Star Wars director J.J. Abrams has unveiled an updated X-Wing Starfighter well and truly ahead of next year’s Episode VII release.
Promoting the UNICEF-supported charitable initiative Force For Change, Abrams appears in a short YouTube spot offering one ridiculously lucky fan a spot in the upcoming sci-fi reboot.
But that’s not the part that has the Star Wars community buzzing- the franchise’s official Twitter account has confirmed Abrams is standing alongside the battered shell of a redesigned X-Wing spacecraft.
The clip features a traditionally clad Rebel Alliance pilot boarding the cockpit of the starfighter while a repair droid scoots across the scene.
The franchise confirmed the starcraft’s status as an X-Wing in an official press release and on Twitter, where the Star Wars account replied to fan query, “It is in fact an Episode VII X-wing, not a Z-95.”
“All Wings Report In! On the set of Star Wars: Episode VII, Director JJ Abrams was interrupted by an X-Wing pilot and rogue robot as he announce the chance for fans to win an advance private screening of Star Wars: Episode VII,” said the accompanying press release.
Episode VII will hit cinemas across the galaxy on December 18, 2015.
@CDCanimation It is in fact an Episode VII X-wing, not a Z-95.
— Star Wars (@starwars) July 21, 2014
