Harrison Ford, who plays space smuggler Han Solo, last appeared in a Star Wars movie more than 30 years ago when Return of the Jedi was released in 1983.
The footage from Episode VII was included in a trailer shown at an official fan convention in California.
The Force Awakens is set for release on December 18 and is the first in a new series of the sci-fi franchise.
The event was also streamed live on the internet.
Harrison Ford, 72, is still recovering after crashing his plane onto a golf course and was unable to attend the Star Wars Celebration in Anaheim.
Original trilogy actors Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher, who also return after three decades as Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia in The Force Awakens, were on stage to answer fans’ questions.
Mark Hamill paid tribute to the franchise’s supporters.
“Over the years, all my entire life, I’ve felt such love from you,” he told the thousands in the audience.
“You’re more than just fans. You’re family.”
Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher were joined by other cast members, including Daisy Ridley and John Boyega.
The relatively unknown Daisy Ridley, speaking for the first time about her role in Star Wars as a scavenger called Rey, described her as “very solitary until she meets another character and an adventure begins”.
She added: “[I] cannot wait to show you guys what we’ve done.”
John Boyega said he was excited but also nervous.
“I was scared to tell my parents that I’d got the part of Finn”, he admitted.
He added he had only told them once the official casting announcement had been made.
Director JJ Abrams was also on the special panel which launched the four-day Star Wars Celebration in Anaheim.
Three Indian nationals have been arrested and charged over the killing of Sikh separatist leader…
President Joe Biden has urged pro-Palestinian protesters on university campuses to uphold the rule of…
Blue Ivy Carter has joined the voice cast of The Lion King prequel Mufasa: The…
At least five people, including a four-month-old baby, have been killed after dozens of tornadoes…
Harvey Weinstein has been hospitalized just days after his 2020 rape conviction in New York…
Hamas has published a video showing the first proof of life of US and Israeli…