‘Star Wars: Episode IX’ finally has a name as ‘The Rise of Skywalker’ will land in theaters this December with a familiar face from the past returning…
At the end of ‘Star Wars: Return of the Jedi’, we saw Darth Vader finally make his transformation back into Anakin Skywalker as he tossed his master Emperor Palpatine down into an energy pit where he presumably died. Anakin would perish not long after but he went in peace knowing that he saved his son Luke and daughter Leia from the wrath of the Sith lord.
Now 36 years later it appears rumors of Palpatine’s death have been greatly exaggerated.
On Friday, the first trailer for ‘Star Wars: Episode IX’ finally debuted at the ‘Star Wars Celebration’ in Chicago along with the title of the third film in the new trilogy being revealed — ‘The Rise of Skywalker’.
The ominous title echoes the video that debuted on Friday as director J.J. Abrams gave a first look at the film that will close out the latest ‘Star Wars’ saga that he helped launch with ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’.
In the trailer, Rey is once again standing alone in a desert, much the way she was in the first trailer for ‘The Force Awakens’ and soon we hear Luke Skywalker’s voice speaking out.
“We’ve passed on all we know. The thousand generations live in you now. But this is your fight. We’ll always be with you.”
Rey isn’t just standing alone in the desert, however, as she soon turns on her lightsaber and then begins running as an TIE fighter comes roaring towards her as she leaps out of the way just before it hits her. The TIE fighter is presumably being flown by Kylo Ren, who we soon see fighting his way through a forest with his lightsaber.
We then see a pair of hands welding Kylo Ren’s mask back together after he destroyed it in ‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’ and it appears he’s finally ready to embrace his dark side again.
We also get a glimpse of a returning Lando Calrissian, who is flying in the Millennium Falcon alongside Chewbacca.
There’s also a brief look at Leia embracing Rey as the great Carrie Fisher makes one last appearance in the final ‘Star Wars’ film for this trilogy.
One of the final shots of the trailer finds Rey, Poe Dameron and Finn on a planet where the stare out at some wreckage that appears to be from the Death Star or perhaps some remnants of the old Empire. That’s when Luke’s voice utters the final words ‘no one’s really gone’ and an evil laugh echoes over the last screens that reveal the title of the film.
That laugh belongs to none other than Ian McDiarmid, who portrayed the evil Emperor Palpatine numerous times in the past including ‘Return of the Jedi’ as well as the ‘Star Wars’ prequels. Following the conclusion of the trailer as the lights came up in the theater, McDiarmid was standing there with a loud ovation from the crowd and in his best voice as Darth Sidious he said ‘roll it again’ before leaving the stage.
His appearance confirms that Emperor Palpatine aka Darth Sidious will be returning for ‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’.
Check out the trailer along with McDiarmid’s appearance in the video below from ‘Star Wars: Celebration’. ‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’ lands in theaters on December 20.
