Filmmaker Rian Johnson and Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy took the stage at Star Wars Celebration Friday, along with host Josh Gad, to give fans their first look at The Last Jedi, the anticipated next installment in the Star Wars saga. The first trailer for the film was screened, which simultaneously broke the internet. But there was even more…
What did we learn in The Last Jedi panel at Star Wars Celebration?
Meet Rose. Kelly Marie Tran was introduced to fans as Rose, a brand new character we’ll meet in The Last Jedi. We didn’t learn much, but we know she’s a maintenance worker for the Resistance. And Kelly Marie Tran is adorable.
Rey and Luke – it’s complicated. Daisy Ridley told fans that Rey’s encounter with Luke Skywalker doesn’t exactly go as she’d hoped. “It isn’t always what you expect when you meet your heroes,” she told fans. And it’s clear from watching the trailer that Luke has some very specific ideas about the future of the Jedi that Rey may not agree with.
Carrie Fisher’s still amazing. Rian Johnson paid homage to Carrie Fisher, saying that he formed a special connection to her as a writer. “I went to her house and we sat on her bed for hours going over the script,” he said. “I’d just scribble all over my script, and after six hours we’d distil it down to this amazing line of dialogue.”
The First Order is back with a vengeance, according to Johnson. The destruction of the Republic home planet has thrown the galaxy into chaos and Kylo Ren, General Hux, Captain Phasma are wasting no time taking advantage.
Finn is back in action, but he’s still on a personal journey, says John Boyega. “He has to decide if he’s going to stay with the Resistance, or keep running from The First Order,” Boyega told the audience.
Mark Hamill said that to some extent it isn’t really Luke’s story anymore, referring to the new heroes of the saga. But Kathleen Kennedy chimed in to reassure fans saying, “He’s so significantly important to this film.”
Star Wars: The Last Jedi hits theaters on December 15.
