Just as predicted, the first trailer for Star Wars: Episode IX is finally here, teasing the concluding chapter in the decades-spanning Skywalker saga.
Aside from the upcoming Avengers: Endgame, it’s hard to think of a recent movie that’s been shrouded in this much secrecy, with Lucasfilm going to great lengths to ensure that very little about the plot or character arcs leaks out ahead of time. And this first teaser trailer doesn’t do a lot to change that, only giving us the briefest of hints at what may occur and what lies ahead. Though it’s probably safe to say that at this point, fans will take whatever they can get, and the footage that’s on offer here is certainly tantalizing.
While the internet still has many months to scrutinize what we see above, one of the biggest reveals of the trailer is the film’s official title. Ladies and gentleman, mark your calendars for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. It’s a curious moniker, it must be said, not least because the series currently contains no living characters who bear the Skywalker name.
Then again, Mark Hamill is already confirmed to reprise his role as the saga’s most famous Jedi, because as Luke himself states, “No one’s ever really gone.” And speaking of which, perhaps the most surprising twist of the new teaser is its suggestion of a late villain returning. Is that a familiar laugh we can hear in the trailer’s closing seconds?
That moment alone leaves us with many questions that will surely be answered when Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker hits theaters on December 20th. But in the meantime, stay tuned for further updates from this year’s Star Wars Celebration, which will continue into the weekend.