The Star Wars franchise has finally joined Instagram and with it, all of us here in the Teenies. The account was launched fittingly, with a selfie of Darth Vader. This is one of the first steps that Disney is taking to promote Episode VII, slated for a 2015 release. 

By bringing the Star Wars universe to online media, Disney is hoping to introduce the series to a whole new generation of fans. Granted, Darth Vader might not be the most welcoming of characters, but the studio isn’t able to reveal any specific details about the film – props, costumes or sets – just yet.

Filming for Episode VII is set to begin in Spring 2014 and the film’s premiere date is set for December 18 of the following year. In the mean time, the account has already racked up close to 70,000 followers in its first day of existence.

It has also posted a couple of behind-the-scenes shots from previous films and spawned the hashtag #Vadergram, which is probably the single greatest tag on the photo-sharing app. Although it should probably be noted, in the interest of the Sith Lord’s social media presence that it is traditional for a selfie to be taken with a smartphone, not a camera set behind the smartphone.

Darth Vader, Storm Troopers
Off the clock as a Sith Commander, Vader is actually a pretty nice guy.

Meanwhile, Star Wars continues to inspire real-world displays of fan devotion as well. This past Sunday, Washington DC played host to a large-scale Star Wars reenactment by 501st Legion’s Old Line, Tyranus and Carida garrisons — from, respectively, Maryland and the District, Virginia and Pennsylvania. The group of Jedi, Storm Troopers and Sith Warriors, headed, of course, by their very own Vader, were there to promote the Museum of Science Fiction. Oddly enough, the Supreme Commander was once again in high spirits, giving out high-fives and posing with slightly apprehensive children and according to The Washington Post.

JJ Abrams, Star Trek Into Darkness Premiere
Directed by J.J. Abrams, Episode VII will be released in December 2015.