminate several stormtroopers, but are captured alongside Finn by the First Order. However, Resistance T-70 X-wings, led by Poe Dameron, who is revealed to be alive, arrive to engage the First Order. A fierce aerial battle ensues, resulting in the destruction of numerous First Order TIE fighters and the deaths of many stormtroopers due to X-wing attacks.

Rey encounters Kylo Ren in the woods and fires her blaster pistol at him, but Kylo uses the Force to restrain her. By probing her mind, he discovers that she has seen the map he's been searching for, and orders the First Order to withdraw, stating that they have obtained what they needed and no longer require BB-8. As the battle intensifies above the castle, the remaining First Order troops board their ships and retreat, and Han witnesses his son carrying an unconscious Rey away. The Resistance emerges victorious, liberating Finn, Han, and Chewbacca. Han and Leia reunite, and Han reveals to Leia that he saw their son.

Han, Chewbacca, and Finn are transported to the Resistance base on D'Qar. BB-8 encounters the astromech droid R2-D2, who, according to C-3PO, has been inactive since Luke's disappearance. With the recovered map from BB-8 displayed on a hologram, 3PO reveals that it is only partially complete and does not correspond to any known system. It is disclosed that Han and Leia are aware of their son's identity as Kylo Ren, and that his descent to the dark side, despite Luke's efforts to guide him, led to their separation, with Han resuming his smuggling activities and Leia leading the Resistance.

Upon detecting the location of the Resistance base, the Starkiller begins to drain the sun's energy to destroy D'Qar. Meanwhile, the Resistance devises a counterattack. Finn provides them with the Starkiller's blueprints, revealing that it utilizes a thermal oscillator to sustain the energy on the planet and charge its primary weapon by draining the energy of a star. Destroying the thermal oscillator would destabilize the planet's core and cause the base to implode. However, they must act before the First Order charges the Starkiller weapon and destroys D'Qar. Finn, Han, and Chewie volunteer to disable the base's defensive shield from within. Before departing for Starkiller Base, Han and Leia embrace, and Leia implores Han to bring their son home.

Rey is taken to Starkiller Base and interrogated by Kylo Ren, who seeks information regarding the map to Luke Skywalker. Ren removes his helmet, revealing his face to her. Initially, Ren is able to penetrate Rey's mind, mentioning an island surrounded by water. However, he struggles to maintain control over her mind, and Rey even manages to push back. After a mental struggle, Rey declares that she senses fear within him – fear that he will never be as powerful as Darth Vader. Humiliated, Kylo storms out of the room to consult with Snoke.

Left alone and realizing what has transpired, Rey acknowledges that she is indeed Force-sensitive, as Kanata had indicated. She attempts to use a Jedi mind trick on her stormtrooper guard to persuade him to release her and leave the door open. Initially, it fails, but Rey persists. The stormtrooper approaches her, stating that he will tighten her restraints instead of releasing them. Concentrating, Rey makes one final attempt, and the stormtrooper complies with her demands. She also instructs him to drop his blaster as he departs, allowing her to arm herself. Rey then navigates through Starkiller Base, honing her Force abilities while maintaining stealth. Drawing upon her experience climbing through wrecked Imperial starships, she traverses the installation's machinery. Meanwhile, Kylo informs Snoke that Rey possesses a strong connection to the Force but lacks training, and Snoke commands Kylo to bring Rey to him. Upon discovering Rey's escape, Kylo unleashes another fit of rage, slashing at her empty restraint chair.

Han Solo pilots the Millennium Falcon to Starkiller Base, accompanied by Chewbacca and Finn. Finn's primary objective is to rescue Rey from captivity. Exploiting the Starkiller's shields' fractional refresh rate, Han pilots through the shields at lightspeed, resulting in a rough landing for the Falcon near a cliff. Han, Chewbacca, and Finn infiltrate the main base and capture Captain Phasma, whom they force to disable the shields before disposing of her in a garbage chute. They reunite with Rey, who has already escaped on her own. With the shields deactivated, Blue Squadron and Red Squadron, led by Black Leader Poe Dameron, commence their assault. They target the Starkiller's hexagonal oscillator structure, but their efforts are thwarted as the First Order dispatches TIE fighters to launch a counterattack and disrupt the Resistance.

