Ending on Rise of Skywalker Gets a Different Beat

In an interview with /Film, Daisy Ridley briefly discussed that the ending to Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker changed as production continued with the film. Its actually pretty normal for a film to change as it goes from the script, filming, and then editing phase. Its said a film is made three times as a result and most of the time those changes can result in three wildly different films from source point.

“J.J. had told me [the ending], and then I read the script, and then it was sort of shifting. The ending was always pretty similar, and then I was told there was sort of a new—I guess a slightly different beat added that I was told, which was awesome. Because it’s nice to be told the thing and then you can like experience it with the filmmaker. But also, we don’t know how it’s gonna turn out. We did the thing on this side of the camera, so we don’t know how it’s gonna turn out. So I’m as excited to see it as everyone else.”

Ultimately I suspect that JJ Abrams will have been forced to retcon most of The Last Jedi out of necessity to tell decent ending to the Skywalker saga. In that film the Rebellion was decimated (which makes a climatic fight between good and evil forces difficult), the big bad was killed (Snope), and supposedly Rey's parentage was unimportant. Fixing all those is pretty easy and takes, what 30 seconds of screen time? All is takes is one characters commenting how the Rebellion is ready to defeat the First Order thanks to support from the Republic, explain Rey's parent are important by having her discover who they are, and the simple act of replacing Snope and Luke with Force Ghost Emperor and Force Ghost Luke. The nature of the set up is the finale would be a final fight between The First Order vs Rebellion and (for 3rd time) Kylo vs Rey so the only role Luke and Emperor/Snope had was giving advice to their proteges. Being dead doesn't change that role. To be honest my only real concern is this is shaping up to feel like a re-hash of Return of the Jedi. I hope I am wrong on that.

The Mandalorian Panel Teases Upcoming Star Wars TV Show

On Sunday at Star Wars Celebration in Chicago, the first panel for The Mandalorian was held. The 8-episode season will premiere with Disney+ on November 12, 2019. Below is a video of most of the panel with executive producers Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni with cast members Carl Weathers (playing Greef), Pedro Pascal (playing The Mandalorian) and Gina Carano (playing Cara Dune, an ex-rebel shocktrooper) later joining the panel. I say most because a behind the scenes featurette, scene, and trailer was shown to audiences at the Panel but not shown during the stream but below is a fan recording of it but don't be surprised if its pulled by Disney.

Info wise, it was pretty light on details. The show takes place 5 years after Return of the Jedi, with galaxy in a bit of disarray due to the fall of the Empire and its enforced order. Favreau described it as "inspired by the end of the Samurai in Japan and the post-civil war west in America." The Mandalorian's ship is called Razorcrest.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars 6th Season Announcement Trailer

Sunday at Star Wars Celebration in Chicago, the team and cast behind Star Wars: The Clone Wars announced that a sixth season is coming to the Disney+ streaming service. The 12 episode season will cover the Siege of Mandalore (planet that the armored bounty hunters like Boba Fett come from) along with a few other stories. No reason date except that will be at some point in 2020.

Star Wars: Episode IX Official Title and Trailer

Today is the beginning of Star Wars Celebration in Chicago and with it comes the first real news regarding Star Wars: Episode IX. The official title is Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker as revealed in a visually stunning teaser trailer that reveals nothing story wise. This is considered the conclusion of the "Skywalker Saga", after which Disney plans to take a brief hiatus of unknown number of years before they start up with a new saga. The movie hits theaters December 20, 2019. Screenshots with potential explanations here.

Disney+ Details With Another Star Wars Series

Thursday as part of the Investor's Day, Disney finally revealed some concrete details about their upcoming Disney+ streaming service that is designed to compete directly with Netflix. Part of this includes bringing out some big guns from their various properties including three Marvel shows and two Star Wars live action shows.

Specifically on the Star Wars front, The Mandalorian will be an 8 episode season and premiere with the service on its first day along with Episode I through VI of Star Wars. For unspecified reasons, the 201X created films will not be available until later.

The other Star Wars show, to premiere at a date date will star Diego Luna and Alan Tudyk as they reprise their Star Wars: Rogue One characters of Cassian and droid K-2SO. The show is described as "thrilling spy series." No other details were provided except that Stephen Schiff (The Americans) will be the showrunner. Other Star Wars programming is in the works including a documentary and another season of Star Wars: The Clone Wars but no release dates on those either.

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