Star Wars Celebration 2019: Episode 9 is Titled The Rise of Skywalker
Check out the new teaser below!
Apr 18, 2019By: Noah Friscopp
The saga that began in 1977 is about to come to an end with Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Director J.J. Abrams, who led the first of the new films The Force Awakens is closing out the nine movie storyline started by George Lucas all those years ago. During Celebration 2019, the first teaser trailer and details were revealed by Disney and Lucasfilm.
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Teaser
Rey with Luke Skywalker’s blue lightsaberCourtesy of Lucasfilm Ltd.
“...but this is your fight.”
After the end of The Last Jedi, the small group of Resistance members that remain are all finally together for one final journey. The film takes place a while after the end of Last Jedi, with Rey (Daisy Ridley), Finn (John Boyega), Poe (Oscar Issac) and others tasked with a new mission presumably relating to the late Emperor Palpatine (Ian Mcdiarmid) who is confirmed to return in some way in this movie. Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) has taken over the First Order and has seemingly fully embraced the dark side of the force, but it remains to be seen how his previous master Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) will appear and whether or not Kylo will remain loyal to his dark side or join the light. Luke will most likely return as a force ghost like Obi-Wan and Yoda before him, but anything is possible. Whatever happens, the film should be quite the exciting ride for longtime fans and newcomers as well.
The gang’s all hereCourtesy of Lucasfilm Ltd.
The End of a Saga
It is not surprising that Disney is keeping the majority of the story points a secret. We should expect at least one longer trailer sometime this summer, but hopefully, it won’t show too much. With 2019 being the 42nd anniversary of George Lucas’ first Star Wars film, and episode 9 marking the end of the planned saga of three trilogies, J.J. Abrams and crew have a huge task wrapping up decades of storytelling.
“You can’t assume anyone has sat and watched eight movies before this one, and yet I want a kid to be able to watch Episodes I through IX and see that one story.” -J.J. Abrams said to IGN.
Carrie Fisher’s General Leia embracing ReyCourtesy of Lucasfilm Ltd.
The task of creating an ending that will respect the series’ history and be an entertaining movie on its own could not have been an easy task for the filmmaker, but I have faith. Simply judging from the trailer, I appreciate how little similarities Rise of Skywalker has to Return of the Jedi. Unfortunately, the other two films relied heavily on reusing bits and pieces of A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back, some larger than others. The appearance of a truly all-new story is great news for fans hoping for a change, and I can’t think of a better way to end the tale imagined by George Lucas all those years ago.
BB-8 is back, of courseCourtesy of Lucasfilm Ltd.
“How you doin’, you old pirate?”
Bar none my favorite part of the trailer was seeing Lando Calrissian (Billy Dee Wiliams) back in the pilot's seat of the Millennium Falcon. He was strangely absent for the other films in the sequel trilogy, but better late than never. Williams has always loved his iconic role, even voicing the character in the recent video game Battlefront 2 where the rest of the cast was absent. I cannot think of anyone better to inherit the Falcon. You can’t help but love Billy Dee’s genuine smile, you know he had to have had a great time on set. Actor/director/comedian/musician/DJ extraordinaire Donald Glover played the character in last year’s Solo: A Star Wars story, but having Williams back just feels right.
Billy Dee Williams reprising his role as Lando Calrissian (probably) one last timeCourtesy of Lucasfilm Ltd.
“No One’s Ever Really Gone…”
The biggest surprise with this movie is the confirmation that Ian Mcdiarmid’s dark lord of the Sith Emperor Palpatine is set to return. What this means for the characters and the direction of the story could only have a big impact, he is arguably the most important character in the franchise. Palpatine has had his devious hands in nearly every major event in the films. Ian first played the character in 1983’s The Return of the Jedi and returned for each of the prequel films The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones, and Revenge of the Sith. He is no doubt a fan favorite character, and it will be very interesting to see just exactly what his role in the story will be. It is certainly what I am looking forward to most to discovering this December. Lucasfilm’s president Kathleen Kennedy told Yahoo Entertainment that:
“This has been in the blueprint for a long time, yeah. We had not landed on exactly how we might do that, but yes, it was always [to be in Episode IX],”
Emperor Palpatine from Return of the Jedi
However the story ends up unfolding, I am glad that are getting it. Star Wars was always meant to be the story of three generations, and one worthy of being completed.
See The Rise of Skywalker in theatres December 20th, 2019.
Courtesy of Lucasfilm Ltd.
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What did you think of the teaser? Do you think Kylo Ren will turn to the light side or stay in the dark? Let us know what you think below.
