THE PEOPLE

Luke Skywalker

Who: Luke is the son of the fallen Jedi Anakin Skywalker/ Darth Vader and Queen Padme Amidala. He was brought up by his step uncle on the planet of Tatooine. He is also a Jedi. Along with his friends and the Rebel Alliance, Luke defeated the evil Galactic Empire 30 years before the events of Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
Played by: Mark Hamill.
When we last saw him: Star Wars: Episode VI — Return of the Jedi.
What we know so far: Nothing. He hasn’t featured in any of the trailers or promos for The Force Awakens.

Fan theories: 
#1 Luke Skywalker is in self-imposed exile to maintain balance in the Force. 
#2 He has gone to the Dark Side and is controlling Kylo Ren, Emperor Palpatine-style. 

FINN

Who: He was a First Order Stormtrooper who defects after he is disillusioned.
Played by: John Boyega.
When we last saw him: Never. He is a new character.
What we know so far: He joins or at least gets associated with the Resistance.

Fan theories: 
#1 He is Lando Calrissian’s son with Leia.
#2 He is Lando’s son but not with Leia.
#3 He is Luke Skywalker’s son.

Leia Organa

Who: Leia Organa is the twin sister of Luke but was brought up by Senator Bail Organa and his wife Breha in the planet of Alderaan. She becomes a leader in the Rebel Alliance against the Galactic Empire. She was romantically involved with Han Solo.
Played by: Carrie Fisher.
When we last saw her: Star Wars: Episode VI — Return of the Jedi.
What we know so far: She is now a general in the Resistance.

Fan theories: 
#1 She married Han Solo and is the mother of Rey and Kylo Ren.
#2 She married Lando Calrissian and is the mother of Finn.

Poe Dameron

Who: The son of Rebel fighters, Poe is commander of the Starfighters of the Resistance. He is an ace pilot and can fly almost anything.
Played by:  Oscar Isaac.
When we last saw him: Never. He is a new character.
What we know so far: He gets captured by the First Order and is tortured by Kylo Ren. 
Fan theory: He will turn to the Dark Side and fight against the Resistance.

Chewbacca

Who: He is a Wookiee warrior from the planet of Kashyyyk; Han Solo’s first mate and best friend. 
Played by: Peter Mayhew.
When we last saw him: Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith (the last film of the prequel trilogy).
What we know so far: He is still Han Solo’s first mate and flying the Millennium Falcon with him.

Han solo

Who: Han Solo is a smuggler from Corellia who captains a ship called the Millennium Falcon. He is a lovable rogue, sarcastic, witty and not entirely altruistic. He does, however, fight on the side of the Rebellion and even leads attacks. He is romantically involved with Leia.
Played by: Harrison Ford. 
When we last saw him: Star Wars: Episode VI — Return of the Jedi.
What we know so far: He is still flying the Millennium Falcon and has Chewbacca as his first mate. He picks up Rey and Finn in the Falcon and maybe he is involved in the fight against the First Order.
Fan theory: Han married Leia and is the father of Rey and Kylo Ren.

Rey

Who: A scavenger living on the planet of Jakku who was abandoned by her parents at a very young age. 
Played by: Daisy Ridley.
When we last saw her: Never. She is new too.
What we know so far: She is a survivor who meets up with Han and Leia and goes up against Kylo Ren.

Fan theories: 
#1 She is the daughter of Han and Leia.
#2 She is Kylo Ren’s twin.

Captain phasma

Who: She is the captain of the First Order’s legions of Stormtroopers. She wears an armour similar to the Stormtroopers but distinctive in that it is completely made of salvaged chromium. 
Played by: Gwendoline Christie.
When we last saw her: Never. She is a new character.
What we know so far: The veteran commander doesn’t like fancy titles or war rooms; she likes to lead from the front.

Fan theory: She is fan-favourite bounty hunter Boba Fett’s daughter.

Kylo ren

Who: He is strong with the dark side of the Force and commands First Order missions.
Played by: Adam Driver.
When we last saw him: Never. He is a new character.
What we know so far: He is a leader of the Knights of Ren, an elite group of soldiers inside the First Order. He uses a unique lightsaber and wants to complete the task Darth Vader had started.

