Best of Summer 2019: Dark Rey in new Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Teaser
*As summer draws to a close, we’re looking back at some of our favorite interviews and stories.
This weekend Disney gave revealed a lot at their D23 Expo. The first trailer and a bunch of images from the first live-action Star Wars series, The Mandalorian. We also got a look at the new poster for J.J. Abrams’ upcoming Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. We weren’t sure if we were going to get any new footage from the film, but then word spread from Anaheim that Abrams was on hand to reveal a “Special Look” teaser that did, indeed, include new footage. We were hoping that would be released online and voila, it was released online! So now we’re sharing the “Special Look” teaser with you, which gives us a ton to think about, especially that shot of Rey at the end.
The new teaser opens with one of the most iconic shots in Star Wars history; the double suns of Tatooine, Luke Skywalker’s home planet. Then we see Luke himself, followed by Obi-Wan, the Millennium Falcon, Leia, Han, C-3P0, and R2-D2—we’re revisiting some of the most iconic moments from the original trilogy. You’ve got Han kissing Leia moments before he’s frozen in carbonite, Luke facing off against Darth Vader, Yoda using the Force to lift Luke’s X-Wing, and the climactic starship battles in Return of the Jedi, all leading to Luke’s voiceover in the first Rise of Skywalker trailer. “We’ve passed on all we know,” Luke says, “a thousand generations live in you now…but this is your fight.” This is when the new footage begins.
The new teaser includes roughly 45-seconds of new material and one absolute money shot at the end. That shot—of a darkly hooded figure with a double red lightsaber—is classic J.J. Abrams. You take one look at this figure and think “Sith Lord,” until the reveal of who it is. It’s likely a misdirection, but whatever the case, it’s intriguing.
Check out the teaser here. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker hits theaters on December 20, 2019.
Featured image: Rey (Daisy Ridley) in STAR WARS: EPISODE IX. Courtesy Lucasfilm/Walt Disney Studios
