
Director JJ Abrams shared incredible pictures from behind-the-scenes of Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens.

The director unveiled the second trailer at an event on Wednesday but also treated fans to an incredible look at what happened on the other side of the camera.

'I was 11 years old when Star Wars come out,' Abrams said.

'That moment transported me. It was the first time a movie made me laugh that way.... the film was brilliant and had such heart and the biggest thing for me was that it had such hope.'

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Behind the scenes: JJ Abrams shared amazing snaps from the set of Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens on Thursday, including this shot with Chewbacca

'The amazing thing is what we are doing now and finishing up the edit of the film... it's an amazing thing to watch the movie and see what it is. We actually had those sets there and it was great for the actors, too,' Abrams said.

'Shooting in Abu Dhabi was an incredible thing, the director went on. 'Shooting Star Wars is a Western and a fairy tale... shooting in Abu Dhabi was just that,'

They then flashed up on the backdrop a scene of the Star wars team in the desert.

'It's a planet called Jakku,' Abrams said, although he didn't elaborate on how the planet's name is in fact spelled. Some fan sites are spelling it Jaku and others Jacoo.

'People thought it was Tatooine, but it was Jakku.'

Ready for action: John Boyega is seen on his mark waiting for Abrams to call 'action' on the location set of the new Star Wars film

And action! Abrams shared pictures of himself at work filming scenes in Abu Dhabi

On location: Daisy Ridley, who revealed during the panel event that her character Rey is 'a scavenger,' is seen preparing for a scene in the desert and getting some instructions from Abrams

The galaxy's top gun: Oscar Isaac wears his flight gear as he gets ready to shoot scenes as X-Wing pilot Poe Dameron

It was announced early on that Harrison Ford would not be a part of the panel discussion.

Abrams told the fans Thursday that the actor 'is at home resting.'

'He's not here today but he's in everyone's thoughts.......By the time the movie opens he will be very actively involved,' the director said.

Although Han Solo couldn't make it, there were still plenty of treats in store for those lucky enough to make it to the celebration.

Second sneak peek: Harrison Ford couldn't attend the event as he continues to recover from his plane crash injuries but as Han Solo, he appeared with Chewbacca in the final frame of the new teaser with what's already become a classic line: 'Chewie, we're home'

Beloved droid R2D2 came on stage much to the fans' delight.

Also on hand were Oliver Steeples and Lee Towersey, two British Star Wars fans and members of the worldwide R2-D2 Builders Club.

The pair are working full-time on astromech building at Pinewood Studios in England part of the creature effects team and they have the key task of making sure that there's a fully-functioning astromech droid available for filming all the time.

Steeples and Towersey talked about working on the droids and share soem behind-the-scenes photos of what they do to keep the droids in working condition.

Next came BB-8, a rolling droid that appeared in the first Star Wars VII trailer, which made noises as it circled R2D2.

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Excitement: Abrams brought on stage R2D2 and the two guys who are responsible for keeping the robot functioning, Oliver Steeples, far left, and next to him Lee Towersey. The two British men are based at London's Pinewood Studios

Hanging with R2D2: Oliver Steeples, shown here in his workshop at Pinewood studios, is one of the people responsible for keeping the droids in working condition during production

Team effort: Steeples, co-worker Lee Towersey and R2D2 are seen visiting with Abrams and producer and LucasFilm President Kathleen Kennedy

This is how we roll: A candid moment on set with droid BB-8 who obviously puts in an appearance on the new planet that's featured in The Force Awakens

Welcome to LA: The new rolling droid BB-8, that appeared in the first Star Wars Episode VII trailer and again in the second teaser released Thursday, also turned up on stage with its pal R2D2

While much of the plot line for Episode VII still remains firmly under wraps, Thursday's event at the Anaheim Convention Center did reveal some of the characters and places that make up the new chapter of Star Wars.

The die hard fans listened in rapt attention as the main actors were brought out onstage and allowed to say a little about who they play.

British actress Daisy Ridley, who it's already known will appear in Episodes VIII and IX, said her character Rey is 'a scavenger and very solitary until she meets another character and that's when the adventure begins.'

When the second teaser trailer was screened, it became clear that that character is Finn, played by John Boyega.

In one scene following a battle, Rey is seen holding out her hand to a winded Finn to help him get up from the ground.

As in the first trailer, Boyega is seen in the new sneak peak wearing a Stormtrooper uniform but he refused to confirm or deny whether he is, in fact, a Stormtrooper.

He did say that his character faces incredible danger and how he decides to react to that threat changes his life forever.

Isaac described his character as 'the best friggin' pilot in the galaxy.'

'He's been sent on a mission by a certain princess and he ends up coming across Mr. John Boyega's character and their fates are forever intertwined.'

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Thrilled to be here: The relatively unknown actors, who play key roles in the new Star Wars chapter, were given a huge welcome by the die-hard fans. It's a clear indication for Oscar Isaac, John Boyega and Daisy Ridley that their lives are not going to be the same after this

The force is with them! Isaac, Ridley and Boyega gave fans a little more of a glimpse into their characters and the roles they play in the story

New look: The Empire's loyal Stormtroopers have been given redesigned armor and an updated look for the next trilogy

Don't forget C-3PO: Anthony Daniels, who gives voice to the droid C-3PO, came on stage along with some of the new-looking Stormtroopers

Fan favorites: Original Star Wars stars Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher received a rapturous welcome and both, or at least their arms, make a brief appearance in the second trailer

The atmosphere at the convention center went through the roof when original Star Wars stars Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher came out on stage.

