'Star Wars: The Last Jedi' trailer blasts fans' emotions
So much to dissect: Is Kylo Ren trying to woo Rey to the Dark Side? And will someone please keep him away from General Leia?
- Co-author of two Gen X pop-culture encyclopedia for Penguin Books. Won "Headline Writer of the Year" award for 2017, 2014 and 2013 from the American Copy Editors Society. Won first place in headline writing from the 2013 Society for Features Journalism.
Warning: Possible spoilers for "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" ahead.
Star Wars fans scored a touchdown Monday night when the much-anticipated second "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" trailer dropped during halftime of the "Monday Night Football" game between the Chicago Bears and the Minnesota Vikings. Fans have been eagerly awaiting the sneak peek since news first broke Sunday that it would kick off during the game.
"Last Jedi" picks up right where 2015's "The Force Awakens" left off, with Rey (Daisy Ridley) delivering the Skywalker family lightsaber to Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), who's been missing, presumably in search of the lost Jedi temple on the oceanic planet of Ahch-To.
"This is not going to go the way you think," Luke says at one point in the trailer. Can that line be seen as a metaphor for the movie, which many fans are expecting to mimic "The Empire Strikes Back," the original film's sequel?
Luke was barely seen in "The Force Awakens" but seems set to have a large part in "Last Jedi," and he and Rey are prominent in the trailer as well. Rey's lightsaber prowess and developing powers seem impressive.
"I've seen this raw strength only once before," a grim Luke says. "It didn't scare me enough then. It does now."
And fans who are still recovering from the loss of you-know-who in "The Force Awakens" better guard their hearts. In the trailer, Ren (Adam Driver) seems to be gunning for his own mother, General Leia Organa (the late Carrie Fisher). NOOOOOO!
Fans who've become known as "Reylo" shippers, for imagining a love relationship between Kylo Ren and Rey, were given a little something to go on here. Says Rey, "I need someone to show me my place in all this," and then the trailer cuts to Kylo Ren holding out his gloved hand enticingly. Could Rey be wooed to the Dark Side?
Fans will be probably dissecting the trailer for weeks to come, but their next quest after viewing it was likely tougher: trying to buy tickets for prime showings and premium seats online, as the coveted passes went on sale Monday night. (Here's how to get yours.)
Just before the game began, the Star Wars official Twitter account released a new poster for the film. Bearded Luke dominates, with Rey (with a bad cut on her arm) and an unmasked Kylo Ren both clutching their lightsabers. Finn (John Boyega), Poe (Oscar Isaac), Chewbacca and other main characters.
Check out the brand new poster for Star Wars: #TheLastJedi and watch the trailer tonight. pic.twitter.com/A4UGpYqoeW
— Star Wars (@starwars) October 10, 2017
Director Rian Johnson tweeted on Monday that fans should be cautious about watching the trailer if they want to come in to the film cold. Other stars include Gwendoline Christie as Captain Phasma, Anthony Daniels as C-3PO, Andy Serkis as Supreme Leader Snoke, and newcomers Kelly Marie Tran (Rose Tico) and Laura Dern (Vice Admiral Amilyn Holdo).
The first trailer for the film came out in April.
"Star Wars: The Last Jedi" opens on Dec. 15.
First published, Oct. 9, 7:05 p.m. PT.
Update, 7:35 p.m. PT: Adds more details and analysis from the trailer.
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