CHOO CHOO! I am fully aboard the Star Wars hype train at the moment. Not only is The Mandalorian currently blowing off our proverbial socks, but the release of Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order has also reinvigorated the franchise on the gaming side. That’s on top of the craploads of Star Wars: Battlefront II that I’ve also been playing nightly (that game is sooooo good!).
And, of course, we’re now just over three weeks away from the much-anticipated release of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, which has been widely touted as the final instalment in the Skywalker saga that began over 40 years ago. And with that endgame in sight, Disney’s marketing locomotive has seriously picked up steam as well, giving us a bunch of new images, TV spots, and even a cool little featurette over the last few days.
We’ll start with the latter, as during the American Music Awards last night, Disney unveiled a brand new “Special Look” at how Star Wars has impacted pop culture in the four decades since creator George Lucas first introduced us to a galaxy far, far away!
Of course, as much as we look fondly on Star Wars’ past and the impact it’s had, it’s the franchise’s immediate future that has us chomping at the bit. And to that regard, both Empire and EW have recently done cover stories focusing on Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. As part of this coverage, we got a whole batch of new images showing off Rey (Daisy Ridley), Kylo Ren (Adam Driver), Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac), Finn (John Boyega) and much more. The more, in this case, including our first proper look at the mysterious Knights of Ren.
We’ve been hearing about Kylo Ren’s enigmatic acolytes since Star Wars: The Force Awakens. It’s no surprise actually that they are back, seeing as it was JJ Abrams who created them and he’s returning to helm this final instalment after Rian Johnson’s Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Just where were the Knights during the events of that film and what have they been up to? Well, we don’t know. But clearly they have a bigger role to play as we can even briefly glimpse them in action in one of two new TV spots released for The Rise of Skywalker.
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker will be debuting in cinemas on 20 December 2019 which is still about 25 days too far away for me!
Last Updated: November 25, 2019
Admiral Chief
November 25, 2019 at 15:11
Nope, not reading. I need my SW holiday spoiler free
Pariah
November 25, 2019 at 15:16
No spoilers in article, can confirm. Videos are usual trailer stuff.
Admiral Chief
November 25, 2019 at 15:47
That’s bait
Son of Banana Jim
November 25, 2019 at 16:06
Kervyn would never post spoilers. He’s classy like that.
Hammersteyn
November 25, 2019 at 15:16
meh, the magic is gone
Son of Banana Jim
November 25, 2019 at 15:22
It’s dead, Jim….
Admiral Chief
November 25, 2019 at 15:34
Jimception
Gerhard
November 25, 2019 at 16:01
Just awesome! Cannot wait.
Son of Banana Jim
November 25, 2019 at 14:57
Lol, they’re trying so hard to get people interested and so far it’s failed miserably, even among my friends and family, no one wants to see episode 9.
I have never seen anything like it. These are people who grew up with Star Wars. I remember watching the original Star Wars movies (and Willow – now that’s a holiday movie) every year at my uncle’s house. He has sworn that he won’t watch the new movie. I’ve even tried to convince him to watch the Mandalorian…. But he’s seemingly done with it…quite sad really…
Fortunately the Mandalorian is freaking awesome. I just wish the episodes were longer. But, I can’t say anything bad about it. You can tell Filloni and Favreau respect the lore and are legitimate fans.
But, if the recent leaks are true, Jar Jar may have surpassed Rian Johnson in creating the worst Star Wars movie ever. I look forward to December… Muahahahahahah.
thatotherbrandon
November 25, 2019 at 14:57
Well done, you’ve managed to gauge the level of the entire world’s interest in a Star Wars movie just based on talking to your friends and family.
Son of Banana Jim
November 25, 2019 at 15:11
I’d say they’re fairly representative of the fandom, but sure it’s anecdotal. Now, I’m sure you’re going to provide us with a poll, right?
Hammersteyn
November 25, 2019 at 15:16
I hope it’s a Twitter poll.
Son of Banana Jim
November 25, 2019 at 15:17
Oh my…
Pariah
November 25, 2019 at 15:17
Some people just want to watch the world burn…
Son of Banana Jim
November 25, 2019 at 15:16
But, even with last jedi there was a buzz. People were talking about it at work. There was a level of excitement that you could literally feel in the air. Even if you didn’t like Rey’s first outing, you were keen to see where it would go in the second one.
And then the last jedi dropped. For the briefest moments, there was silence and then like an overflowing sewer the vitriol spilled forth…
And now, not even normies care. I’m sure it’ll still make a billion, but if it’s worse than Last Jedi, then we’ll at least have a reprieve from crappy Disney Star Wars movies.
Hammersteyn
November 25, 2019 at 15:16
https://media1.giphy.com/media/8YQWt6TpuFIJO/giphy.gif
Pariah
November 25, 2019 at 15:16
To quote Star Wars itself:
“I felt a great disturbance in the Force, as if millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced. I fear something terrible has happened.”
For the Emperor!
