Everything you need to know about “Star Wars: The Last Jedi”

The wait is almost over now and Star Wars: The Last Jedi is coming to the cinemas.

The lucky ones have already seen it in preview and have called it “shocking, exciting, full of special moments”, while all the others will have to wait a few more and the official release on Wednesday, December 13th.

Directed by Rian Johnson, famous for the film starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Bruce Willis Looper, the new chapter in the saga of George Lucas will take us back to live with Rey (Daisy Ridley), Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) and the legendary Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) in a distant galaxy.

Before going to the cinema and enjoying Star Wars 8: The Last Jedi, let’s recap everything we know so far (spoiler free).

The plot

The story will restart from where you left off with the previous Star Wars: The Force Awakens. So from the meeting between Rey and Luke.

What will happen?

Will Rey, the mysterious protagonist, resist the call of the Force? Luke Skywalker, in voluntary exile for years on a planet called Ahch-To, will be able to help the girl and it becomes a Jedi?

What has been leaked so far is that the film will include a funeral for Han Solo (Harrison Ford), killed by his son Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) in The Force Awakens and will be a war movie. The director explained that his mood will be influenced by the World War II classics “Bridge on the River Kwai” and “Twelve O’Clock High”.

The Last Jedi

Ever since the title of the new “Star Wars” has been known, the hypotheses have been started on who this last Jedi is.

The director Rian Johnson, interviewed by the New York Times, gives us an explanation: 

"Luke Skywalker, right now, is the last Jedi. There’s always wiggle room in these movies – everything is from a certain point of view – but coming into our story, he is the actual last of the Jedi. And he’s removed himself and is alone on this island, for reasons unknown".

New entries & goodbye

New characters coming soon.

In addition to Amilyn Holdo, an officer of the resistance played by Laura Dern and the figure of Rose Tico a Resistance mechanic tied to Finn played by Kelly Marie Tran (first Asian-American woman to star in the saga), will make the debut in the saga Benicio del Toro in the role of the mysterious DJ.

This are the official new entries, but at the same time, we need to remember Carrie Fisher.

The actress, died last year, had, fortunately, already shot all her scenes for the film in which she seems to have an important role.

In the cast are confirmed Mark Hamill (Luke), Adam Driver (Kylo Ren), Daisy Ridley (Rey), John Boyega (Finn), Oscar Isaac (Poe Dameron), Lupita Nyong’o (voice of the alien pirate Maz Kanata), Domhnall Gleeson (General Hux) and Andy Serkis.

Fun facts: Prince Harry, Prince William and Tom Hardy all make appearances as Stormtroopers, following in the shoes of Bond star Daniel Craig, who popped up in “The Force Awakens”.

Critters

Battles, existential dilemmas, calls for atavistic forces and struggles for the salvation of the world.

In the Star Wars saga there is all this, but also more like fun robots and a group of  cute and cuddly creatures.

BB-9E is the new addition to Lucas universe, closely resembles the ball-shaped BB-8 from The Force Awakens, but replaces that bot’s perky orange-and-white colour scheme with blacks and greys, as well as a menacing and red 'eye'.

In chapter 8 there are no longer the Ewoks, the small hairy inhabitants of the moon of Endor, but arrive Porgs.

They are animals inspired by the puffins that seem hybrid between Gremlins and the Furby.

The web already adores them, will it also be the same for the of the movie saga’s addicted?

Lightsaber

You know, the fans of Star Wars are curious about every aspect of the saga.

It seems that among the most frequent questions of the last period there is which lightsaber will choose Rey as a weapon in the future.

Until now the girl has shown her skills in wielding a large stuff and she’s able to use Luke Skywalker’s lightsaber, as seen in “The Force Awakens”, but many speculate that she will use a lightsaber double.

Validates this theory a video posted online by martial arts expert Chloe Bruce, a stunt of Daisy Ridley in the series, showing her moves with that type of weapon.

Locations

Most of the scenes, such as those set on the planet of Ahch-To, were filmed in Malin Head and on the island of Skellig Michael in Ireland. Further shooting took place in Dubrovnik (the same city also chosen for King's Landing in Game of Thrones) in Croatia and Mexico, as well as in the Buckinghamshire studio, Pinewood.

Running time

The Last Jedi will be the longest Star Wars ever. With its running time of 2 hours and 32 minutes, the chapter directed by Rian Johnson officially becomes the most long movie in the history of the famous saga.