A Reel Review: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER Teaser

On this day, the eyes of the galaxy turned to Chicago, Illinois…where Disney unveiled to anxious fans the long-guarded title and long-awaited first footage of the 9^thepisode in the STAR WARS saga. The event was Star Wars Celebration, and the special panel which was streamed live on the internet was hosted by Stephen Colbert, and attended by director J.J. Abrams, LucasFilm President Kathleen Kennedy, and key members of the cast…along with a massive crowd of enthusiastic and emotional STAR WARS fans…representing the best in fandom and showing that the franchise is alive and well. There were no major spoilers given out during the panel, and the highlight was the debut of the first teaser which ended with that elusive title…which we now know to be THE RISE OF SKYWALKER. 

Here are the highlights from the teaser. 

It opens with this stunning shot of Rey, played by Daisy Ridley, alone in a desert with what seems like Luke’s re-forged lightsaber…which was in pieces at the end of the last film, THE LAST JEDI. This beautiful looking setting, filmed in Jordan, has Rey on foot in a showdown with who we assume to be Kylo Ren (Adam Driver), in his TIE fighter. The scene is very reminiscent of the classic film NORTH BY NORTHWEST (1959), and it ends with Rey pulling off one hell of a move. 

Then we have Kylo Ren up to no good…

Our beloved BB-8 with new droid/character, D.O. 

Billy Dee Williams reprises his role as Lando Calrissian for the first time since RETURN OF THE JEDI in 1983. Here we see him back in the cockpit of the fastest hunk of junk the galaxy…and really enjoying it. And as a sidenote, he seems to be back in the outfit his younger self wore in SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY (2018). 

Rey and General Leia sharing a moment. J.J. Abrams said during the panel that deleted scenes from THE FORCE AWAKENS (2015) are being recycled to give the late, great Carrie Fisher a proper role and sendoff. 

Some of the primary cast all together. Rey, Finn (John Boyega), Poe (Oscar Isaac), Threepio (Anthony Daniels), and Chewbacca (Joonas Suotamo). Abrams said during the panel that the group shares the adventure this time, as opposed to them all being split up in the previous films. 

Throughout the trailer, we have a voiceover from Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), telling (presumably) Rey that we’ve passed on all we know, and this is your fight. And in the end, he repeats his line from THE LAST JEDI; no one’s ever really gone. This is followed by a familiar, and sinister laugh we have not heard in a long time. 

That led to the reveal of the title, and those of us who were watching the live panel were then greeted by Ian McDiarmid, who played Emperor Palpatine in the original trilogy and the Prequels, who said in his old sinister voice; roll it again! 

*

What does it all mean? That old laugh and McDiarmid’s presence at the panel all but confirms that the Emperor has some role to play in EPISODE IX. The title of THE RISE OF SKYWALKER may seem like it refers to one person, but this Blogger believes that refers to Luke’s legacy. OR, remember that little kid at the end of THE LAST JEDI, and how Luke said it was time for the Jedi to end? That could be the key; there are no more Jedi...there are Skywalkers. But the best part about the title is that this is the first time the famed Skywalker name has been used in a title…and in the long term that gives it a new, lasting identity. For now, this was an amazingly jaw-dropping beginning for the end. 

**

STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER arrives December 20^th, 2019. 

Watch the teaser HERE