Star Wars Celebration: The Phenoenon Renewed

Star Wars: The Last Jedi on The Way

- Benjamin Kerry & Gavin

There is always abundant excitement generated when the first trailer for an upcoming Star Wars movie goes public. Surely enough, the Internet lapped it up when a roughly two minute preview of Stars Wars: The Last Jedi was screened at this year’s annual Star Wars Celebration event and posted online. At that convention held from April 13 to 16 in Orlando, a lot - and not just from the trailer - was revealed about the film. So, what can we expect it to add to the Star Wars franchise?

LOTS OF DARKNESS AND RED, PLUS CARRIE FISHER

The trailer was brief but provided more than enough scenes to whip Star Wars fans into a fervor. The Force Awakens lead character Rey appears on the island where we saw her meeting Luke Skywalker at the end of that film, there are what look like pod racers leaving trails of red gas, and the Millennium Falcon soars through the sky in striking style. Also unveiled at the event was the film’s poster, in which Luke is cast in red hues, and Rey dramatically holds her light saber up skywards.

Various figures involved in making The Last Jedi - including director Rian Johnson, Lucas film chief Kathleen Kennedy and screen stars Daisy Ridley, Mark Hamill and John Boyega - were in attendance and revealed further details. Ridley hinted that her character, Rey, could develop a somewhat uneasy relationship with Luke, explaining that “Rey has a certain expectation of Luke. And as a lot of people know, it’s difficult when you meet your heroes because they might not be what you expect.”