“Star Wars” fans will have to curtail their costumes when heading to “The Force Awakens” screenings next month.
A number of theater chains including Cinemark and AMC have banned masks, simulated weapons and face paint for the upcoming sci-fi hit directed by J.J. Abrams.
“AMC does not permit weapons or items that would make other guests feel uncomfortable or detract from the movie-going experience. Guests are welcome to come dressed in costume, but we do not permit masks,” the chain said in a statement on its website Monday.
“In short, bring your lightsaber, turn it off during the movie, and leave the blaster and Darth Vader mask at home.”
Texas-based company Cinemark, the third largest theater chain in the U.S., will not even allow iconic lightsabers into its 334 theaters around the country.
“‘Star Wars’ costumes are welcome. However, no face coverings, face paint, or simulated weapons (including lightsabers/blasters) will be allowed in the building,” posters for Episode VII state.
The new restrictions come in the wake of recent violent incidents at movie theaters including a 2012 shooting rampage during an Aurora, Colorado, screening of “The Dark Knight Rises” that killed 12 people and injured 70 others, and an attack on a Lafayette, Louisiana, screening of “Trainwreck” earlier this year in which two people were killed and nine others injured.
“Star Wars: The Force Awakens” hits theaters on Dec. 18.
See the trailer below.
'Star Wars: The Force Awakens': 9 Galaxy-Shaking Revelations From New Trailer (Photos)
1. "Who are you?" This is our first glimpse is of Rey (Daisy Ridley) dressed in heavy-duty sand planet gear, fitted with repurposed lenses from a Stormtrooper helmet. The Force is strong with this one!
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2. Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) is the ultimate fanboy -- he styles his look after the Dark Lord of the Sith and keeps Darth Vader's charred helmet on a plinth. Ren is clearly in hero-worshipping mode.
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3. "I've got nothing to fight for," says Finn (John Boyega), which should put to rest any theories he's not a real Stormtrooper. The trailer paints him as a soldier of the New Order who no longer believes in the cause.
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4. An epic battle over a lush green planet with temple ruins lead some fans to have a new hope for a return to Yavin 4, the location of the first Rebel Base from the original film. (P.S. pay attention to Finn's jacket; it's important later.)
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5. We finally see our first glimpse of Leia Organa Solo (Carrie Fisher), being consoled by her husband, Han (Harrison Ford). Is Luke's mysterious absence from the film's promotional materials the reason she's sad?
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6. The closest lead we have on the whereabouts of Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) is this shot of a robotic hand resting on R2-D2. Other than that, your guess is as good as ours.
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7. Many believe that the mysterious voice bookending the trailer ("Just let it in") belongs to Maz Kanata (Lupita Nyong'o), who was possibly featured on the film's poster.
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8. Originally a skeptic in "hokey religions and ancient weapons," Han Solo (Harrison Ford) seems to be teaching Rey and Finn about how all the stories about Jedi and The Dark Side are true. (Remember, the jacket is important.)
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9. Is Oscar Isaac's Poe Dameron under mind control? Bear with us as we piece together the evidence for our first crazy theory.
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An earlier teaser showed Resistance fighter pilot Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) sporting a familiar worn jacket.
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Comic-Con footage let us view a shot of a captured Poe being led by a Stormtrooper to an uncertain fate. Could that possibly be Finn holding Poe at blaster point?
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In the new trailer, Ren subjects Poe to a new kind of Force torture (not a Force choke as some fans think, as that particular move makes it impossible to do anything other than gag).
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Finn later crashes down on a desert planet, now in possession of Poe's jacket which he seems to wear through the rest of the film.
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When Poe encounters Finn again, he doesn't seem to recognize his jacket. In fact, the look on his face seems menacing. Finn, meanwhile, seems to know something's up. Is the Force telling him something?
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From a first glimpse at Princess Leia to speculation about Oscar Isaac’s Poe Dameron, TheWrap details the biggest takeaways from new teaser for J.J. Abrams’ eagerly awaited movie
1. "Who are you?" This is our first glimpse is of Rey (Daisy Ridley) dressed in heavy-duty sand planet gear, fitted with repurposed lenses from a Stormtrooper helmet. The Force is strong with this one!