Fan theories: 
#1 He is Leia and Han Solo’s son.
#2 He is Luke Skywalker’s son.
#3 He is Rey’s twin brother.

General hux

Who: A young officer in the First Order, who is ruthless and thorough with his training methods and weapons.
Played by: Domhnall Gleeson.
When we last saw him: Never. He is a new character.
What we know so far: He is Kylo Ren’s rival in the First Order.

Fan theories: 
#1 He is Luke Skywalker’s son.
#2 He is the son of Grand Moff Tarkin.
#3 He is a secret Resistance agent.

THE VEHICLES

Millennium Falcon
A Corellian freighter that Han Solo won in a game of cards. It has been used for smuggling and helping the Rebel Alliance. Han Solo pilots the Falcon with Chewbacca as first mate. It looks dilapidated on the outside but has many secrets inside, and not just smuggling chambers. The different owners have modified its speed, shielding and performance, and it has become a little unpredictable, especially when it comes to the hyperdrive. 

X-WING 
The Incom T-70 X-wing is the latest incarnation of the older Alliance version model. It is faster than the Alliance era T-65 with greater manoeuvrability and power. 

Star destroyer
Star Destroyers were Imperial capital ships armed with turbolasers and tractor beam projecters. The hangar bay in the belly of the ship can launch TIE fighters, boarding crafts, land-assault units and hyperspace probes. It is also used as a hold for captured vehicles. The First Order Star Destroyer apparently has some new modifications.

TIE FIGHTER
The TIE fighter is the most recognisable symbol of the Imperial fleet. The single-pilot vehicles are designed for close fights with X-wings and other Rebel/ Resistance starships. They are usually stationed on battleships or Star Destroyers.

THE DROIDS

bb-8
Who: An astromech droid that ends up with Rey on the planet of Jakku.
When we last saw it: Never. 
It is a new droid.
What we know so far: That it runs with Rey and Finn in Jakku. He is also seen in Poe Dameron’s X-wing, so he could be Poe’s pilot assistance droid and mechanic, just like R2-D2.

r2-d2
Who: An astromech droid who is a skilled starship mechanic and fighter pilot assistance. He served Queen Amidala, Anakin Skywalker and Luke Skywalker. He formed a fast friendship with the droid C-3PO.
When we last saw him: Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith.
What we know so far: Nothing. We saw him with who we think is Luke Skywalker in the first teaser. But we’ve heard nothing since.

C-3PO
Who: A fussy protocol and ettiquette droid created from scraps by Anakin Skywalker.
When we last saw him: Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith. 
What we know so far: He is definitely with the Resistance and has been patched up with a red arm.

THE WEAPONS

Blasters
These are hand-held guns that fire blaster bolts and there are various kinds of blasters, from rifles to pistols. They are used by almost everyone, from Stormtroopers to Rebel warriors and bounty hunters.

Lightsaber
A sword made of pure energy with a metal hilt and a brightly lit blade, the lightsaber is the weapon of the Jedi and the Sith, and can cut through blast doors and people alike. A Jedi can use the Force to deflect laser bolts with their lightsaber.

THE TERMINOLOGY

Force: It is a metaphysical power, an energy field that connects every living being in the galaxy. The Force can be tapped into and used by Force sensitive individuals.

Jedi: Are an ancient, monastic and spiritual organisation who are Force sensitive and who study, serve and use the mystical energy of the Force. 

Sith: The Sith are a group of Force sensitive individuals who study and use the dark side of the Force. They are ancient enemies of the Jedi.

Rebel Alliance: It is the popular way of refering to the Alliance to Restore the Republic formed by Bail Organa and Mon Mothma to oppose the Galactic Empire.

The Galactic Empire: The government that replaced the Galactic Republic after the Clone Wars. It was created by Emperor Palpatine, who was also the Dark Lord of the Sith, called Dark Sidious.

BBY: Before Battle of Yavin, when the first Death Star was destroyed.

ABY: After Battle of Yavin.