J. Abrams will return to Star Wars to direct Star Wars: Episode IX, so here’s everything we know about the sci-fi sequel so far. And the latest news is that actress Keri Russell may be in early talks with J. Abrams to join the next Star Wars installment in an undisclosed role.
So you watched Star Wars: Episode VIII — The Last Jedi, which hit movie theaters in mid-December, and you’re itching for hints about what’s to come? There are plenty of interesting tidbits emerging about the upcoming Star Wars: Episode IX, including the return of Billy Dee Williams as Lando Calrissian.
The latest trilogy of Star Wars films will conclude with Episode IX, and the major cast list has finally been announced (listed below). Director J. Abrams will return to close out the latest arc of the iconic sci-fi saga after helming 2015’s franchise-relaunching Star Wars: Episode VII — The Force Awakens. He directs from a script he co-wrote with Academy Award winner Chris Terrio ( Argo, Justice League). The sequel trilogy’s final chapter is scheduled to hit theaters December 20,2019. Here is everything we know so far.
On July 27, Lucasfilm’s official Star Wars page listed the major cast list, including the big names returning and those joining anew the latest film in the franchise. And yes, that means Billy D. Williams will officially return as the iconic Lando Calrissian, as will Mark Hamill which, for reasons we won’t specify here, may come as a surprise to some. Follow below for the official cast list:
Officially returning for Episode IX are Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Domhnall Gleeson, Kelly Marie Tran, Joonas Suotamo, and Billie Lourd.
Joining the cast for their first Star Wars experience are Naomi Ackie (Dr. Who), Richard E. Grant, and Keri Russell. In addition, veteran Star Wars actors returning include Williams (as promised), Hamill (Luke Skywalker), and Anthony Daniels (C-3PO).
But those aren’t the only familiar faces coming back. The announcement stated that the late Carrie Fisher’s character, Leia Organa, will also return for the film “using previously unreleased footage shot for Star Wars: The Force Awakens.” While this may come as a surprise to some following news that no CG version of Fisher’s character would be used for Episode IX (seemingly implying Leia would not return). However, Episode IX director J. Abrams made a statement to alleviate concerns.
“We desperately loved Carrie Fisher,” Abrams said. “Finding a truly satisfying conclusion to the Skywalker saga without her eluded us. We were never going to recast, or use a CG character. With the support and blessing from her daughter, Billie, we have found a way to honor Carrie’s legacy and role as Leia in Episode IX by using unseen footage we shot together in Episode VII.”
The decision to use previous footage obviously wasn’t an easy one to make, in a situation with no perfect way out. The film’s producers were seemingly still struggling with the decision as recently as April, when Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy indicated in an interview on Good Morning America that Fisher was no longer expected to appear in Episode IX.
Star Wars films are notorious for using working titles to throw off the public and keep production costs low in terms of locations and services. Episode VI — Return of the Jedi was shot under the guise of a horror movie called Blue Harvest. Meanwhile, Episode II — Attack of the Clones poked fun at the negative response to prequel trilogy’s Gungan leader with the title Jar-Jar’s Big Adventure.
Sometimes the production title can offer clues, though they may not make sense until after the film is released. Fantha Tracks has reported that the working title for Episode IX will be trIXie. The site claims that “the same research methods and public sources were used by the same team to uncover the production names of every Disney-era Star Wars film to date.”
The Force Awakens was shot under the title AVCO, which Bleeding Cool reported was the name of the theater in Los Alamos where a young J. Abrams saw the first Star Wars film. So what does trIXie refer to, if anything? It appears to simply be a way to get the roman numeral for the number 9 in the title, but there could be more to it, and we will circle back when we have more information.
Following in the footsteps of the Star Wars trilogies that came before it, the current three-part story arc had its main characters separating in Episode VIII — The Last Jedi, the middle chapter of the saga (much like the characters did in Episode II — Attack of the Clones and Episode V — The Empire Strikes Back). As with those previous trilogies, though, they’re expected to reunite in the third chapter — at least, that’s what franchise actor John Boyega seems to think.
Asked about Episode IX during a convention in Washington, D. C., Boyega said he expects the film to bring together his character, Finn, with Daisy Ridley’s character, Rey. The pair has been separated since the events of Episode VII — The Force Awakens, but that period apart could be nearing its end.
“I haven’t read the script for Episode IX,” he said (via SlashFilm). “But Daisy did shoot me a text saying, ‘Oh my gosh, I just heard from J. [Abrams], and we’re back together.’ That’s what I’m really excited about, is Finn and Rey back together again.”
While discussing the differences in working with Star Wars directors J. Abrams and Rian Johnson, Hamill revealed how the creator of the sci-fi saga, Lucas, planned to handle the later years of his iconic character, Luke Skywalker.
“I happen to know that George didn’t kill Luke until the end of [ Episode] IX, after he trained Leia,” Hamill told IGN . “Which is another thread that was never played upon [in The Last Jedi].”
Although most of Lucas’ plans for a sequel trilogy were reportedly scrapped when Disney took over the franchise, The Last Jedi did get to a point with some of its main characters that has a lot in common with those early outlines. Luke’s death occurred one episode earlier, and Leia (Carrie Fisher) did show some aptitude with The Force in Johnson’s 2017 film.
“George had an overall arc — if he didn’t have all the details, he had sort of an overall feel for where the [sequel trilogy was] going — but this [sequel trilogy] is more like a relay race,” Hamill said of the current saga, which appears to be letting its creative teams take the over-arching events in some unexpected directions, too. “You run and hand the torch off to the next guy, he picks it up and goes.”
Whatever your thoughts about Episode VIII, most can agree that it was a visually spectacular film. Scenes like the throne room saber battle and Vice Admiral Holdo’s lightspeed strike were breathtaking, thanks to some excellent art direction and production design. Now, the team for Episode IX has a new, distinguished member: Paul Inglis, who served as art director for the excellent (and gorgeous) Blade Runner 2049.
Thanks to a report from Omega Underground, we know Inglis has been tapped as the supervising art director for Episode IX, where he will work alongside Abrams and the production team to define the film’s aesthetic. Inglis’ previous credits also include Skyfall, Game of Thrones, Prometheus, and Children of Men.
Some Star Wars fans saw Rey (Ridley) and Poe (Isaac) meet in The Last Jedi and started hoping it was their meet-cute. The single scene was enough to fuel shipping rumors — so much so that Ridley had to answer a question about it during a promotional event in China. Redditor Niamor89 posted a video ( via Sleemo) showing the actress discussing the two Resistance fighters’ possible romantic future. Put simply, she doesn’t really want them to have one.
“It’s wonderful to have relationships that are not romantic,” Ridley said. “I don’t think in films you always need a romantic relationship. I think friend relationships can be romantic in their gestures and their intimacy and all of that. So I think, hopefully — you know, if Rey and Poe get to have some scenes together and stuff — that there will be intimacy, but I think, for me, it doesn’t have to be romantic love.