November 25, 2019 at 15:17
If the last one was a meh movie, it would have been different perhaps. In my opinion it jumped from sublime to WTF-trash between scenes…was so disappointed in how they wasted Finn ?
Son of Banana Jim
November 25, 2019 at 15:17
And Finn had the most potential to be an awesome character, and then they made him the funny imperial janitor. F THAT!
Hammersteyn
November 25, 2019 at 15:17
I’m still dissapointed with how Ackbar and Luke died.
Pariah
November 25, 2019 at 15:22
You know, still the only scene I remember from the whole of that movie was the scene with Luke outside that ice cave and Kylo ordering an all-out attack on him.
Literally the only scene I remember.
Hammersteyn
November 25, 2019 at 15:22
It was awesome, like something Neo could do against the machines….. then we learn it was just a hologram.
Pariah
November 25, 2019 at 15:22
Yeah… Just, the Skywalker saga needs to end. And it will, soon. But it needs to be done already so that Disney can move on to better stories.
And maybe pick better directors.
Hammersteyn
November 25, 2019 at 15:22
https://www.superherohype.com/movies/472176-kathleen-kennedy-claims-star-wars-films-have-no-source-material
https://global-uploads.webflow.com/5c4a30834e3cbf8d8d44d1ec/5c7ac44f31c360e8b535f3b6_Star%20Wars%20books%202.jpg
Pariah
November 25, 2019 at 15:34
Yeah. Pick directors who have a shelf like that in their home.
Son of Banana Jim
November 25, 2019 at 17:31
But Kathleen Kennedy said that there was no material to draw from…. Surely, Kray-Kray Kay Kay wouldn’t dare lie to us, the burnt-out fans of a once great franchise?
Hammersteyn
November 26, 2019 at 08:00
Horse blinders
Son of Banana Jim
November 26, 2019 at 09:10
Are you saying she has a long face…. ? Neeeeiiigghhhhh
Son of Banana Jim
November 25, 2019 at 15:41
Watch the Mandalorian – Favreau and Filoni are the guys who will save Star Wars. By rights, Disney should just remake episodes 7,8 and 9 and allow the Marvel and Pixar dream team to create a REAL Star Wars trilogy.
Pariah
November 25, 2019 at 16:00
I will probably at some point. But since I’m not a fan of alternate methods of acquisition, it’ll be a while until I watch it.
Son of Banana Jim
November 25, 2019 at 16:06
i can respect that… sailing the seven seas isn’t a victimless crime. 🙁 But rest assured, that there is at least one Disney Star Wars creation that’s not utter trash. At least we can say that…
It’s not much, but it brings a tear to my eye, and a warmness in my heart, the likes I haven’t felt since playing Gears of War 5 for the first time.
Original Heretic
November 25, 2019 at 16:12
And it’s also a REAL Mandalorian, not stupid Fett.
Son of Banana Jim
November 25, 2019 at 16:12
Yeah, a REAL Mandalorian, and not some stupid clone boy!
Son of Banana Jim
November 25, 2019 at 15:22
Dude… ACKBAR DESERVED BETTER!!!
Hammersteyn
November 25, 2019 at 15:22
$50 says if you shout Ackbar at Rian Johnson he’ll think it’s a suicide bomber attack
For the Emperor!
November 25, 2019 at 15:34
I actually likes the Luke twist. Ackbar going out like a punk was bad ?
Son of Banana Jim
November 25, 2019 at 15:17
Something terrible did happen, and it was a round-headed buffoon called Rian Johnson (although the copy-and-paste master, Jar Jar Abrams should shoulder the blame too)
For the Emperor!
November 25, 2019 at 15:16
I actually forgot it is coming…I only remember for a day or two after CH has an article ?
Pariah
November 25, 2019 at 15:17
You are not alone in that, lol.
Son of Banana Jim
November 25, 2019 at 15:22
Don’t worry CH and other sites will do a blitz campaign for the next month. At the end of December we’ll be begging for it all to be over….
Pariah
November 25, 2019 at 15:22
Really? Not the end of November?
Son of Banana Jim
November 25, 2019 at 15:22
It will only end when we’re dead inside… Mere thralls for Disney
Pariah
November 25, 2019 at 15:22
What if, like me, you’re already dead inside?
Son of Banana Jim
November 25, 2019 at 15:22
Then, you will be left alone to repopulate the world…
Pariah
November 25, 2019 at 15:34
Now that’s just crazy talk… Repopulate? Noooooo thank you.
I’ll just take the alone bit.
Wait… I may have already… Possibly… A bit.
Original Heretic
November 25, 2019 at 16:12
Yup, overexposure of note.
G8crasha
November 26, 2019 at 07:39
I’m pretty excited for it, primarily to close off the Skywalker saga, and wait in anticipation for what comes next. The movies at least need to wind down regarding Skywalker, and start creating new stories for the next generation of Star Wars fans. There is still a ton of lore that can be expanded upon.