'Star Wars: The Force Awakens': 12 exclusive EW looks at the new galaxy

Daisy Ridley's Rey and John Boyega's runaway stormtrooper Finn flee from The First Order on the desert world Jakku in this new shot from Star Wars: The Force Awakens, out Dec. 18.

Our cover model, Kylo Ren (played by Adam Driver) strikes a pose with his homemade lightsaber. It turns out, his true identity has been masked from us in more ways than one …

After a violent escape, John Boyega's Finn runs from the wreckage of a TIE fighter, afraid, desperate, but lucky to be alive.

Rey (Daisy Ridley) meets up with BB-8 while cutting him free from a fellow scavenger’s net. But what is that large creature — and who is riding atop it? (More on that later.)

Old friends, but in a new time and place. R2-D2 seems to have hardly changed, but C-3PO (played by Anthony Daniels) now sports an unexplained red arm.

Squad goals. Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) and a team of merciless First Order stormtroopers lay waste to a peaceful Jakku village.

Domhnall Gleeson as General Hux, a cruel leader of The First Order who craves to show the galaxy his might. (This image was briefly shown at Comic-Con but never released in detail until now.)

Inside this shimmering armor is a warrior for The First Order, Captain Phasma (played by Gwendoline Christie of Game of Thrones). Her character's name has an unexpected origin...

Director J.J. Abrams relaxes on the set of The First Order's Starkiller Base with his co-writer Lawrence Kasdan (The Empire Strikes Back). Note the dark red script pages in Kasdan's hand, a security measure to prevent copying.

There's a reason the X-Wing fighter is black, but J.J. Abrams wants to keep that a mystery for now. Stealth tech? This is another previously seen shot from the Star Wars Celebration fan event in April.

Director J.J. Abrams and actress Daisy Ridley in a previously released behind-the-scenes shot. Abrams was recruited to join the film when Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy asked him a question about another young Star Wars desert-dweller...

"Chewie, we're home." Entertainment Weekly's Star Wars: The Force Awakens report will include the story of Harrison Ford's emotional first day on set.

For even more behind-the-scenes with Star Wars: The Force Awakens, pick up the new issue of Entertainment Weekly on newsstands or buy it here.

WANT MORE EW? Subscribe now to keep up with the latest in movies, television, music, and more.