The drum roll leading to the release of "Star Wars: the Force Awakens" intensified when Disney announced it would broadcast a trailer for the hotly anticipated film on Monday.

The trailer will air during ESPN's "Monday Night Football" broadcast, giving millions of viewers a sneak peek, the film company said on Sunday.

Disney announced that tickets for the film will go on sale Monday for showings in theaters across the globe, ahead of its December 18 US release.

It also released a poster depicting characters in the latest installment of the franchise.

The poster features faces new and old: General Hux, a ruthless leader of the First Order played by British actor Domhnall Gleeson, who played Bill Weasley in the last two "Harry Potter" films; Adam Driver ("Girls") as the evil Kylo Ren and old hands Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher as Han Solo and Princess Leia.

This is the seventh installment in the wildly popular space saga. It is directed by JJ Abrams.