Via Empireonline.com:

April greets the arrival of Star Wars: The Force Awakens on DVD, Blu-ray and all other formats worth bothering with (ie not LaserDisc). With the tenacity of a Bothan and the analytical skill of a protocol droid, we asked editors Mary Jo Marke and Maryann Brandon, creature designer Neal Scanlan and concept artist Doug Chiang for some of the secrets behind the movie’s design. Happily, they obliged and no-one’s planet needed blowing up. Pick up the new issue of Empire for the full breakdown.

1. Episode VII almost opened with a lightsaber floating through space

There were early rumours that Star Wars: Episode VII would open with a floating ‘saber, and it turns out that scuttlebutt wasn’t far from the mark. “There was [some] consideration that we’d open with Luke’s lightsaber flying through space,” remembers editor Mary Jo Markey, “landing on Jakku and Maz’s hand pulling it out of the ground”. Another option was a fake-out that disguised a stormtrooper’s helmet as a planet. “We didn’t get very far with that,” adds Markey. Thankfully, neither involved Luke’s severed hand.

2. Starkiller Base has rocket boosters

What was known for a while as “the Doom Star” became Starkiller Base, a glacial planet that’s been weaponised by Supreme Leader Snoke. “We thought, ‘What would a Death Star look like with 30 years of extra technology?'” says concept artist Doug Chiang. “Terraforming has been talked about in the scientific community for a long time, and we decided to magnify that idea.” Fun facts that aren’t revealed in the film: 1) the First Order chose this planet because of its minerals, and 2) yes, it can move, since it has rocket ports on its far side.

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