The Star Wars: Episode IX rumor mill has been running at full speed over the last couple of months, with everything from the return of Ewan McGregor’s Obi-Wan Kenobi to Ed Harris playing a younger version of Supreme Leader Snoke being thrown around. If even half of these predictions turn out to be true, then we’re in for an incredibly exciting trilogy-capper, making it all too appropriate that one recent rumor is that the upcoming blockbuster may actually be split into two parts.
Another possibility to add to this rapidly growing list is that our old friend Darth Vader will be referenced in the J.J. Abrams-helmed sequel. We’ve heard in that past that the film might be revisiting Mustafar, which houses the villain’s castle, and now, speculation is mounting that this is indeed a location we’ll be traveling to.
The folks over at Express tell us that a huge set is being built in the hangars at RAF Cardington Sheds in Bedfordshire, England, which will be used for helicopter shot scenes that are being filmed over Mount Etna. For those unfamiliar, Etna was used as the backdrop for Mustafar in Revenge of the Sith. And so, if you put two and two together, it seems likely this “huge set” is Vader’s castle. That being said, Express can’t confirm it just yet, though they do note that what’s being constructed certainly resembles the building.
Take this all with a pinch of salt for now, but it’s worth remembering what we mentioned above – that Revenge of the Sith shot on location in Sicily all those years ago – while also noting that Rogue One: A Star Wars Story swung by Mustafar in order to give Vader the introduction he deserves.
Speaking of Lucasfilm’s first Anthology flick, there’ve even been suggestions that Episode IX will harken back to Rogue One and Jedha, in particular, which was one of the planets targeted by Krennic while powering up the Death Star. File that one in the rumor cabinet, though, as the Powers That Be have been pretty vigilant about keeping any and all spoiler-sensitive material out of the public eye… so far.
Star Wars: Episode IX closes the book on Lucasfilm’s Skywalker Saga on December 20th, 2019.