Star Wars: The Force Awakens Cast Covers Vanity Fair: See the Pics!

Chewbacca, Harrison Ford, Daisy Ridley and John Boyega bring old and new together in stunning Annie Leibovitz-shot spread

By Rebecca Macatee May 04, 2015 6:19 PMTags
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May the Fourth be with you, indeed!

The cast of Star Wars: The Force Awakens graces the cover of Vanity Fair's June 2015 issue. The old-meets-new cover photo, shot by Annie Leibovitz, features Chewbacca, Harrison Ford (Han Solo), Daisy Ridley (Rey) and John Boyega (Finn). That's not all, though: Vanity Fair also has photos of Adam Driver as Kylo Ren and Lupita Nyong'o as Maz Kanata!

Director J.J. Abrams was admittedly surprised by how eager Ford way to reprise his role. The actor "was excited to get back in those shoes again," said Abrams, "which was really interesting because I thought he hadn't been a fan. I kept hearing those rumors when I was a kid."

Abrams was pleased with Ford's performance, it seemed, because as he told Vanity Fair: "There was a fire in his eyes that you see in the movie."

This Star Wars director certainly isn't too cool for school when it comes to his enthusiasm for the franchise. "I mean, walking onto the Millennium Falcon set? To be on it, it's insane," he gushed. "There were people who literally cried when they walked onto that set. It's a strange thing, the effect it has."

George Lucas, the original Star Wars mastermind, is not helming this flick, but he wholeheartedly approves of Abrams as its director. "I've consistently been impressed with J.J. as a filmmaker and storyteller," Lucas said in a Lucasfilm statement back in 2013. "He's an ideal choice to direct the new Star Wars film and the legacy couldn't be in better hands."

This time, though, Lucas wants to experience the movie all at once. As he revealed at a Tribeca Film Festival event earlier this  year, he "want(s) to see it on the big screen," which means he's trying to avoid seeing any teasers or trailers beforehand!

"Well, you know, I hope it's successful," Lucas added of the new movies. "I hope they do a great job. I'm excited...I have no idea what they're doing."

Star Wars: The Force Awakens hits theaters on Dec. 18. Vanity Fair's digital issue featuring the Star Wars cast is available Thursday, and the magazine itself hits newsstands May 12.