Sci Fi fans, cinema afficionados and closet geeks alike were all left quivering last night after the release of a new trailer for the most anticpated film of the year: Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

After two previous teasers, which gave fans a snippet of the characters and universe of the new installment, hype levels reached crtitical mass last night when director JJ Abrams posted this message on twitter before the trailer's debut on ESPN's Monday Night Football programme.

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The trailer introduces us to new faces Rey and Finn, played by Daisy Ridley and John Boyega and the film's villainous antagonist Kylo Ren, played by former Girls actor Adam Driver; as well as old faces like Harrison Ford's Hans Solo and possibly a glimpse at the return of Darth Vader.

The film will premiere in LA on 17 December, before being released in the UK and Australia the next day. 

Tickets for the opening day went on sale yesterday, with cinema websites crashing due to the demand, so make sure you're quick if you want to catch it early!