Vanity Fair has released a few new images from the set of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, and they are chock-full of spoilery things! J.J. Abrams upcoming final installment in the “Skywalker Saga” has started its promotional campaign, and with that leads us to even more questions. As well as providing official looks at characters like Zorri Bliss (Keri Russell) and Allegiant General Pryde (Richard E. Grant), we also get to see the Knights of Ren, an epic lightsaber battle, and what appears to be a very unexpected return.
New aliens will be in the film with the debut of the the Aki-Aki, natives of the planet Pasaana. This shot was taken from the filming in Jordan, where locals donned the makeup for the new aliens.
Keri Russell’s character’s name is Zorri Bliss. Apparently, she’s pictured her in the Thieves’ Quarter of a snow-dusted planet known as Kijimi.
We finally learn who Richard E. Grant’s character will be in the film. He will be playing Allegiant General Pryde and he’s pictured here on the bridge of Kylo Ren’s Star Destroyer. What role he will play in the movie remains to be seen.
Director J.J. Abrams can be seen here alongside Stunt Coordinator Eunice Huthart with the Knights of Ren. First teased in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, they were nowhere to be seen in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, but will play some sort of role in this movie.
Finn is pictured here alongside his new ally Jannah (Naomi Ackie). They’re sitting atop Orbaks and in the magazine’s cover story, the actress is quoted as saying, “It’s extremely surreal to be in it and see how it works from the inside.”
Billy Dee Williams is back in the franchise, reprising his role as Lando Calrissian. He looks extremely comfortable in the pilot’s chair of the Millennium Falcon. Here he is seen with Poe Dameron, Chewbacca, BB-8 and the new droid Dio.
The image above gives us a look a the master composer John Williams during a scoring session for the film. As you can see, they are working on a scene in the film that involves General Leia.
The image above gives us a look at director J.J. Abrams giving Rey (Daisy Ridley) a few tips for the scene they are currently filming. It sort of looks like the first seen we see in the trailer, with her looking off in the distance at the approaching TIE-Fighter.
Finally, the granddaddy of the all! Luke Skywalker is back! Or is he? Is this some scene which hasn’t added the Force ghost illuminations yet? It certainly looks like a final scene, and if it is, does this mean he is back? Only time will tell!
About Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker:
The cast includes Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Domhnall Gleeson, Kelly Marie Tran, Joonas Suotamo, and Billie Lourd. Joining the cast of Episode IX are Naomi Ackie, Richard E. Grant, and Keri Russell, who will be joined by veteran Star Wars actors Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, Carrie Fisher and Billy Dee Williams, who will reprise his role as Lando Calrissian.
Star Wars: Episode IX will be produced by Kathleen Kennedy, J.J. Abrams, and Michelle Rejwan, and executive produced by Callum Greene and Jason McGatlin. The crew includes Dan Mindel (Director of Photography), Rick Carter and Kevin Jenkins (Co-Production Designers), Michael Kaplan (Costume Designer), Neal Scanlan (Creature and Droid FX), Maryann Brandon and Stefan Grube (Editors), Roger Guyett (VFX Supervisor), Tommy Gormley (1st AD), and Victoria Mahoney (2nd Unit Director).
Release is scheduled for December 2019.