Witnessing this, Han, Chewbacca, Finn, and Rey attempt to create an opening by planting thermal detonators within the base. Sensing his father's presence, Kylo confronts Han. Han addresses his son, Kylo Ren, by his birth name, "Ben." They approach each other on a bridge spanning a vast chasm, and Han implores his son to reject Snoke and return to the light side of the Force. Ben, removing his mask and appearing regretful and frightened, offers his lightsaber to Solo, requesting his father's assistance. Han responds that he would do anything for him, but as he reaches for the lightsaber, Ben resists. Ben manipulates the hilt, igniting the weapon through Han's chest. Witnessed by Rey, Finn, and Chewbacca, Han caresses his son's face one last time before succumbing to his death. Enraged, Chewbacca, Rey, and Finn retaliate, firing upon Ren and the stormtroopers. As the firefight intensifies, Leia, back on D'Qar, collapses upon feeling Han's death through the Force, clenching her eyes shut to suppress her tears. Chewbacca wounds Ren with his bowcaster, but Ren pursues them out of the base and catches up to Finn and Rey in the forest.

Rey denounces Ren as a monster and shoots him with her blaster, but Ren retaliates by Force pushing her into a tree, rendering her unconscious. A desperate and terrified Finn rushes to her aid. Ren angrily accuses Finn of being a traitor. Finn ignites Luke's old lightsaber and attacks him in a fit of rage. Despite being severely wounded from the bowcaster blast, Ren proves too powerful for Finn. Finn manages to inflict a glancing blow, but Ren quickly overpowers the former stormtrooper, inflicting a grievous injury to his back. Ren attempts to use telekinesis to retrieve the lightsaber built by his grandfather, but it resists his pull and instead flies to Rey, who has regained consciousness.

Meanwhile, Chewbacca activates the thermal detonators within the base, allowing Poe to lead a squadron of X-wings into the trenches of Starkiller Base. Poe identifies an opening in the thermal oscillator and enters, while a pursuing TIE crashes, unable to replicate the same flight maneuver. Inside, Poe unleashes a barrage of torpedoes, destroying the Starkiller's thermal oscillator thirty seconds before it completes draining the sun to fully charge its primary weapon. A chain reaction ensues, obliterating the base and leveling the entire planet's terrain – the stored solar energy, lacking a means of dissipation, begins to tear the planet apart from within.

Rey and Ren continue their duel: Ren has sustained further injuries from Chewbacca, Finn, and Rey, but initially maintains the upper hand, fueled by his rage to disregard the pain. Impressed by Rey's strength, Ren attempts to sway her, praising her connection to the Force and offering to complete her training if she joins him. However, this backfires, bolstering Rey's confidence in her own power. She begins to harness the Force to enhance her attacks, shifting the momentum of the duel. Ultimately, Rey overpowers Ren, inflicting a severe wound to his face and severing his lightsaber in two. Kylo, weakened by his injuries, struggles to remain standing, but continues to fight in vain. Before Rey can deliver the final blow, a large chasm forms between them as the base begins to disintegrate.

Rey returns to Finn, lamenting his unconscious state and their entrapment on the collapsing planet. However, Chewbacca arrives in the Millennium Falcon to rescue them. Inside the main base, chaos erupts as General Hux has already fled, and the remaining officers scramble to abandon the installation. Hux reports to Snoke, who instructs him to rescue Ren and evacuate the base, ensuring Ren's continued training. The Millennium Falcon and the remaining Resistance fleet escape Starkiller Base as it erupts into a fiery inferno, eventually forming a small star. They quickly jump to hyperspace and return to D'Qar.

The Resistance celebrates their victory, while Leia, Chewbacca, and Rey mourn Han's passing. R2-D2 suddenly activates and reveals that he possesses the map to Luke's location, with the only missing piece being the one BB-8 received from Poe. Together, they complete the map, revealing the location of Ahch-To, the planet where Luke Skywalker sought out the first Jedi Temple. As the unconscious Finn recovers in the medical unit, Rey kisses him on the forehead and expresses her gratitude.

