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‘Last Jedi’ trailer expands on the mythology

- Brian Truitt @briantruit­t USA TODAY

“I only know one truth: It’s time for the Jedi to end.”

That’s a pretty charged statement to make in front of a packed house of Star Wars nerds. But after his non-speaking appearance in Star Wars:

The Force Awakens, Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) has some pretty deep stuff to say in the first teaser trailer for the next episode in the saga, The Last

Jedi (in theaters Dec. 15). He looks to be the Yoda to Daisy Ridley’s Rey, though the old Jedi master doesn’t seem as in love with the Force as he once was. Or is he?

“I thought that was a really good starting point just to let everyone know this might not end up being what you expect,” writer/director Rian Johnson told USA TODAY after unveiling the trailer Friday at Star Wars Celebratio­n.

The Last Jedi picks up where Force Awakens left off, with Rey going to see Luke on an island.

Former Stormtroop­er Finn (John Boyega) remains in a medical tank following a battle with Kylo Ren (Adam Driver). Meanwhile, X-wing pilot Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) and his droid BB-8 are scrambling to their ship as the Resistance is attacked by the First Order.

The trailer offers a glimpse of a burning building and hints at what happened between Luke and nephew Ben that resulted in the Jedi master becoming a recluse and his prodigy adopting the name Kylo and joining the Dark Side. But the focus is largely on Rey, as she figures out how to harness the Force.

“All the directions it could go in are very exciting, and the one it ends up going in is really cool,” Ridley says.

Is it time for the Jedi to end? Nope. Sorry, Luke, but we’re down for more.

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