While it is nice to see the Falcon under construction what the hell is up with that squat X wing.

http://www.nerdist.com/2014/06/more-episode-vii-behind-the-scenes-photos-reveal-a-familiar-ship/

Looks more like a Z-95 (the usual incorrect version that seems popular *L*)

Seeing as there are multiple different variants of the Z-95 and none being incorrect, that statement is just personal taste. Looks like its a modded X-wing with larger intakes, most likely a main character heavily customized a 30 year old X-wing. Not sure it would be able to stay up with the newer gen stuff with out it.

Well remember Episode 3, you had those strange hybrid X-wing Z-95 republic fighters.

I don't think JJ will make a trilogy that will be better than the first (Episodes IV, V, & VI). It will either be better than the prequels (Episode I, II, & III) or worse.

I expect the Imperial Remnant to be the main bad guy with like a hint at the coming of the Yuuzhan Vong. Who may show up around Episode VII, and Episode IX will be the last battle between them,

Looks like he's using the original concept art for some variation of the X-wing. I suspect it is an upgraded variant.

The RMQ x wing:

I expect the Imperial Remnant to be the main bad guy with like a hint at the coming of the Yuuzhan Vong. Who may show up around Episode VII, and Episode IX will be the last battle between them,

Regrettably, I have very low hopes for anything Star Wars in the future. Star Wars died for me on April 25, 2014 when the EU was destroyed.

You mean the X-wing model used 30 years after the ones seen in the OT?

Well, i suppose that is true. The mass concensus agrees that the one we see is the right one. But nonetheless they are all just based on the preproduction X Wing sketch that West End Games who were notorious for taking the easy way out design wise used, but bears no resemblance to the Z-95 as described in the original source novel back in 1979. But im persnickety about that *L*

Its the squatness of it that bugs me, otherwise it might not be bad, and once painted up who knows. On the otherhand im glad to see actual ships instead of cg which helps, despite my inherent distrust of Abrams

Well remember Episode 3, you had those strange hybrid X-wing Z-95 republic fighters.

I don't think JJ will make a trilogy that will be better than the first (Episodes IV, V, & VI). It will either be better than the prequels (Episode I, II, & III) or worse.

I expect the Imperial Remnant to be the main bad guy with like a hint at the coming of the Yuuzhan Vong. Who may show up around Episode VII, and Episode IX will be the last battle between them,

No Vong. Which is great. They were silly.

Why do you assume it's an X-Wing? Maybe it really is a Z-95? Or an X-Wing Advanced MK II?

It's 30 years later and the EU is wiped away unless we're told otherwise. You can't assume you know anything.

"Unlearn what you have learned."

Well. 30 years later, especially at the rate they were pumping out new ships during the rebellion era i would think it should be an entirely new ship. But they were definitely going for the X Wing look so it sems a safe assumption.

It does fit a trend of using the original concept art from Ralph McQuarrie that we're also seeing in some of the other leaked photos. I'm a fan of this; RMQ's stuff was pretty **** cool.

Well. 30 years later, especially at the rate they were pumping out new ships during the rebellion era i would think it should be an entirely new ship. But they were definitely going for the X Wing look so it sems a safe assumption.

Yes, but JJ and Lucasfilm know what an X-Wing looks like. It may be trying to evoke the feeling of the X-Wing, but it's obviously not supposed to be an actual X-Wing.

I expect the Imperial Remnant to be the main bad guy with like a hint at the coming of the Yuuzhan Vong. Who may show up around Episode VII, and Episode IX will be the last battle between them,

Regrettably, I have very low hopes for anything Star Wars in the future. Star Wars died for me on April 25, 2014 when the EU was destroyed.

So sick of hearing that. It's not like they stole all your books and burned them. They just decided not to use them for these movies. Two COMPLETELY different things.

No matter what he does with it, I cannot help but admire the massive balls that Abrams has for taking this project on.

No matter what he does with it, I cannot help but admire the massive balls that Abrams has for taking this project on.

What?! I didn't see any leaked pics to admire!

I expect the Imperial Remnant to be the main bad guy with like a hint at the coming of the Yuuzhan Vong. Who may show up around Episode VII, and Episode IX will be the last battle between them,

Regrettably, I have very low hopes for anything Star Wars in the future. Star Wars died for me on April 25, 2014 when the EU was destroyed.

If it's dead for you, then get out.

Unless it's not actually dead to you and in intensive care instead. If that's the case, stop complaining. (No. I don't have any patience for that attitude. When I claimed Halo was done and dead, I left and hardly looked back. I didn't stick around.)

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"What have they done to the X-Wing" seems strange to me. What about all the TIE Fighter variants and derivatives that people rave about?

This X-Wing is likely just an advanced version.

BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN 30 YEARS.

