Star Wars: Diversity awakened

L to R: John Boyega and Daisy Ridley star in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Photo / AP

A heroine steps up to the plate in the latest in the franchise

The ritzy premiere for The Force Awakens was packed to the gills with the creme de la creme of New Zealand dude royalty.

Greg Murphy was relaxing at the bar, Stephen Donald was scoffing a mini hot-dog and Jeremy Wells had his cap on backwards next to some stormtroopers. I was reminded of a recent interview with director JJ Abrams on Good Morning America where he stated bluntly that "Star Wars was always a boys' thing".

As I mentioned in my column last week, he was referring to the franchise's enormous bro-club vibe. Few female characters of any substance feature across the six films that preceded The Force Awakens.

I found it odd, watching a world where George Lucas could imagine 100 million different types of goopy space monsters, but could only manage to manifest two women who speak. And a handful of people of colour. For a galaxy far, far away, it seemed chock-a-block with the same problems we have down here on Earth.

Thankfully, it's 2015 and times have changed. With JJ Abrams at the helm, it feels as if a concerted effort has been made to throw open the doors of the Millennium Falcon to one and all.

There's the headstrong heroine, Rey, a scavenger who fends for herself without the assistance of anyone, let alone a man.

On first meeting the other central lead, Fin (John Boyega), who would traditionally be the rescuer of this damsel in distress, she completely pummels traditional gender roles into the sand. Literally.

Fin tries to grab her as they run for their lives and she constantly shakes him off like an annoying bug. "I know how to run without you holding my hand," she spits.

Not to give away the plot, their relationship seems to develop into one of respect, although Fin seems constantly surprised at Rey's wide-ranging technical abilities, often far superior to her male counterparts.

There seemed to be a resistance to adding a romantic element, at least for now, which keeps the story focused on Rey being a heroine, rather than a trophy or a conquest.

Unlike in many of the earlier films, the Bechdel test is passed in the first act as Rey meets a fantastic new character in 1000-year-old newt-looking creature Maz, voiced by Lupita Nyong'o.

An older figure, her bug-eyed wisdom seems to take the place of Yoda, yet another woman slotting into an authoritative role in less than 12 parsecs.

Anyone who has seen the trailers will know Princess Leia is back, too - now a general. "To me, she's royalty," says Han Solo admiringly, echoing my feelings for Carrie Fisher.

I am glossing over a few more details here, but let's just say there is another groundbreaking female character, one never before seen in Star Wars history.

The Force takes on an important role as an equalising tool. Harnessing the power of the mind, the Force doesn't discriminate based on our preconceived ideas of what an "action star" might look like.

Heroes don't need to be as tall and strong as Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson any more. If Yoda, who is basically a brussel sprout in a dressing gown, can throw a starfighter to Timbuktu there's no reason a woman can't either. Or even throw further.

Talking about representation may seem trivial, but I always return to the mantra in popular culture that "you can't be what you can't see".

Visibility for women and people of colour remains a work in progress in blockbuster franchises, but The Force Awakens suggests that something has, indeed, awakened.

After watching the film we wandered through the toy shop next to the cinema, and it made my heart sing to see people snapping up giant Rey action figures.

If little girls walk out of The Force Awakens feeling they could conquer the universe, that is one very powerful force indeed.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens is in cinemas now.