This post, much like the new trailer, contains some spoilers.
Disney released a new trailer for The Last Jedi, the second movie in the last Star Wars trilogy, today (Oct. 9). Unlike earlier trailers for the film and many of the ones produced for The Force Awakens, this latest preview seems to unveil some pretty explicit plot points.
Director Rian Johnson recently admitted that he was “torn” as to whether fans should watch the new trailer, given what it seems to give away. As we’re all unfortunately aware, this will be Carrie Fisher’s last Star Wars appearance as general Leia Organa, as she died in late 2016. In the new trailer, we see her son, Kylo Ren (played by Adam Driver), seemingly lining up a shot from his spaceship to destroy the one that Organa is on. (Ren also killed his father, Han Solo, in the last film.)
We also see Rey, the trilogy’s new protagonist, seemingly agreeing to switch to the Dark Side after another confrontation with Ren. Her new teacher, Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill)—who cycles between looking scared and confused throughout the two-minute trailer—ominously foreshadows this when he utters: “I’ve seen this raw strength only once before. It didn’t scare me enough then—it does now.” The following shot of Ren further suggests Rey is set to join him.
It’s entirely possible that some of these are misdirections to throw us off. But there are certain things we know: Fisher has died; this is the second film in the trilogy; and if the last two trilogies are anything to go off of, this film will almost certainly end on a down note.
Here it is—but really, only watch it if you can’t wait a few more months to find out what happens:
The Last Jedi will be released in parts of Europe on Dec. 13 and 14, and much of the rest of the world on Dec. 15. It’s set for release in China on Jan. 5, 2018.