No matter what he does with it, I cannot help but admire the massive balls that Abrams has for taking this project on.

Death Star II sized balls.

I feel this is a good thing for the expanded universe anyway. Everything bad about the EU is wiped away and everything that is good about it can be preserved or reworked to fit. And EVERYTHING going forward is official and canon. It seems like a win for the EU to me.

Remember the EU was NEVER canon in the first place or you wouldn't have needed the different levels of canon at all. It was just a fancy way of saying "none of this counts but we still want your money".

The EU had some great stuff, but there was never any quality control or consistency. They just threw things against the wall and saw what stuck.

It also means the movies can use any part of the EU it wants. Oh, Grand Admiral Thrawn should be dead 30 years after the OT? Not anymore! Imperial Knights don't exist yet 30 years after the OT? Now they do!

This gives them the freedom not to be held down by the EU sure, but it ALSO gives them the freedom to use anything from the EU that they DO want to use. And not just in the Sequel trilogy, but in the countless movies to come. Like all the super-hero movies out there they can mine the best from stories past.

I truly believe we're about to enter a new golden age of Star Wars.

I feel this is a good thing for the expanded universe anyway. Everything bad about the EU is wiped away and everything that is good about it can be preserved or reworked to fit. And EVERYTHING going forward is official and canon. It seems like a win for the EU to me.

Remember the EU was NEVER canon in the first place or you wouldn't have needed the different levels of canon at all. It was just a fancy way of saying "none of this counts but we still want your money".

The EU had some great stuff, but there was never any quality control or consistency. They just threw things against the wall and saw what stuck.

It also means the movies can use any part of the EU it wants. Oh, Grand Admiral Thrawn should be dead 30 years after the OT? Not anymore! Imperial Knights don't exist yet 30 years after the OT? Now they do!

This gives them the freedom not to be held down by the EU sure, but it ALSO gives them the freedom to use anything from the EU that they DO want to use. And not just in the Sequel trilogy, but in the countless movies to come. Like all the super-hero movies out there they can mine the best from stories past.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

SO MUCH THIS

The picture is of an UNFINISHED prop, so there is no reason to assume anything from it. It looks like it could be an X-Wing, eventually, and that's about all that can be said about it.

As for the EU, while there was some great stuff there was also an awful lot of complete junk. Unutterably horrible, completely idiotic, inconsistent, and just plain stupid crap that if made into a movie would elevate Episode 1 to cult status by comparison. I'm glad they decided to create with a free hand, and keep what they want from the EU. I would REALLY hate for crap like a starfighter that blows up stars all by itself to make it into a concept sketch, much less a book, or God help us all into a canonized movie.

The picture is of an UNFINISHED prop, so there is no reason to assume anything from it. It looks like it could be an X-Wing, eventually, and that's about all that can be said about it.

As for the EU, while there was some great stuff there was also an awful lot of complete junk. Unutterably horrible, completely idiotic, inconsistent, and just plain stupid crap that if made into a movie would elevate Episode 1 to cult status by comparison. I'm glad they decided to create with a free hand, and keep what they want from the EU. I would REALLY hate for crap like a starfighter that blows up stars all by itself to make it into a concept sketch, much less a book, or God help us all into a canonized movie.

No kidding.

Also Dark Empire isn't canon at all anymore so that's fantastic.

Most importantly, at least to me, is that JJ Abrams will have been (is) the chosen director for movies in two of the most iconic, most known and loved science fiction universes ever, Star Trek and Star Wars.

Wow!

Most importantly, at least to me, is that JJ Abrams will have been (is) the chosen director for movies in two of the most iconic, most known and loved science fiction universes ever, Star Trek and Star Wars.

Wow!

And he's acing Trek (In my personal opinion).

Can't wait to see what he does with Star Wars.

Undoubtedly awesome stuff.

Here's my take on it.

I believe its an X-wing for 2 main reasons.

1) Why would JJ and/or Lucasfilm pass up on including one of the most iconic ships in Star Wars in EpVII?

2) Why would JJ and/or Lucasfilm pass up on the chance to redesign said iconic ship considering EpVII is set roughly 30 years after ROTJ in which span of time the X-wing could have gone through multiple upgrades and variant models enough to explain the new look that we see in the photos?

To add to that the 'short' snout X-wing could most likely be a forced-perspective prop used for closeup shots of the pilot. The other shot of the X-wing shows it having a noticeably longer snout closer to the length of the original X-wing.

I think it's the best idea in the world to keep some things similar in design. Someone also mentioned in another thread that we're still using Planes that are 50+ years old. I'd like to point out the F/A-18, which was put into service in 1978, is still in Service today as the F/A-18 Super Hornet.

I think using similar designs brings a continuity between movies and a relate-able experience for viewers. This is something the Prequels really didn't do well (IMO).