Have you felt it? That’ll be the new issue of Empire hitting newsstands right now, with the kind of resounding thud that comes with a stunning 3D cover and a realm of incredible Star Wars coverage. Buried deep within it are a few revelations that the eagle-eyed will pick up on immediately. An exclusive Lucasfilm star map reveals the name and location of three new planets in the Star Wars universe.
Joining Tatooine, Endor, Naboo and the already-revealed desert planet of Jakku are Takodana, D'Qar and Hosnian Prime. Little is known of these mysterious orbs. Takodana will, if LEGO’s tie-in kits are to be believed, be the site of a major battle in the movie, while rumours have D’Qar as a resistance base. Hosnian Prime? Well, that’s a mystery to all.
Also out there, lurking in the galaxy’s darker recesses, is the Starkiller Base, home of the First Order. The map pinpoints its origin point in the Unknown Regions. Expect it to move somewhere more happening.
Unless you’ve been out exploring the Western Reaches, you’ll know that Star Wars: The Force Awakens is hitting cinemas on December 17 in the UK and December 18 in the US. It sees new franchise faces Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Domhnall Gleeson, Andy Serkis, Gwendoline Christie and Adam Driver join the veteran likes of Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford Peter Mayhew and Anthony Daniels in one of the most anticipated releases of all time.
For much, much more on Star Wars: The Force Awakens, pick up the new issue of Empire now. The star map can also be found in DK’s Star Wars: The Force Awakens: The Visual Dictionary, a pantheon of creatures, droids, locations and technology from the movie. That one is out on December 18.