It’s hard to believe that it’s only been a few weeks since the release of Star Wars: The Last Jedi, a movie that busted up the box office and has kept fans in heated debate ever since. Yet there's another Star Wars movie on the horizon (just months away!) and it's time it got everyone's full attention. Before that happens, though, there are a few bits of lingering Last Jedi business that need to be addressed. Read on.
The Last Jedi Adds Some More Material (But Not Onscreen)
The Source: An official announcement from Lucasfilm
Probability of Accuracy: It’s totally legit.
The Real Deal: So apparently, there was more to Star Wars: The Last Jedi than appeared onscreen—but fortunately for fans, it's not going to remain a secret. Writer/director Rian Johnson is working with novelist Jason Fry to create all-new scenes for the book’s forthcoming novelization, as well as rescuing deleted scenes from the cutting room floor, to firmly place them in the canon. Amongst the things audiences didn’t see in theaters but will read about: Han Solo’s funeral. Prepare your tissues for March 6; you'll get to read all about it then.
A Complete Guide to All of The Last Jedi's Easter Eggs
The Source: Lucasfilm, again
Probability of Accuracy: Once again, if it comes from Lucasfilm, you can take it to the bank. Or, at least, to Canto Bight.
The Real Deal: Those who have seen The Last Jedi repeatedly know that there’s a lot in there, but it took an official Lucasfilm video to reveal just how many Easter eggs were hidden in plain view during the movie, including references to the Star Wars: Battlefront videogames, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, and the comics and novel spin-offs. Also discussed by the video, which features members of Lucasfilm’s Star Wars Story Group, are the origins of Benicio del Toro’s character’s name and the scene from Star Wars: The Force Awakens that gets a special callback in The Last Jedi, even though said scene was actually cut from the final edit of The Force Awakens. Sounds complicated, but if you watch the video it will all make perfect sense.
Meanwhile, Behind the Scenes on Crait and Ahch-To…
The Source: Last Jedi writer/director Rian Johnson
Probability of Accuracy: Look, if the guy who made the movie doesn’t know…
The Real Deal: If a Last Jedi mystery-unveiling, Easter egg hunt video isn't enough secret-spilling for you, then perhaps Rian Johnson's spoiler-filled discussion with Empire is something that might appeal. For those who don’t like podcasts, the site also broke down the main points in written form, including the philosophy of Kylo Ren and how much the movie itself embraces it, and what’s going on with Luke’s use of the Force in comparison to its use in other Star Wars films. Of course, maybe Johnson should just leave that kind of explanation to the latest medium he’s mastered: the silent Twitter thread. No, really; click through to that thread, if you haven’t already seen it. It’s amazing.
Solo Finally Gets a Story. Kind Of
The Source: Disney’s PR for 2018
Probability of Accuracy: For what little is here, it’s probably accurate?
The Real Deal: Meanwhile, it appears that Disney still believes that Solo: A Star Wars Story is going to come out in May, and to that end, it finally released a plot synopsis for the movie. Well, kind of. Here’s the official synopsis: “Board the Millennium Falcon and journey to a galaxy far, far away in Solo: A Star Wars Story, an all-new adventure with the most beloved scoundrel in the galaxy. Through a series of daring escapades deep within a dark and dangerous criminal underworld, Han Solo meets his mighty future copilot Chewbacca and encounters the notorious gambler Lando Calrissian, in a journey that will set the course of one of the Star Wars saga’s most unlikely heroes.” It’s not exactly forthcoming when it comes to actual plot, is it? At this point, someone could say this entire movie is some kind of extended practical joke and it wouldn't seem implausible. Whither a trailer, considering the movie is in theaters in less than four months? Maybe fans will have to wait for the Super Bowl…
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The Beginning of the End of Star Wars Rebels
The Source: Official Star Wars Rebels PR
Probability of Accuracy: Trailers are intended to tease and occasionally distract and dissemble, but it’s rare that they outright lie.
The Real Deal: Speaking of trailers, the final clip for Star Wars Rebels—which is headed into its final run of episodes starting February 19—dropped earlier this month and re-introduced a very familiar threat: the Emperor himself, voiced by Ian McDiarmid, who played the character in his live-action appearances. Of course, the series ending and the Emperor showing up … well, that really doesn’t bode well for Ezra, especially considering the Emperor seems to know exactly who he is.
The show comes to a conclusion March 5 with a special feature-length episode.
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