"Star Wars: The Last Jedi" Preview

By Mason Masotta; For the Clock

On December 15, 2017

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"Star Wars: The Last Jedi" Preview

Mason Masotta

For the Clock

mtmasotta@plymouth.edu

One of the largest franchises in the world will return to the big screen in the newest chapter of “Star Wars,” with the upcoming film “The Last Jedi.” The film, directed by Rian Johnson, is set for wide release on December 15.

Picking up where “The Force Awakens” left off, “The Last Jedi” will follow new Jedi, Rey, beginning her training with the now reclusive Luke Skywalker (played once more by Mark Hamill). He has gone into hiding after former nephew and protégé Ben Solo (now known as Kylo Ren) left the Order behind in favor of the Dark Side.

There is a barrage of questions up in the air going into this film, even for the most dedicated of fans. Who are Rey’s parents? Why did Kylo Ren join the Dark Side? What is Supreme Leader Snoke’s endgame? Will this film just be a rehashing of “The Empire Strikes Back”?

With so much hype to live up to, it will be difficult for the film to be able to cover that much ground. It has already been confirmed that the runtime will be just at two and a half hours, making it the longest film in the franchise’s almost forty-year history.

Daisy Ridley returns as Rey, the film’s protagonist, playing opposite of “Star Wars” legend Mark Hamill. It has been 34 years since audiences have seen Luke Skywalker in action, and early looks from the trailers indicate a very different Jedi master than we have seen before.

Others returning for the new era are John Boyega as Finn and Oscar Isaac as Poe. In the most recent “Star Wars” installment, the two took a backseat in terms of backstories and character development, but look to be focal points for the upcoming movie.

The real wild card in the mix seems as though it will come from Andy Serkis’ character Supreme Leader Snoke. Having barely made an appearance in the last film, theories have been swirling over the real identity and motivations of Snoke in establishing the new Empire, The First Order.

With this legendary series building more and more questions about the fate of the galaxy, this year’s newest addition to the “Star Wars” mythos will be essential viewing for any sci-fi fan.