Slowly but surely, Disney is beginning to peel back the many layers of Star Wars: The Last Jedi.
Just yesterday, for instance, we caught wind of new character details relating to Kylo Ren and Poe Dameron, who will seemingly strike fear in both the First Order and the Resistance come December. As for Adam Driver’s budding Sith, there have been rumblings that his ongoing pursuit of the dark side isn’t enough to impress Supreme Leader Snoke, leaving Andy Serkis’ disfigured mega-villain with little choice but to mold Rey into his newfound disciple.
At least, that’s the big ‘what if?’ currently doing the rounds online, though without any official word from Lucasfilm, those questions will likely linger around right up until December 15th. For now, though, eagle-eyed Star Wars fans have unearthed a host of character bios that were originally published through Disney’s Japanese arm. The English translations are a little rough around the edges, but they still offer up some fascinating clues regarding The Last Jedi‘s key players.
Finn: Finn, a former operative of the First Order, previously dedicated himself to the cause of fighting for the Resistance continues the fight. Now, he’s at a crossroads over his role in the war.
Poe: Now that the conflict between the First Order and the Resistance has escalated into total war, Poe is a shining as a leader of a courageous flying battalion. But while he is brave and a skilled pilot, both the First Order and the Resistance alike are starting to fear his dedication to the war effort.
BB-8: A cute ball-shaped droid faithful to Poe Dameron who provided data key to finding Luke Skywalker.
General Leia Organa: Leia Organa, whose son betrayed her and fell to the Dark Side, is leading the struggling Resistance fleet. General Leia takes advantage of her decades of experience in order to halt the First Order’s advances.
C-3PO: The ever-worrying protocol droid C-3PO is more anxious than ever with the threat of the First Order on the horizon, but he continues to serve General Leia Organa faithfully.
Maz Kanata: After Maz lost her castle, she has been forced to take a more active role and take advantage of her ties to the criminal underworld. She will provide crucial assistance to the Resistance in their fight against First Order, making use of every connection she has.
On the other side of the Force, below you’ll find new intel pertaining to Kylo Ren’s moral dilemma, Snoke’s mission, and Captain Phasma’s “private grudge,” which is surely a not-so-subtle nod to the Chrometrooper’s disdain for FN-2187, the former-operative-turned-Resistance-fighter now known as Finn.
Kylo Ren: Humiliated by his defeat at Rey’s hands, Kylo Ren redoubles his efforts to crush the Resistance. However, although his powers in the Dark Side continue to increase, it is still not enough to impress his shadowy mentor – First Order Supreme Leader Snoke.
Supreme Leader Snoke: Snoke, the shadowy leader of the First Order, finally emerges from the shadows to lead the First Order to victory after the destruction of Starkiller Base.
General Armitage Hux: Although Starkiller Base has been destroyed, the New Republic’s leadership was eradicated by the superweapon’s only firing at Hux’s command. From the bridge of the Finalizer, Hux issues commands to pursue the Resistance.
Captain Phasma: Captain Phasma, known for her characteristic metallic armor, escaped from Starkiller Base shortly before it was destroyed. Taking command of the Stormtrooper Corps, Phasma is determined to destroy the Resistance and settle a private grudge.
Rey: Rey, now aware of the awakening power of the Force, travels to the hidden world of Ahch-To. She is looking for Luke Skywalker, who is the last Jedi Master in the Galaxy and the last hope for the Resistance. Rey was hoping to find a legendary hero – she instead found a man who disagrees with her expectations.
Jedi Master Luke Skywalker: After his attempt to rebuild the Jedi Order was ruined, Luke Skywalker disappeared from the Galaxy in search of answers, leading him to the planet Ahch-To. Though he seems intent to live out a modest lifestyle away from the war, the Resistance needs the hero who defeated Darth Vader to stand a chance against the First Order.
Chewbacca: Millennium Falcon co-pilot Chewbacca, a faithful navigator, is now accompanying Rey on her quest to find Luke Skywalker.
Following the back-to-back success of The Force Awakens and Rogue One, Disney and Rian Johnson will launch Star Wars: The Last Jedi into theaters on December 15th. It’s currently tracking for a massive opening weekend ($215 million), even if it’s poised to fall just short of J.J. Abrams’ franchise reboot.