Via Mtv.com:

For something that could easily be accused of being nothing more than a cash grab, “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” introduced itself in an unexpected way. Subverting the principles of brand recognition, the teaser from director J.J. Abrams didn’t simply place the older version of Luke, Han and Leia front and center for more of the same.

Instead, we got two new faces: one belonging to a black man and the other, a woman.

It was a clear statement. Here are some images you know — a stormtrooper, a droid, a lightsaber — but starting right now, “Star Wars” is never going to be the same.

But the excitement Daisy Ridley and John Boyega bring to the series began before they ever showed up on our screens. Their (sadly) now defunct Twitter accounts were sources of genuine enthusiasm, and it was impossible not to relate. I mean, how would you react if you had been cast in “Star Wars”?

The prequels made it easy to be cynical about “Star Wars.” Until recently, the series was just another CGI-filled moneymaker, but here were these two young people, thrilled and open about their excitement to be a part of something so big and so powerful. While their tweets never discussed specifics, you could almost feel the hum of something great and unexpected happening.

And their attitudes obviously had to come from somewhere, so here’s to hoping that their energy was something that ran through the entire production. Because if “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” is anything like Boyega and Ridley make me think it is, we’re in for a treat.