FINAL EPISODE ENDS IN TEARS FOR ACTRESS
The Rise of Skywalker actress Daisy Ridley tells of sadness filming last scenes of epic sci-fi series that has captivated fans for more than 40 years
IT SEEMS right that on her very last day on the set of the very last Star Wars movie, Daisy Ridley felt the full force of history and couldn’t stop crying.
Fans have already wept buckets over the trailer for The Rise of Skywalker and are likely to be inconsolable when the ninth movie – the end of the trilogy of trilogies is released in cinemas next month.
Daisy, 27, was a virtual unknown until she played Rey in 2015’s sequel trilogy, The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi in 2017 and The Rise of Skywalker this year.
Of her last day on set, she admitted: “It was really sad. I cried... a lot.
“After my last shot, I was just wailing so much that I can’t remember what I, JJ (director JJ Abrams) or anyone else said. It was a little bit embarrassing actually, although I was so tired.
“I don’t think I could have filmed another day. I’m still a little sad now to think we won’t all be doing this again but I’m mostly excited for everyone to see the film. Once it’s out, then I’ll be, ‘Oh my God, it’s gone. No, come back.’
“It’s a strange mix of emotions but nothing ever really ends.”
George Lucas created the sci-fi epic in the 70s with the original film – later subtitled A New Hope – being released in 1977. It made stars of Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker, Harrison Ford as Han Solo and Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia. Follow-up The Empire Strikes Back was released in 1980 and Return of the Jedi in 1983.
A prequel trilogy starring Ewan McGregor as a young Obi-Wan Kenobi – The Phantom Menace in 1999, Attack of the Clones in 2002 and 2005’s Revenge of the Sith – was slammed by fans.
The final trilogy – sequels to the original three have resurrected the world’s love for the franchise and the characters. Despite the death of Carrie Fisher, she will appear posthumously in The Rise of Skywalker using eight minutes of unused footage from the
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She said: “I feel like I couldn’t have done anything more so it’s genuinely satisfying.
“There were scenes where I was just so excited to film them. I think everyone will be very satisfied with how it all ends. It feels wonderful to be part of something that ties up not only this trilogy so well but 42 years of Stars Wars films.”
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She was 21 (“just a baby”) when she made The Force Awakens and has since become globally famous. She loves the reaction she gets from fans.
Daisy said: “It’s a lot of wonderful energy. I love Ariana Grande so I’m like, ‘This is what it must feel like to be Ariana Grande.’ Although it’s not really because she does it all by herself.”
Wherever she goes at the moment, people want to know what happens in the film. Old favourites like Han Solo and Luke Skywalker (in physical form at least), Princess Leia actress Carrie Fisher too, have been lost along the way but the latest Star Wars saga has seen Daisy as orphaned scavenger-turned-Jedi Rey emerge as a hero for a new generation.
Of course there are Death Star levels of security surrounding The Rise of Skywalker and the endings were changed by Abrams while the film was being made.
Daisy said: “JJ told me what was going to happen but then he changed his mind and told me something else.
“So the script for this film was always shifting and developing but for the most part I knew what was going to happen, yes.”
Under possible pain of death, the cast and crew are keeping mum about what happens.
But fans have pored over the trailers and already know that the Emperor (Vader’s boss, last seen in Return of the Jedi) is back, Rey is more powerful than ever and she at least flirts with the dark side – red lightsaber and all.
She grinned: “I know there have been a lot of conversations about that – I still can’t actually believe they showed it in the trailer – but it’s fun to have a big moment like that as part of the build-up to the film coming out. I can’t say how long it lasts or where Rey ends up but it did feel really good. It was fun to play and it will be very fun to watch. That’s all I can reveal.”
Luke Skywalker was also tempted by the dark side and Daisy reckons it’s a human condition. “Everybody has a dark side,” she said. “It’s weirdly fantastical but also human to see someone battling with inner demons.”
As well as battling the dark side, fans have always been fascinated by Rey’s relationship with Kylo Ren, played by Adam Driver. He is the son of Leia and Solo – and murdered his dad in The Force Awakens. He is now the First Order’s supreme leader.
The actress isn’t sure he could be redeemed.
“He has done some pretty bad stuff and killed a lot of people so I’m not sure an apology will be enough,” she laughed. “The question is, will actions speak louder than words? It’s a good question and one that is posed by this film. I will say that I think people will definitely enjoy where our characters go in this one.”
While at the end of the last film Ren
told Rey her parents were junk traders and she was a “nobody”, fans have been interested in her fighting style. It is similar to Emperor Palpatine (played by Scots actor Ian McDiarmid) and have speculated he will resurrect himself after his death at the hands of Darth Vader in Return of the Jedi.
The Emperor’s evil laugh can be heard in April’s first Rise of Skywalker trailer when Rey comes across the wreckage of Death Star II where he supposedly died.
Daisy said: “He’s the biggest baddie in Star Wars history. He’s instrumental to the plot of the film. It’s not just like he appears again – it’s all explained.”
Maybe that’s why when asked what three words would best describe The Rise of Skywalker, Daisy chooses: “Unexpected, intense and satisfying.” ●Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker hits cinemas on December 19.