Aside from a little-known Marvel sequel called Avengers 4, Star Wars: Episode IX is by far the most secretive Hollywood tentpole currently in production.
That hasn’t stopped curious on-lookers from posting set photos from afar though, with the latest batch revealing John Boyega (Finn), Oscar Isaac (Poe Dameron) and Naomi Ackie’s unnamed character partaking in what appears to be some form of reconnaissance mission for the Resistance, as they begin to mount one final counter-offensive against the invading First Order.
But a new tidbit from Star Wars News Net (usually a sound source for the galaxy’s latest happenings) suggests J.J. Abrams and Chris Terrio actually rewrote Episode IX to accommodate the triumphant return of Billy Dee Williams as Lando Calrissian. We’ll be the first to admit it’s a stretch, but the following timeline does present some food for thought – especially when it comes to Joonas Suotamo (Chewbacca) pulling out of Rose City Comic Con just a few weeks after Williams was cast.
October 18, 2017: Solo: A Star Wars Story wraps production.
February 21, 2018: J. J. Abrams confirms the script for Episode IX was completed, with filming scheduled to begin at the end of July (which eventually became August 1st).
June 15, 2018: Joonas Suotamo is announced to appear at Rose City Comic Con in Portland, Oregon – September 7 – 9, 2018.
June 28, 2018: Billy Dee Williams cancels his commitments to more than one Comic Con (type) event that spanned from early-through-mid-September 2018.
August 1, 2018: Episode IX begins filming.
August 8, 2018: Suotamo cancels his appearance for Rose City Comic Con (a week after filming for Episode IX started) – now scheduled to film added Chewbacca scenes in September after script rewrites.
It’s worth keeping in mind that Suotamo spent the first day of filming inside the Millennium Falcon – Abrams confirmed as much via Twitter, where he also paid tribute to the late, great Carrie Fisher on what would have been her final appearance in the Skywalker Saga.
But what do you make of these findings? Are you convinced that the addition of Lando Calrissian trigged some last-minute tinkering on Star Wars: Episode IX? Do let us know.