The reception seemed to quite overwhelm Fisher who was seen wiping away tears from her eyes.

Both Fisher and Hamill appear in Episode VII although Fisher did dispel any thoughts that her Princess Leia might not have changed her hairstyle in the years since the character was last seen.

'The buns are tired now so I don't think we'll have the futuristic buns but we will have an alternate that will not include the metal bikini,' she told the fans.

Hamill took the opportunity to let the fans know just how much their loyalty means to him personally.

'I'm so grateful for your support,' he said. 'I've felt so much love from you. You're more than just fans, you're family.'

Overwhelmed: The roar from fans that greeted her appearance on stage proved just a little too much for Carrie Fisher who seemed overcome with emotion

Back together: Mark Hamill had a ball at the event, thanking everyone for their support and love for him which has stayed strong throughout his adult life and describing the Star Wars team and fans as like family

New droid in town: BB-8 appeared in the first teaser trailer for the film in November and fans were able to get a more measured look at it when it rolled out on stage at Thursday's event

break out star: The official Star Wars Titter account posted this photo with the caption: '..#BB8 was the hero of the day'

The second trailer unveiled at the end of the panel discussion on Thursday included a voiceover from Mark Hamill’s Luke Skywalker that echoed an iconic line from the original trilogy.

In the new footage, Luke’s robotic arm is seen reaching out for R2-D2.

Princess Leia, played of course by Carrie Fisher, also seems to be included as a woman is seen only briefly handling a lightsaber.

The trailer opens on a desert landscape that soon pans across to reveal the wreck of a Star Destroyer.

Then emerging out of the blackness comes the scorched visage of Darth Vader's helmet.

Other shots show new Sith villain Kylo Ren, more of the new look Stromtroopers and a battle between the Millennium Falcon and a TIE Fighter.

Come on board: Abrams and Kennedy appeared to have as much fun taking fans behind the scenes of The Force Awakens as the fans themselves had seeing all the new pictures and video

The gang's all here: Peter Mayhew, who brings Chewbacca to life, also received a huge welcome as he joined Hamill on stage

Building excitement: There's still months to go before Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens will arrive in movie theatres. Fans have to wait until December 18 to see how the story continues

Hints of what's to come: A Star Destroyer is seen crashed on the desert planet of Jakku in the opening seconds of the second trailer for Episode VII

He's back: Darth Vader's scorched helmet is seen in the new teaser

Is that you, Luke: A hooded figure reaches out a robotic arm to touch R2D2

You might need this: An unseen woman hands over a lightsaber to another character

The age old rivalry: Darkness and light battle it out again as The Force Awakens picks up 30 years after The Return Of The Jedi

The first trailer for Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens was released in November and it lasted only 88 seconds.

Opening some 30-years after Return Of The Jedi, the teaser kicked off with Boyega, as Finn, racing across a desert landscape dressed in full Stormtrooper regalia.

A parched, disembodied voice spoke of an 'awakening' and of the dual energies that are 'the dark side... and the light.'

Ridley is then seen driving a hover vehicle towards a desert town, while Isaac is seen as a fighter pilot, looking rather like a young Luke Skywalker when he's headed for the Death Star.

'The best friggin' pilot in the galaxy': Isaac is seen once again in the second trailer as an X-Wing pilot

Into the Star Destroyer: Pilot Poe Dameron is seen flying his fighter into the wreck of the decaying ship that belonged to Darth Vader

Need for speed: Ridley's character of Rey, 'a scavenger' on new planet Jakku, is seen riding a speeder

New acquaintances: Rey offers a hand to Finn, played by Boyega, as they seek to escape an attack

Action-packed: The adventure of Episode VII is guaranteed to keep audiences on the edge of their seats as the Star Wars saga continues

The first trailer also delivered what was initially suggested during the forthcoming film's development - a clear departure from the over-indulgent use of CGI that blighted parts one, two and three of the science fiction saga.

It also confirmed the welcome return of the iconic Millennium Falcon and it is seen dodging laser blasts in a brief battle sequence.

A new lightsaber made its debut as well, complete with a sword-like hilt, while an ominous cloaked figure makes its way through a dark, snow-layered forest setting.

The result of an ambitious $4.05 billion buyout that saw Disney acquire complete autonomy over the franchise from LucasFilm in November 2012, the Abrams directed Star Wars Episode VII is their first offering as they endeavour to build on the universe originally devised by George Lucas in the mid-70s.

The coup followed similar buyouts from Pixar ($7.4bn) and Marvel ($4.2bn) with Disney unveiling plans to release a further three episodic films and an additional stand alone film every two or three years - a reaction to 'pent-up demand' from fans.

With a proven pedigree in TV and film, Lost creator Abrams signed up to direct the first after initially ruling himself out.

Directly responsible for redefining and reinvigorating the Star Trek franchise, Abrams' decision made him the first director to work across two rival universes.

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Mobbed! Abrams signed autographs for fans at the Star Wars celebration at the Anaheim Convention Center following the unveiling of the second trailer for Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens

Everybody loves Chewie: Abrams and Chewbacca found time for a chat on the Cantina set at the convention center