STAR POWER!
Everything we know about the final instalment of the most celebrated film franchise in history
For fans of the franchise, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, the ninth and final episode of the Skywalker saga, represents the end of an era after more than 40 years spent in a galaxy far, far away.
But before the end credits roll, there’s a lot to cover, so here’s a quick catch up before the movie hits the big screen.
WHERE WE LEFT OFF
The Rise Of Skywalker is the third instalment of the Star Wars sequel trilogy, following
The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi, at the end of which we saw fan favourite Luke Skywalker, played by Mark Hamill, die in a sacrifice to save the Resistance.
The Rise Of Skywalker picks up one year later, with Rey ( Daisy Ridley) now the best hope for the Resistance against the First Order, commanded by the possibly evil, but potentially salvageable Kylo Ren (Adam Driver).
WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR
DREAM TEAM: REY
& KYLO REN
Despite their apparent differences, we finally get to see Rey and Kylo Ren team up. Although he’s from the Dark Side, Kylo has been flirting with returning to the Light Side for some time. A scene from the final trailer shows Kylo and Rey destroying Darth Vader’s mask together. But we also see them locked in a vicious lightsaber battle, so how their story will end remains a mystery.
PALPATINE IS BACK!
“Long have I waited, and now your coming together is your undoing,” Emperor Palpatine, returned from the dead, groans. It’s long been suspected that the final chapter would see the return of Palpatine and the final film trailer confirmed he’s back – with a vengeance.
LONG LIVE PRINCESS LEIA
The untimely death of Star Wars legend Carrie Fisher in 2016 left many fans fearing
that her character Princess Leia would be killed off and never seen again. However, the iconic character returns for The Rise Of Skywalker, using unreleased footage from the previous two films. A fitting end for an actress and character who have given the Star Wars universe so much.
WHO WILL DIE?
The last two films in the sequel trilogy have featured highprofile deaths. In The Force Awakens, we lost Han Solo (Harrison Ford), then in The Last Jedi it was Luke’s turn to tap out. So it’s a safe bet that we’ll farewell another familiar face by the end of The Rise of Skywalker. The smart money is on C-3PO. In the trailer, we hear the lovable robot offer what sounds like a goodbye. “Taking one last look at my friends,” C-3PO says.