New Star Wars: The Force Awakens trailer to drop tonight following poster, new teasers and advance tickets

UK cinema tickets went on sale at 8am today

The Star Wars: Force Awakens hype train is now at full speed, with new teasers arriving this week along with the official poster, while a lengthy new trailer is expected to debut tonight during ESPN’s Monday Night Football.

Star Wars and Walt Disney Studios both tweeted out 16-second clips, the former’s seeing Oscar Isaac’s Poe Dameron giving John Boyega’s Finn a pat on the back as he disembarks his X-Wing, the latter teasing Daisy Ridley’s Rey character and seeing Dameron look ominously up into the sky.

A third teaser popped up on YouTube meanwhile, featuring the seemingly made-for-merchandising BB-8 droid.

TOMORROW #TheForceAwakens https://t.co/GcFzg2MiPr

— Walt Disney Studios (@DisneyStudios) October 18, 2015

(Disney)

The official poster for the sequel was revealed over the weekend, which echoed the iconic ones for the original three movies, seeing most of the main characters (Luke Skywalker was conspicuous in his absence) laid over one another against a starry galaxy.

Another full-length trailer arrives on US TV tonight (and YouTube shortly after), no doubt drip-feeding us a few new details on the film’s plot.

Despite its release being two months away still, Odeon cinemas starting selling tickets for JJ Abrams' sequel this morning.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens opens in cinemas on 17 December (UK) and 18 December (US).