For all the resolute facts can be gleaned from cross-checking interviews and pouring over location reports, most of the biggest stories regarding The Force Awakens come from that ever-untrustworthy rumour mill. Most of them are pretty innocuous (once again, was anybody actually expecting the Millennium Falcon to not appear), but some get right to the heart of what the film (could) be about. The lightsaber Luke lost on Bespin is a key MacGuffin, Brienne of Tarth is hunting down John Boyega, Star Wars Rebel's Inquisitors have some link to it all; there's more rumours than there are dartboards with Jar Jar on then. And here's where J.J. Abrams has played his masterstroke - he's not engaged with it. Is all that leaked concept art official or fan-made? Do any of these supposedly leaked plot details have any credence? Nobody has a clue because Lucasfilm are being noticeably coy, unwilling to confirm or deny anything and thus keeping the hype machine building. The only crack in the armour is the current lawsuit against the individual who leaked a look at Kylo Ren's mask. Quite why this one element out of hundreds has been picked up on is, typical given the tight secrecy, unknown. Was the look of the new villain was going to be a major marketing tactic? Or do the hints at Darth Vader (or at least his armour) playing some part in the story make it particularly egregious? Or has such a fuss been kicked up because it's a rather inconsequential reveal (a Star Wars villain with some crazy face design isn't anything new) that distracts from some more potent leaks? OK, so that's getting into speculation about the motivations behind speculation, but what's clear is that in confirming only one element of the widespread leaks Lucasfilm have only furthered the air of mystery around the film. Are there any other major Episode VII facts that have accidentally come to light? Share them down in the comments.
