‘Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker’ Footage Teases A Dark Turn And A New Lightsaber For Rey [D23]
EveryStar Warsfilm – yes, even theStar Wars Holiday Special– has been leading to this moment.Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalkerwill usher in the end of the Skywalker Saga, concluding what George Lucas started in 1977.The Force AwakensdirectorJ.J. Abramsreturns to close things out, with new generation starsDaisy Ridley,Adam Driver,John BoyegaandOscar Isaacall bringing their characters' stories to a close. Also back: the lateCarrie Fisher, who will appear here through unused footage from the previous twoStar Warsfilms.
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalkerfootage was revealed at D23, and our own Peter Sciretta was there. Needless to say, what they showed to the audience was pretty mind-blowing. Here’s what you need to know.
The panel began with Lucasfilm presidentKathleen Kennedyand director J.J. Abrams taking the stage with cast members Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac,Kelly Marie Tran,Joonas Suotamo, Naomi Ackie, Keri Russell, andBilly Dee Williams.
Before any footage was even shown, some photos of new characters debuted. A shot of Keri Russell’s characterZorri Bliss, a scoundrel who hangs out in the darker corners of the universe, showed off more of her gold and red armor, this time with a blaster drawn and looking like a badass. We also learned that Zorri has a history with Poe Dameron, though we’re not sure if it’s professional or romantic, or if that history creates a good or tense relationship between the two.
But it’s the footage that brings the biggest reveals of The D23 Expo presentation forThe Rise of Skywalker. This was footage that was shown exclusively to the crowd in attendance at the panel, so you won’t see this anywhere online. But we have a description of what was briefly shown.
The footage begins with a sort of nostalgic sizzle reel featuring iconic shots of Luke Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Princess Leia fromStar Wars: A New Hope. It cycles through some big moments from the rest of the trilogy, including the final shot ofThe Empire Strikes Back, Yoda lifting the X-wing out of the swamp, Lando Calrissian, and even some prequel shots make it in like Darth Maul igniting his double-bladed lightsaber.
After a montage of some footage fromThe Force AwakensandThe Last Jedi, there’s a new shot of the new trilogy heroes overlooking the desert civilization that wasglimpsed in the teaser trailerand the Vanity Fair photoshoot.
One shot has Rey throwing her lightsaber and then pulling it back to her with the Force. An intimidating shot of what appeared to be dozens of Star Destroyers in space is truly awesome. C-3PO appears with red eyes for some reason. A Rebel fleet exits hyperspace, red lasers blast towards the surface of a planet. And finally, Rey and Kylo Ren are seen fighting on the wreckage of the Death Star with water crashing around them.
But the money shot cam at the end with Rey, wearing a dark side style hooded cloak, igniting a red double-bladed lightsaber. But this one is different from Darth Maul’s in that the handle somehow folds in the middle and transitions from being a single blade to the double blade mode. The Emperor could be heard saying, “Your journey nears its end” during this scene.
We’re not sure what this means for the future of Rey, but that’s likely the idea. More than likely this is some kind of vision of what Rey could become rather than what she will be, and that’s just the thing that J.J. Abrams would show fans to get them speculating like crazy without really telling us anything about how this final chapter will play out. But it does tell us that it’s going to places we never expected.
Star Wars: The Rise of SkywalkeropensDecember 20, 2019.
J.J. Abrams returns to direct the final installment of the Skywalker saga. Abrams co-wrote the screenplay with Chris Terrio.
Returning cast members include Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Domhnall Gleeson, Kelly Marie Tran, Joonas Suotamo, and Billie Lourd. Joining the cast of Episode IX are Naomi Ackie, Keri Russell and Richard E. Grant, who will be joined by veteranStar Warsactors Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, and Billy Dee Williams, who will reprise his role as Lando Calrissian.
The role of Leia Organa will once again be played by Carrie Fisher, using previously unreleased footage shot forStar Wars: The Force Awakens. “We desperately loved Carrie Fisher,” says Abrams. “Finding a truly satisfying conclusion to the Skywalker saga without her eluded us. We were never going to recast, or use a CG character. With the support and blessing from her daughter, Billie, we have found a way to honor Carrie’s legacy and role as Leia in Episode IX by using unseen footage we shot together in Episode VII.”