Accompanied by R2-D2 and Chewbacca, Rey departs on the Millennium Falcon and follows the map to the distant planet, a water world with scattered islands, which she had previously envisioned. Rey pilots the starship to a particular island featuring a large, ancient stone village. She ascends the rock-carved steps to the island's summit, where she discovers Luke Skywalker, his face etched with a somber expression. They remain silent as Rey presents him with his father's lightsaber.

On October 30, 2012, The Walt Disney Company publicly stated their purchase of Lucasfilm Ltd., the production company responsible for the Star Wars franchise, from creator George Lucas, for $4.05 billion. This acquisition followed Lucas's retirement announcement on May 31, and the subsequent June 1 announcement that Kathleen Kennedy would succeed Lucas as Lucasfilm's Co-Chair. Disney revealed plans to produce a sequel trilogy of films beginning in 2015, with Kennedy as executive producer. Episode VII had been in development for months before the merger, and Lucas had written story treatments for each of the films.

Lucasfilm announced on November 9 that pre-production had begun on Star Wars: Episode VII, and Michael Arndt would write the script. Arndt had already submitted a forty- to fifty-page story treatment. Lucas's outlines were eventually abandoned, and a writer's room was created at a Santa Monica hotel. Attendees included Arndt, Kiri Hart, Lawrence Kasdan, Kathleen Kennedy and Simon Kinberg. Kasdan said the sessions lasted months with little progress. Abrams described them as "a ton of ideas and outlines, a lot of cards on the wall, a lot of writing on whiteboards." Lucas was asked to consult, but stepped away due to Disney's decision to take the story in a different direction. He later said in an interview with Stephen Colbert: "The original saga was about the father, the children, and the grandchildren... But they've taken it in a different direction, and I'm excited—they didn't use my story, so I don't know what they're doing."

Arndt worked on the script throughout 2013, focusing on the female lead, but struggled balancing this with Luke's prominence. The creative team decided to remove Luke from most of the film and make him the character everyone was looking for. Eventually, Arndt was let go, and Kasdan was asked to co-write the script with J.J. Abrams, who had been announced as the film's director. In November 2013, Abrams and Kasdan started a new script, incorporating ideas from the think tank. As Abrams told Vanity Fair, "We said, Blank page. Page one. What do we desperately want to see?" Kasdan told craveonline.com "...for nine months you talk about something, and then you go off and start from scratch again. You don't flush, you know?" Their writing process involved meeting at cafes and restaurants and going on long walks through various major cities around the world—during which Abrams recorded their conversations on his phone. They had a script by January 2014, but were still working on major story elements even after production began that May. They were under pressure to deliver a script in a short period of time, and some requested that the film be delayed into 2016. (Kennedy was among those who objected to the original May 2015 release date.) Kasdan's son Jon had uncredited writing contributions, and Episode VIII director Rian Johnson requested Abrams change the ending by having R2-D2 (not BB-8) come to Ahch-To and for Luke not to be floating boulders as originally intended.

The Force Awakens began preliminary shooting in April 2014, with second-unit work taking place in Iceland and Abu Dhabi. On April 25, Lucasfilm announced their plans for a new continuity that excluded the existing Expanded Universe, and confirmed that Episode VII and its sequels would not adhere to any existing continuity. This was followed on April 29 by the official release of the cast list. Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Kenny Baker, Peter Mayhew, and Anthony Daniels would return to reprise their roles as the main characters of the original trilogy, and they would be joined by a number of new actors in leading roles: John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, and Max von Sydow. Hamill remarked on returning to Star Wars: "Part of the experience of [Star Wars] in my life was coming down from that, putting it behind me... And I certainly, in a million years, never expected to return. I thought, even if they do more trilogies, my story is over." Denis Lawson was asked to reprise his role as Wedge Antilles from the original trilogy, but declined, initially stating that it would have "bored" him, but later claiming that he had been busy on another project.

