With a strong panel at Star Wars Celebration focusing on Episode IX, the hourlong event ended with the debut of the first teaser for the film along with the reveal of the title – Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. The panel was a delight as it focused on most of the main cast that was there along with Billy Dee Williams coming back as Lando Calrissian. Hosted by Stephen Colbert, it focused initially on J.J. Abrams and Kathleen Kennedy before bringing out the two actors from the original trilogy with Williams and Anthony Daniels. It then rolled out a few droids, including a new one, and the current trilogy cast that included the new addition of Naomi Ackie, giving us an introduction to her – and the question of her relation to Lando, to which she had the best response with “Lando likely has children all over the galaxy!”
The debut of the trailer, which I was thrilled to be able to experience with my 80-year-old mother, took us both back to foundational parts of my childhood that she shared with me – and to see her utter delight with the laugh that comes with it and what it represents.
The film is set for a December 19th, 2019 premiere with J.J. Abrams directing based on the script he co-wrote with Chris Terrio. The cast includes Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver as Kylo Ren, John Boyega as Finn, Oscar Isaac as Poe Dameron, Lupita Nyong’o as Maz Kanata, Domhnall Gleeson as General Hux, Kelly Marie Tran as Rose Tico, Joonas Suotamo as Chewbacca, Billie Lourd as Lieutenant Connix, Naomi Ackie, Richard E. Grant, Keri Russell, Matt Smith, Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker, Anthony Daniels as C-3PO, Billy Dee Williams, as Lando Calrissian, Carrie Fisher.
Plot Concept: Every generation has a legend.