It’s now been over four months since the first teaser for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker dropped online, and it could still be another month or two before another proper trailer comes our way. But for those itching for some fresh material from J.J. Abrams’ upcoming flick, this new promo – which contains a mix of footage from past films in the series along with a number of new clips from Episode IX – should hold you over for a little while longer.
Of course, the big selling point for this year’s release is that it’s the supposed final chapter of the Skywalker Saga, though as it stands, the only official Skywalker confirmed to make an appearance is Luke, and even he’s only expected to show up as a Force ghost or in flashback.
With that in mind, there’s been much speculation that the film’s title may be referring to another secret Skywalker. And while Rey and Kylo Ren have frequently been suggested as candidates, an alternative theory that’s been gaining momentum is that the Skywalker in question is actually a new order that will “Rise” as a successor to the Jedi.
In any case, Abrams’ film will see the return of quite a few Original Trilogy stars, including Mark Hamill as Luke, Billy Dee Williams as Lando Calrissian, and Ian McDiarmid as Emperor Palpatine. Leia Organa, meanwhile, appears via unused footage of Carrie Fisher from the sets of The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi.
And then, of course, you have the Sequel Trilogy regulars, including Daisy Ridley as Rey (who seems to be taking a turn to the Dark Side here), Adam Driver as Kylo Ren, and John Boyega as Finn. Add it all together, and it looks like Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker will have a lot of character arcs to tie up, but we’ll find out if Abrams can pull it off when the film hits theaters on December 20th.
