With less than four weeks to go before the opening of Star Wars: The Last Jedi, everyone is getting very, very excited about the prospect of returning to the Resistance, the First Order, and the never-ending conflict between good and evil. But do you know just how never-ending that conflict is going to be? Perhaps you should have a seat before reading on.
Rey Will Be Put to the Test in The Last Jedi
The Source: The woman behind Rey
Probability of Accuracy: It's more teases than hard facts, so let's chalk this up as "possible, if not probable" for now.
The Real Deal: What is going on with Rey in Star Wars: The Last Jedi? Daisy Ridley has been dropping hints lately while promoting Murder on the Orient Express, saying that Rey's experience with Supreme Leader Snoke is "one of those tests for Rey. And when I say testing, it's the worst use of testing ever." But what is he testing for? Perhaps to see whether Rey is a needed foil for his current protege, Kylo Ren? Of Rey's relationship with Kylo, Ridley said, "These are two people who represent two very different sides of life, good and evil… That's going to be explored more in this [movie]." Could they bring balance to the Force, perhaps?
There's a Lot More Star Wars Coming Soon
The Source: Official announcements from Disney and Lucasfilm
Probability of Accuracy: They're official announcements; it gets no more accurate.
The Real Deal: The biggest news coming from a galaxy far, far away these days is that there will be a lot more Star Wars hitting screens big and small in the coming years. Not only is Last Jedi director Rian Johnson helming an all-new trilogy, but there's also a live-action TV series coming in 2019 as part of Disney's planned streaming service, which is set to launch that year. Quite what this means for the rest of the franchise—Will there be a new animated series to replace the soon-concluding Star Wars Rebels? Will there be a new trilogy in the "Skywalker Saga" after 2019's Star Wars: Episode IX?—remains to be seen. But for now, know this: There's no end to the wars coming anytime soon. And isn't that what everyone really wanted all along?
'Lifestyles of the Scum and Villainous' Definitely Has a Ring to It
The Source: Speculation brought on by perhaps accidental spoilage
Probability of Accuracy: File under: "I Have a Bad Feeling About This."
The Real Deal: Intentionally or otherwise, Entertainment Weekly let a Last Jedi spoiler slip last week when it introduced an excerpt from the upcoming Canto Bight prose anthology, revealing that Finn and Rose Tico visit the casino city "on a covert mission, trying to blend in amongst the glitterati who travel here from afar to frolic and gamble away galactic wealth." Folks already know they also go undercover as First Order officers, so now we have to ask: What is the connection between the First Order and Canto Bight? Is the casino city laundering First Order funds? Is something else going on?! Michael Siglain—creative director for Lucasfilm Publishing—described the city as "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous for Star Wars," adding, "but looks can certainly be deceiving, and everything isn’t always as beautiful as it seems." So, it's almost certainly the ugly flip side of Bespin Cloud City, right?
Aren't You a Little Regal to Be a Stormtrooper?
The Source: One of the First Order's most wanted men
Probability of Accuracy: Why would anyone have any reason to doubt this turncoat-turned-hero?
The Real Deal: Apparently everyone will be signing up for the Dark Side in the next Star Wars movie. John Boyega (aka Finn) told The Hollywood Reporter that he's in a scene in the movie alongside three very special stormtroopers: Princes William and Harry, along with actor Tom Hardy. (Former Take That singer Gary Barlow plays a fourth stormtrooper in the scene, but the royals and Mad Max are the draw here.) "It was a great experience," Boyega said about the scene, but he's kind of required to say such things. It's not as if anyone could really say, "The two heirs to the British throne were not the best actors, even in armor that entirely disguises them and requires no dialogue whatsoever." There are certain things that are just expected of a British subject, after all.
Disney Worlds
The Source: Lucasfilm itself
Probability of Accuracy: This is, indeed, your ideal holiday village, dear friends.
The Real Deal: Looks like Disney is following through on its announced scheme to introduce new planets from the Star Wars universe as part of its upcoming theme park attractions. According to StarWars.com,
a new world called Batuu will be one of the settings of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge when the new lands open at the Disneyland and Walt Disney World parks in 2019. Batuu is a "thriving port for smugglers, rogue traders and adventurers" that is "also a convenient safe haven for those intent on avoiding the expanding reach of the First Order." Sounds like the ideal vacation spot! Well, as long as you're not too afraid of wretched hives of scum and villainy, of course.