Principal photography was announced on May 10, 2013, and began on May 16, 2014 at the UK's Pinewood Studios. For visual inspiration, Abrams looked at films directed by John Ford, Akira Kurosawa, and Terrence Malick. Daniel Mindel—who had previously worked with Abrams as director of photography—returned to collaborate with the director on the film. Reportedly, one sequence was shot with IMAX cameras. Although Peter Mayhew was able to reprise the role as Chewbacca, some scenes had to be shot with a stunt double, due to Mayhew's age and physical health. On June 11, the 71-year old Harrison Ford broke his left leg when a hydraulic door at Pinewood Studios fell down and hit him, and was airlifted to John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. His recovery forced him to drop out of filming for eight weeks. Abrams also sustained a minor back injury when he tried to help lift the door off of Ford's leg. On June 28, actor Andy Serkis confirmed that The Imaginarium Studios would be involved with performance capture on the film, as well as all future Star Wars projects. Serkis also confirmed that the character he plays in the film would utilize performance capture. On July 6, Lucasfilm confirmed that actors Crystal Clarke and Pip Andersen were cast in the film through open casting calls in the United Kingdom. They also revealed that production would take a two-week hiatus in August to accommodate Harrison Ford's leg injury. Afterwards shooting would resume, and conclude later in the fall.

On November 6, 2014, the official Star Wars Twitter account announced that the film had completed principal photography. The post gave the official title for the film as Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and was accompanied by a title card for the new name that, like the original trilogy, excluded the "Episode" subtitle. The film had gone through several titles, including Shadow of the Empire, similar to Shadows of the Empire.

Michael Kaplan, who had designed the costumes for Abrams' Star Trek films, also signed on to costume Episode VII. Kaplan designed new stormtrooper uniforms for the film, as it was determined that the original costumes would not stand up to modern scrutiny. These new uniforms were inspired by Apple products. The production team built a new C-3PO suit to accommodate Anthony Daniels, while the R2-D2 model was provided and overseen by members of the R2-D2 Builders Club.

Supervising sound editor Matthew Wood brought in former cast and crew members of Star Wars: The Clone Wars to record various background dialogue. Ewan McGregor and Frank Oz also recorded new lines for the scene of Rey's Force vision. McGregor's recording was combined with audio of the late Alec Guinness, and pre-existing Yoda audio was ultimately used in lieu of Oz's new recording.

During a concert with the Young Musician's Foundation Debut Orchestra on February 9, 2013 composer John Williams stated that he was hoping to get the chance to write the musical scores for the new trilogy. Abrams made further statements on this at a Star Trek Into Darkness conference on April 29, stating, "Again, for Star Wars, it's very early days, but I believe that, going forward, John Williams will be doing that film because he was there long before I was." On July 27, 2013, a video of Williams confirming he would score the new film was screened at Star Wars Celebration Europe II. On March 21, 2015, Lucasfilm revealed that John Williams would conduct the score for The Force Awakens in Los Angeles. Williams's previous Star Wars scores were recorded in the United Kingdom with the London Symphony Orchestra. The sessions lasted from summer through fall of 2015.

The initial teaser trailer, expedited in its release due to both fan anticipation and the urging of Abrams, was announced through the Bad Robot Productions Twitter feed. The tweet included a message from Abrams promising viewers a "tiny peek at what we're working on." This 88-second preview made its debut in 30 North American cinemas and was also made available online on November 28, 2014. In December of the same year, the teaser began screening in theaters globally. Shortly after, the names of characters were revealed using online, mock trading cards. Earlier in November, J.J. Abrams had a cameo appearance on Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, where he was shown directing R2-D2 on the set of The Force Awakens. In the sketch, a fish from Oliver's salmon cannon lands on Abrams' script, causing him to become frustrated and abandon the project.

A subsequent teaser was launched on April 16, 2015. The June 2015 edition of Variety magazine featured The Force Awakens as its cover story, complete with interviews from the cast and crew, plus images resulting from a photoshoot by Annie Leibovitz. Additionally, the August 2015 issues of both Entertainment Weekly and Empire magazines highlighted the film as their cover story. The Force Awakens was showcased at both the 2015 San Diego Comic-Con and D23 events. At D23, it was revealed that Drew Struzan had returned to create artwork for the film's posters, including an exclusive poster for the event. A shorter, third teaser was shared on the Star Wars Instagram account on August 27. On September 23, Facebook unveiled a 360-degree panoramic video showing a speeder traveling across Jakku. The official one sheet poster was released on October 18, 2015, while the full trailer premiered on October 19 during ESPN's broadcast of Monday Night Football.

