Poster release, 'sneak peek' for new Star Wars: The Force Awakens

The poster for Star Wars: The Force Awakens features faces new and old. PHOTO: DISNEY

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The drum roll leading to the release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens intensified when Disney announced it would broadcast a trailer for the hotly anticipated film on Monday.

The trailer will air during ESPN's Monday Night Football broadcast, giving millions of viewers a sneak peek, the film company said on Sunday.

Disney announced that tickets for the film will go on sale Monday for showings in theatres across the globe, ahead of its Dec 18 US release.

It also released a poster depicting characters in the latest instalment of the franchise.

The poster features faces new and old: General Hux, a ruthless leader of the First Order played by British actor Domhnall Gleeson, who played Bill Weasley in the last two Harry Potter films; Adam Driver (Girls) as the evil Kylo Ren and old hands Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher as Han Solo and Princess Leia.

This is the seventh installment in the wildly popular space saga. It is directed by JJ Abrams.

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