USA TODAY International Edition
10 burning questions for Episode IX
We consider what may be ahead in the universe
Here’s the thing about having the longest Star Wars film ever: There’s a whole bunch of stuff to unpack in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, but we also have a heap of burning questions before J.J. Abrams unleashes Episode IX on us in two years.
From potential romantic partners to characters coming back from the dead, here’s what we want answered.
SPOILER ALERT! We’re discussing the ending of Last Jedi, so beware if you haven’t seen it yet ... THIS IS YOUR FINAL WARNING.
OK, let’s dig in:
1. Was Kylo Ren telling the truth about Rey’s parents?
In the middle of trying to get her to rule the galaxy with him, Kylo tells Rey they both know that her mom and dad were “nobody.” That is a theme in Last Jedi, that anybody can save the universe, so her parents being random junk traders would track.
However, there’s a lot made of bloodlines, especially that of Kylo being from strong Skywalker stock and Snoke pointing out that Rey must be the spawn of strong Jedi. So her being Han and Leia’s lost daughter, Luke Skywalker’s kid or Obi-Wan Kenobi’s granddaughter are all still possibilities.
2. What’s Kylo’s endgame as Supreme Leader?
The former Ben Solo killed Snoke, Force-choked General Hux and is in full control of the First Order — though his maturity level makes it seem like he’s not exactly the best person for that job.
He doesn’t seem that ambitious, either, so what’s his play?
He might try to turn Rey again, but you can bet there’s an epic confrontation coming between those two.
3. Are Rey and Poe Dameron about to hook up?
Forget all that #Reylo stuff — Rey pretty much closed the proverbial cargo bay door on a possible romance with Kylo.
Instead, the end of Last Jedi telegraphs a different coupling with a meetcute between Rey and hotshot pilot Poe Dameron.
It’s obvious they’re going for a Han/ Leia dynamic — she says, “I’m Rey,” and he says, “I know” (which is a little on the nose, but we’ll allow it). Rey could do worse.
4. How will they deal with General Leia’s future?
A prominent role was planned for Carrie Fisher in Episode IX, though her death a year ago creates a new storytelling challenge for Abrams.
Killing off Leia in the opening crawl would be a massive disservice. More respectful would be either killing her offscreen or showing, say, the First Order blowing up her ship. Kylo wouldn’t take a kill shot on his mom in The Last Jedi, and his crew murdering her could add extra drama to his already-rich story.
5. What the heck is up with the rest of the galaxy?
In The Force Awakens, the First Order’s Starkiller Base wiped out five planets that were part of the New Republic.
But instead of checking in with what kind of chaos the galaxy is in, the only real civilization shown in The Last Jedi is the casino city on Canto Bight — mostly made up of war profiteers. And when no allies show up to help when the Resistance sends out a distress call on Crait, Leia remarks that hope is gone in the galaxy.
Sounds like Rey and friends need to be not just a symbolic Resistance but a real Rebellion.
6. Is Captain Phasma really dead?
The female Stormtrooper got out of a trash compactor before Starkiller Base exploded, so falling down a fiery pit shouldn’t be too much of a problem, right? Hopefully, she’ll come back, perhaps burned and with a fury like never before.
7. Will Luke return as a Force Ghost like his mentors?
The old Jedi master facing down his nephew Kylo from afar and then becoming one from the Force seemed pretty final, except for Luke telling Kylo, “See ya around, kid.”
With Fisher now gone, chances could be better for a visit from ghostly Luke to mirror those of ghostly Yoda and ObiWan — either to Kylo or to Rey.
8. Whatever happened to the Knights of Ren?
Rey’s Force dream in Force Awakens showed Kylo’s masked lightsaber gang, and the new film shed some light on who they were: other former students of Luke who went with Kylo when he split from his Jedi uncle.
But we still haven’t seen this mysterious crew in any real way — maybe they reunite with the Supreme Leader as the First Order gains strength.
9. Are the Jedi actually at an end?
While he seemed pretty adamant about it when talking with Rey, Luke tells Kylo before dying that he’s not the last Jedi. That would be Rey, who snagged the original Jedi texts before Luke and Yoda torched the tree on Ahch-To where they were shelved. Maybe she doesn’t jump-start the Jedi Order but creates something new.
10. Are we done with porgs yet?
Right. Like Disney’s going to pass up a chance to sell more toys.
With Luke dead, there’s no reason to go back to Ahch-To, the cute creatures’ home, but Chewbacca has one chosen porg who “co-piloted” the Millennium Falcon during the Battle of Crait, and there was also a nest of them on the ship. May the porg be with us, always.