The actors and production team made appearances on various television programs, such as Good Morning America, Live! with Kelly and Michael, and 60 Minutes. Abrams, Boyega, and Ridley participated in a Saturday Night Live sketch, joined by cast members and celebrity guests, presenting a series of mock auditions. The sketch satirized topics such as racist reactions to Boyega's casting, Lucas's statements about his lack of involvement, and Abrams's work on the competing Star Trek franchise. (More of these aired later on June 1, 2016.) Abrams and the cast were featured in a Star Wars-themed episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live! on November 23. Harrison Ford discussed his on-set injury during an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, doing so by destroying a Han Solo action figure.

Select members of the cast and crew participated in an official press conference held on December 5. The film's red-carpet premiere took place on December 14 on Hollywood Boulevard. This event was streamed live on StarWars.com. The cast, including the droids, took part in an a cappella medley of the series' music with Jimmy Fallon and The Roots on The Tonight Show. Ford and Abrams appeared in a sketch on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, which depicted Colbert supposedly convincing Abrams not to recast the role of Han, and instead cast Colbert. Later, on Conan, Ford was asked to sign producer Jordan Schlansky's LEGO Millennium Falcon and "accidentally" dropped it. Abrams had a cameo in a May 2016 episode of The Late Late Show with James Corden, appearing in the back of a car and directing "Chewbacca Mom" Candace Payne on the correct way to use a Chewbacca mask.

On May 21, 2014, Disney, Lucasfilm, and Bad Robot jointly announced "Force for Change," a charitable initiative "dedicated to finding creative solutions to some of the world's biggest problems." Initially, the campaign focused on supporting UNICEF. Each donor was entered into a draw to win a visit to the set of Episode VII and an appearance in the film. On August 11, D.C. Barns, a resident of Denver, Colorado, was announced as the contest's winner. J.J. Abrams later posted a YouTube video revealing that the contest had generated $4.26 million in donations. In August 2014, several members of the film's cast and crew participated in the "Ice Bucket Challenge," an online trend where participants pour water on their heads to pledge a donation to the ALS association. On April 21, 2015, Abrams appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, where he engaged in the "Twizzler challenge" with Chewbacca in support of Autism Awareness Month. In August 2015, Lucasfilm and HP launched a two-month program called "Art Awakens," inviting people to submit The Force Awakens-inspired artwork. A selection of these submissions were chosen for an art exhibit, with proceeds benefiting "Force for Change." On November 5, 2015, J.J. Abrams screened an unfinished version of the film for Daniel Fleetwood, a 32-year-old Star Wars fan with an aggressive form of cancer who was unlikely to live until the film's release. The campaign to allow him to see the film was supported by several of the film's stars, including John Boyega, Mark Hamill, and Gwendoline Christie. Fleetwood passed away on November 9 or 10, 2015. The film was also made available for viewing by astronauts aboard the International Space Station. On November 28, it was revealed that R2-KT, the droid built in honor of Katie Johnson, would appear in The Force Awakens. Albin Johnson, founder of the 501st Legion and Katie's father, had built the droid after she was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. In addition to R2-KT's cameo, a variation of the 501st's logo was displayed as a flag outside Maz Kanata's castle.

Following Disney's acquisition of Lucasfilm in 2012, their "imagineers" began planning Star Wars-themed expansions for the various Disney theme parks. However, Bob Iger put a hold on these projects until The Force Awakens and subsequent Star Wars films had progressed far enough in their development that elements from those projects could be incorporated. On August 15, 2015, it was announced that the plans for a Star Wars-themed area in the Disney parks were moving forward, and would include content based on The Force Awakens.

