There is a lot riding on “Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker” when it drops in theaters on Dec. 20.
Not only will the film leave a lasting aftertaste in the mouths of fans as it regards the “Skywalker saga,” it will create a “vibe” surrounding future “Star Wars” efforts by Disney.
There was significant hand wringing surrounding 2017’s “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” (read my review) and 2018’s “Solo: A Star Wars Story” (read my review).
This year’s D23 Expo revealed a number of interesting “Star Wars” nuggets. Most notable was the new programming on Disney+ — “The Mandalorian” series set to debut on Nov. 12 and an upcoming series on Obi-Wan Kenobi starring Ewan McGregor.
Despite the fact that Disney’s new streaming service appeared to take center stage, the theatrical universe wasn’t left out of the festivities.
While Disney didn’t unveil a new trailer for Episode IX (last April’s teaser is still the only official trailer), we did get what they refer to as a “special look”:
Let’s take a look at some of the images presented.
First off, there are several scenes from the previous eight chapters in the “Skywalker Saga.”
This was shown to an auditorium of fans at the D23 Expo, so it’s not surprising that they’d stoke the nostalgia flames.
The footage for “The Rise of Skywalker” (which starts at roughly the 1:14 mark) features Rey, Finn, Poe, and Chewbacca looking out at some desert festival. I don’t know what planet this is supposed to be, nor do I know what is being celebrated.
Next we have a brief shot of Leia. I didn’t include the image. Per writer/director J.J. Abrams they wove unused footage from “The Force Awakens” into Episode IX.
Then we get a shot of Resistance (maybe Rebel?) ships coming out of hyperspace. We see X-Wings, a Blockade Runner, Y-Wings, B-Wings, A-Wings, and another ship in the right of the frame I can’t identify.
Then we get a couple cool shots of rows and rows of Star Destroyers. Are we to assume they’re First Order ships?
Or, do they signal the Emperor and Darth Vader have returned from some sort of netherworld for a galactic showdown? (A guy can dream, right?)
There is an image of Finn in the cockpit of a ship with a new character, Jannah. Not sure if she might be related to Finn, or to Lando Calrissian (who appears for the first time in this trilogy).
We see C-3PO with “red” eyes. The droid had a red arm in “The Force Awakens” so I guess the oddities continue.
For some reason, I feel like I remember a Kenner “Star Wars” toy back in the 1970s that featured our favorite protocol droid with red-jeweled eyes. But a cursory Google search seems to indicate “no.”
We then see some sort of laser bombarding a planet, and then things shift to Rey wielding her lightsaber in a forested area. It looks like she’s training. She’s also got some sort of red ribbon on her hand.
Kylo Ren is seen clomping away from his TIE Interceptor-looking ship.
From there we see Rey and Kylo dueling on top of what could be the remnants of the Death Star from “Star Wars: Return of the Jedi.” Hard to say for sure. Let's just hope we get an epic lightsaber battle this time out.
Emperor Palpatine has a voiceover during those two shots where he intones, “Your journey nears its end.” We also hear the sounds of Darth Vader’s respirator.
By the way, Disney revealed a new one-sheet poster for “The Rise of Skywalker” at the D23 Expo that is inspired by this sequence. It's a lovely poster (I especially love the image of Palpatine in the background):
Then — just in time for Halloween costumes across the globe — we get the damn money shot!!
Rey looks like she’s gone all Sith, wearing a dark cloak and brandishing a dual-blade red lightsaber.
The entire “Dark Rey” image could be a misdirect. Maybe she’s dreaming. Maybe it’s a vision. Maybe it’s a clone.
That's pretty much where the trailer leaves us. We get the title card and that's it.
That's pretty much where the trailer leaves us. We get the title card and that's it.
The Rey character is one of my favorites, but her development was honestly lacking in “The Force Awakens” and “The Last Jedi.”
In order to craft a satisfying conclusion, Abrams & Co. are going to have to come up with a finale that is both epic in scope, and brings the saga to a satisfying conclusion.
Moviegoers saw such a film when “Avengers: Endgame” was released this summer. The question is whether Lucasfilm can create a movie that strikes a similar chord.
Maybe that’s asking the impossible.
That said, the filmmakers behind “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” need to finish strong. This new trilogy has to rise beyond being a “merchandising play” and show fans something that will give the story legs into the future.
So far, the images we’ve seen from “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” look promising. Let’s hope the film holds true to that promise.
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