Star Wars: The Force Awakens - 8 Huge Questions Finally Answered

8. Who Exactly Was Max Von Sydow's Lor San Tekka?

So much was made of Max Von Sydow being cast in Star Wars: The Force Awakens that it was a genuine shock when he was killed off after all of thirty seconds of screentime. Perhaps J.J. Abrams chose an actor of his stature because his death was something no one would see coming so soon, but the comments he made to Kylo Ren about his past definitely appeared to indicate that he was a character of some importance. The Visual Dictionary reveals that Lor San Tekka isn't a character from the prequels or an elderly Boba Fett (lol) as some suggested. Instead, he's simply a galactic traveller who worked with both the New Republic and the Resistance, helping them to map out the far reaches of the Galaxy. He was also a member of the "Church of the Force", a group who worshipped the ways of the Jedi despite not being Force sensitive. They existed in secret following the execution of Order 66, and the village he called home on Jakku - where he had retired to - was actually made up of this religious cult as they had expanded their ranks following the death of the Emperor. So, that explains both how he knew the location of the first Jedi Temple and how he would have the expertise to map it out as a favour for General Leia and his allies in the Resistance.