Disney's marketing push for the film commenced on September 4, 2015—branded as "Force Friday." Lucasfilm has released a series of books and comics that bridge the gap between Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens. A novelization was published, along with various other titles directly related to the film, such as an art book, a character anthology, and Ultimate Sticker Collection. Content inspired by The Force Awakens was also featured in the video games Disney Infinity 3.0, Star Wars Battlefront, and LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Disney partnered with eight major brands: Covergirl & Max Factor, Duracell, FCA US, General Mills, HP, Subway, and Verizon. Beginning in August 2015, Target stores ran a campaign called "Share the Force," which included TV commercials, exclusive in-store merchandise, and an online platform where Star Wars fans could share images and videos of their memories of the franchise. Some of All Nippon Airways's aircraft were painted with designs inspired by The Force Awakens.

The merchandising efforts faced criticism due to the limited presence of Rey. Hasbro announced they would re-release their Force Awakens Monopoly game to include Rey, after initially excluding her in favor of Darth Vader, who does not appear in the film. Abrams stated that he was not heavily involved in the merchandising, and that when "I read that she wasn't in the Monopoly game and was quickly making phone calls about this because if it were true — and it is true, and now Hasbro, of course, has said they're going to put Rey in — it doesn't quite make sense why she wouldn't be there."

The Force Awakens was made available as a Blu-ray combo pack and on DVD on April 5, 2016, with the digital version preceding it on April 1. The release included special features like deleted scenes, behind-the-scenes featurettes, and a full-length documentary titled Secrets of The Force Awakens: A Cinematic Journey. Select retailers also offered exclusive content and/or packaging variations, and one deleted scene was exclusive to the digital download. On March 23, 2016, the film was leaked online before its official Blu-ray release and was downloaded more than two million times within twelve hours. A 3D Collector's Edition was also released later in 2016, which included Blu-ray 3D, Blu-ray, Digital HD, and DVD versions of the film. This edition contained all the bonus features from the initial release, along with an audio commentary by J.J. Abrams, additional deleted scenes, and more behind-the-scenes conversations with the cast and crew.

The film premiered on television on the Starz channels, starting on September 10, 2016.

Advance ticket sales began on October 19th, causing many online ticket vendors, including major platforms like Fandango, to experience service disruptions due to overwhelming demand. By the time the film was released, pre-sale tickets had exceeded $100 million, surpassing the previous record held by The Dark Knight.

On January 6, 2016, the film achieved the highest box-office gross in the United States, surpassing the previous record of $760.5 million held by James Cameron's 2009 science-fiction film Avatar. This milestone was reached in less than three weeks after release. When adjusted for ticket price inflation, The Force Awakens is the most successful sequel ever, narrowly outperforming Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back. On February 7, 2016, it was reported that the film had surpassed $2 billion in global ticket sales.

The Force Awakens received five nominations at the 88th Academy Awards (the most nominations for a single Star Wars film since A New Hope), held on February 28, 2016. The nominations included Best Film Editing for Maryann Brandon and Mary Jo Markey; Best Original Score for John Williams; Best Sound Editing for Matthew Wood and David Acord; Best Sound Mixing for Andy Nelson, Christopher Scarabosio, and Stuart Wilson; and Best Visual Effects for Roger Guyett, Patrick Tubach, Neal Scanlan, and Chris Corbould. The general public voted The Force Awakens as Movie of the Year at the 2016 MTV Movie Awards; Daisy Ridley also won Best Breakthrough Performance, while Adam Driver won Best Villain.

According to Robert Iger's 2019 memoir, The Ride of a Lifetime, George Lucas was not happy with the film, feeling it lacked originality. Iger explained that his company's goal was to create a film that felt familiar to what came before. Kathleen Kennedy later told Rolling Stone: "He may not agree with every choice J.J. made. He may not agree with every choice Rian made. But he appreciates the film-making. That I know."

Abrams acknowledged one issue with the film: the ending scene where Rey and Leia hug, despite not having been shown to know each other. Abrams explained that Chewbacca was focused on getting Finn medical attention, and that Rey and Leia had communicated via transmitter off-screen. He stated, "Had Chewbacca not been where he was, you probably wouldn't have thought of it. But because he was right there, passed by Leia, it felt almost like a slight, which was definitely not the intention."