The Rebel Alliance brought down the Empire at the end of Return of the Jedi, but as yesterday’s new Star Wars: The Force Awakens trailer showed, the Empire hasn’t really disappeared. There are still stormtroopers and TIE fighters. They’ve just gone through a bit of a rebranding campaign.

Steve went through the prop room at Star Wars celebration yesterday, and noticed that different props adhered to two factions. The stormtroopers are now referred to as being part of the “First Order”, so that’s the new face of the Empire, and a great name. It’s got a great ring of menacing propaganda to it.

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Over on the other side, you’ve now got the “Resistance”, and while that’s pretty much the same name as “Rebels” (perhaps maybe a slight step down), it’s serviceable.

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Other than new names, I’m curious to learn the other differences between the past and present opponents. Does the First Order have a single leader? Does the Resistance have the same organizational structure as the Rebel Alliance? How much was really accomplished at the end of Return of the Jedi? We'll find out when Star Wars: The Force Awakens opens on December 18th.

For more from yesterday’s Star Wars Celebration, click on the links below:

Here’s the official rundown for Star Wars: The Force Awakens:

Star Wars: The Force Awakens, opens in theaters December 18, 2015. Star Wars: The Force Awakens is directed by J.J. Abrams from a screenplay by Lawrence Kasdan & Abrams, and features a cast including actors John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Andy Serkis, Academy Award winner Lupita Nyong’o, Gwendoline Christie, Crystal Clarke, Pip Andersen, Domhnall Gleeson, and Max von Sydow. They will join the original stars of the saga, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew, and Kenny Baker. The film is being produced by Kathleen Kennedy, J.J. Abrams, and Bryan Burk, and John Williams returns as the composer. Star Wars: The Force Awakens is Episode VII in the Star Wars Saga

Peruse our recent Star Wars coverage below:

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