Alongside Darth Vader’s gothic bio-suit and Boba Fett’s Mandalorian battle armour, the Stormtrooper uniform is one of the most iconic aesthetics of the Star Wars franchise. For a bunch of indentured soldiers that lack both personal identities and the ability to shoot in a straight line, the Galactic Empire’s shock troops managed to conquer vast territories and instil fear in local populations.
Based on Ralph McQuarrie‘s original designs (he also worked on the similar looking Cylons from Battlestar Galactica), the original trilogy portrayed the uniforms as impractical and incapable of protecting the wearer from any real danger. However, updated for the J. J. Abrams directed Star Wars: The Force Awakens, costume designer Michael Kaplan has given the First Order’s Stormtroopers a sleek, simple, and modern look. Tighter fitting, less clunky, and without any unnecessary aesthetic flair, these guys look ready for action.
Below is an image from the set of The Force Awakens, showing a room dedicated to a few of the 15 000 costumes used in the film. Laid out in pristine order, you could almost imagine this as a room hidden in the depths of a Star Destroyer, where soldiers shed their identity and become the anonymous fist of the First Order. Let’s hope Han is still willing to shoot first when he chances upon these enemies.
Check out Wired for more set photos.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens will open in UK cinemas on December 18.
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