Well hello there, beautiful.
Hark! Is that the sound of lightsabers I hear? Yes, the first trailer for Star Wars: The Last Jedi has finally arrived. During the panel at this year’s 40th Anniversary Star Wars Celebration, President of Lucasfilm Kathleen Kennedy, director Rian Johnson, and cast members of The Last Jedi revealed the first footage of the new film. For those familiar and unfamiliar with Johnson, the director of Looper, this entry of the new series might be most anticipated of them all.
Thanks to some toy reveals earlier this year, we know that Rey, Finn, and Poe will be back in action. It also stands to reason that Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) will play a much more prominent role in the story going forward, at least that is what Kennedy said during the The Last Jedi panel. While not too much of the actual story has been revealed Daisy Ridley, who plays Rey, shared what it might be like for Rey to finally meet the iconic Jedi. Ridley said of the plot, “We go deeper into Rey’s story … Rey has a certain expectation of what she might get from Luke and what that might entail. It’s difficult when you meet your heroes because it might not be what you expect.”
Before we go deep into what the trailer has shown us, a new member of the Resistance was introduced during the panel.
Actress Kelly Marie Tran was brought out on stage and was able to talk about her character, Rose, who will be a vital part of The Last Jedi story. Johnson said that her character has the “biggest new role” in the story. Right now she is simply known as a mechanic, but we can’t wait to see how she’ll fit into the universe.
Here is the new trailer for Star Wars: The Last Jedi
The trailer wastes no time getting right back to where Rey and Luke were when we left them at the end of The Force Awakens.
Luke: “Breathe, just breathe.” He is likely having Rey begin her training, but he might also be breaking the fourth wall telling Star Wars fans to breathe.
Luke: “Now reach out.” Here is Rey using some Force abilities in order to raise the rocks.
One thing that is extremely noticable from the trailer is the contrasting images of the Light Side and the Dark Side. Here we have shot of General Leia (the late Carrie Fisher) and what is possibly the destroyed Kylo Ren mask. It is a very similar image to what was used to show the Darth Vader mask in The Force Awakens trailer.
These are probably the two most puzzling images in the trailer. What exactly could they be eluding towards? Is that the voice of Yoda in the trailer? Regardless it looks as though they will once again be trying to find a balance to the force and perhaps that means a new society, one that doesn’t include the Jedi code.
Easily the best shot in the trailer. Johnson has cinematographer Steve Yedlin (Looper, San Andreas) capturing the film for him and this a stunner. It also reminds me a bit of the Highlander training sequence, but that’s not a bad thing.
It is nice to know that Star Wars: The Last Jedi will be hitting theaters this Christmas.
Next we have another great action shot. This looks like new units from the Empire because of the red smoke, but since they are heading toward what look like AT-AT in the distance could they be a new rebel fleet? That would also help to explain the ship that looks like it is crashing.
So like we mentioned at the top, Finn (John Boyega) is still alive for The Last Jedi, but exactly what shape he will be in is another story all together. This looks like some kind of transport unit that is moving him to another location.
Poe (Oscar Issac) and BB-8 are back as well. The Empire is attacking a Rebel base and Poe’s ship is no more.
The Millennium Falcon is still around as well. After the dramatic finale of The Force Awakens, it will be intriguing to find out who exactly is flying the Falcon now or whether Chewbacca is just flying solo.
Here is that light and dark imagery once again. Back to back shots of Rey and Kylo Ren (Adam Driver).
Perhaps the most significant shot in the entire trailer. We have what we assume is Luke Skywalker and R2-D2 looking upon a destroyed Jedi temple. Is this the doing of Kylo Ren? Where exactly was Luke that he wasn’t there for this? We have questions that need answers.
Captain Phasma (Gwendoline Christie) is back as well. Nothing to really go on here except her return.
SPACE COMBAT! Two action shots of some classic Star Wars space combat. Thankfully the lasers here have the appropriate colors, as opposed to a certain Blu-ray release that got the colors wrong.
Luke: “It’s time for the Jedi to end.” What exactly does Luke mean here!? Well like I said earlier I propose that he means a new order needs to rise up from the ashes of the Jedi. He can’t possibly mean there can be no more Jedi period can he? Maybe he says this before he starts training Rey and then he is convinced otherwise? I guess we will find out more answers this Christmas.
Star Wars: The Last Jedi will open in theaters December 15, 2017.
Related Topics: Star Wars, Trailers
