A short time ago in a galaxy not very far away…

Attendees at today’s kickoff party for the fan-fest Star Wars Celebration Live in Anaheim, California were treated to the premiere of a new trailer for Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens during a panel discussion with director J.J. Abrams (Star Trek: Into Darkness) and producer Kathleen Kennedy. The new trailer builds on the connection between the upcoming trilogy and the 1977 classic that launched the phenomenal franchise, Episode IV: A New Hope.

The Star Wars fan nation was on hand for the inaugural panel at the four-day fan extravaganza, and were treated to appearances by the young leads in the new film – Oscar Isaac (Ex Machina), Daisy Ridley (BBC’s Silent Witness), and John Boyega (Attack the Block) – who revealed minimal details about the top-secret plot. Also joining the panel were fan favorites from the original films, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca) and Anthony Daniels (C-3PO), who will reprise their roles in The Force Awakens.

The trailer, longer than the 88 second teaser that surfaced last November, sheds little light on the actual plot, but serves to thematically connect the original trilogy to the new films. It ends with an appearance by Harrison Ford‘s Han Solo and his Wookie sidekick, Chewbacca, with Han proclaiming “Chewie, we’re home.” Cue the nostalgia for fans of the originals.

At least two sequels are already in the works and several standalone spinoffs are planned, some featuring familiar characters such as Solo, Yoda, and Boba Fett. The Force Awakens is set for a December 18th release.  Check out the trailer below.