A new lightsaber also makes a debut as an ominous cloaked figure marauds through a dark, snow-layered forest setting.
With a fresh outlook, a young, visionary director and the return of its original stars, anticipation has been steadily building ever since wheels started turning on plans to add three further films to the Star Wars galaxy.
The result of an ambitious $4.05 billion buyout that saw Disney acquire complete autonomy over the franchise from LucasFilm in November 2012, the JJ 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 and Marvel 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.
Speaking of his U-turn, he told Entertainment Weekly: "As a kid I was always a fan of special effects. Watching movies I was constantly trying to figure out how they did it, whatever the effect was.
"Star Wars was the first movie that blew my mind in that way. It didn't matter how they did any of it because it was all so overwhelmingly and entirely great."
He added: "It was funny and romantic and scary and compelling and the visual effects just served the characters and story.
"It galvanized for me; not for what was exciting about how movies were made, but rather for what movies were capable of."
A further coup, the return of original cast-members Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher in their respective career-defining roles as Han Solo, Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia further whetted the appetite.
Anthony Daniels (C3PO), Kenny Baker (R2D2) and Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca) were also confirmed, with all three having previously featured in the Lucas directed prequel series depicting the rise of Darth Vader and ultimate fall of the Jedi counsel.
New additions include Oscar Isaac, Andy Serkis, Domnhall Gleeson, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver and legendary Swedish actor Max Van Sydow - best known for his role as Father Lankester Merrin in 1973 shocker The Exorcist.
It has been speculated that British actress Ridley - a virtual unknown whose limited TV credits include a fleeting appearance in Casualty - will play the daughter of Han Solo and Princess Leia after the release of an official cast photograph showed her sat between the two stars during what appeared to be a read-through of the script.
Actress Lupita Nyong'o also signed up for a role in the forthcoming film after winning praise for her Academy Award winning role in 12 Years A Slave, telling fans: "I'm going to a galaxy far, far away."
Meanwhile Girls star Driver hinted that he is poised to play a villain in episode VII after co-star Lena Dunham told him to "rip a hole in da force" in a congratulatory tweet posted shortly after his casting.
Much like the original trilogy, released between 1977 and 1983, the bulk of principal photography took place at Buckinghamshire's Pinewood Studios, with additional location shoots taking place in Ireland and Abu Dhabi - where filming began in June.
The trailer's arrival online comes after a U-turn by Disney which initially announced it would debut the first teaser exclusively in 30 cinemas in America and Canada.
But a storm of interest and complaints from fans prompted the company, which bought Lucasfilm in a deal worth $4.9 billion in 2012, to cave and publish the first look trailer on iTunes and YouTube too.
- Daily Mail with agencies
