There are already severalStar Wars: Episode IX rumors, and we've collected the biggest ones for fans to sift through. Since Lucasfilm has earned a reputation for being very secretive during their Disney era, viewers have turned to the ever-churning rumor mill in order to track down more information about the latest films. The galaxy far, far away is no stranger to speculation, with some theories actually proving true - while others are wildly off-base. Discussions like these are what make the build-up to aStar Wars movie fun.
Of course,Star Wars 9 will also be subject to the J.J. Abrams mystery box, as the director is notorious for keeping his movies' secrets close to the chest. Official information will be hard to come by (even the trailers probably won't reveal much), but that won't stop the rumors from spreading like wildfire. To make things easier for those interested, here's a rundown of some of the most noteworthyEpisode IX rumors to come to light.
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The Alleged Star Wars 9 Plot Leak
Someone is already claiming to know the full plot ofStar Wars 9, even though the script has been through several iterations. We previously did a thorough breakdown of it, but the key points are the Resistance embarking on a mission to save captives in the Unknown Regions and Kylo Ren hunting down Force users, who look to Rey for protection. In an absurd twist, it's revealed Rey and Kylo are in love with each other, and Kylo becomes incensed when he discovers Rey has a child. In regards to the Resistance storyline, General Hux is allegedly a mole who leaks intel to the heroes in order to usurp command of the First Order from Ren.
Related: About That Star Wars 9 Plot Leak
This leak also has Leia playing a large role in the movie, meaning even if it's completely true, it likely won't be the actualStar Wars 9. Lucasfilm started over when Carrie Fisher passed away, and her family is unaware of what the plan for Leia is now. That makes it seem like the General has been written out of the story and will be killed offscreen.
Lando Calrissian Will Return
The Force Awakens featured the ballyhooed returns of Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Princess Leia, but one of their friends was missing. Lando, portrayed by Billy Dee Williams in the original trilogy, hasn't even been mentioned by name in the sequels, raising questions regarding his whereabouts. Rian Johnson contemplated working Lando intoThe Last Jedi, but couldn't find the right fit. The filmmakers love the character, though it's smart they don't want to force him in for the sake of nostalgia. That could be changing, however.
Donald Glover's well-received turn as young Lando inSolo may be a primer for Williams' comeback. Rumors point to Lando being inEpisode IX, shortly after it was said Williams was getting back into shape. Granted, the actor could just be looking after his personal health, but Mark Hamill and Fisher similarly went through training regimens before theirStar Wars returns. Lando would giveEpisode IX a legacy character to help guide the youngsters to victory.
Obi-Wan Kenobi Will Appear
Ever since Disney acquired Lucasfilm, Ewan McGregor has not been able to escape questions about a possible return as Obi-Wan, whom he played in the prequels. There are several rumors about a spinoff movie about the Jedi Master, but the plans could call for something else entirely. Reports indicate McGregor will film scenes as Obi-Wan inStar Wars 9.
Related: Is The Obi-Wan Movie Dead or In Exile?
The storytelling logic for this move is debatable, but it arguably wouldn't be completely out of left field. Kenobi has already reached out to Rey once during the scavenger's Force vision on Takodana, so he's aware of her existence and importance to the conflict. Rey doesn't know Obi-Wan, however, so if his spirit manifested in front of her, she'd likely be confused. It would be great for viewers to see McGregor again, but would run the risk of being pure fan service.
Obi-Wan isn't the only one of Luke's teachers to be rumored forEpisode IX. Lucasfilm may not be done with Yoda yet, as the green alien is said to have a scene with Rey in the film. Yoda made his glorious return (in original puppet form even) duringThe Last Jedi, where he provided Luke with one final lesson about failure.
Much like Obi-Wan, Yoda is aware of Rey, but she doesn't know him. If Yoda were to appear, it would almost have to be alongside a Luke Force ghost (more on this in a second) so Rey wasn't completely lost. In the event Rey has a crisis of faith inEpisode IX, it should be Skywalker coming to her aid. He redeemed himself at the end ofLast Jedi, so he has all the wisdom she needs.
Mark Hamill's Return?
Because of real-life tragedy and narrative choices in previous films, Mark Hamill is the only member of the original trilogy's main trio who can appear inEpisode IX. Since the trilogy finale is also set to close out the Skywalker saga as a whole, many expect Luke to be back in some capacity. Hamill (who would be content to stay on the sidelines) has saidhe'd play Luke again if that's what Abrams wants. And he's already teasing some ideas.
Luke would have to be a Force ghost inEpisode IX, but it might be time to do something new with the concept. Hamill has discussed the possibility of playing a"frightening" spirit, which could be fun. Luke's final words to Kylo Ren,"See you around, kid," read as some kind of final taunt, so Luke could haunt his nephew as Kylo struggles leading the First Order. It'll be interesting to see if Lucasfilm confirms Hamill's involvement whenEpisode IX begins production, or if they leave it up in the air until the premiere.
Page 2: New Character Details Revealed
A Time Jump Is A Possibility
The Last Jedi broke franchise tradition by picking up just moments afterThe Force Awakens. Previously, there was a gap of at least a year (usually more) between saga episodes. Given everything that's happened, it'd be very difficult to do that forEpisode IX. Even if Fisher were still alive, a time jump would read as the smart choice, allowing ample time in-universe for the Resistance to build up its forces and the First Order to adjust under Kylo Ren's rule.
Related: What's Episode 9 Going To Be About?
John Boyega hinted that a sizable gap was in order when he said he was growing out his hair in preparation for reprising his role as Finn. In movies, few things represent the passage of time more than changing a character's physical appearance. The only question is how many years afterLast Jedi willStar Wars 9 take place. The franchise has a habit of dropping viewers in the middle of the story, so we expect the all-out war to already be well underway.
Rey and Finn Should Be Together Again
One of the biggest reasons whyThe Force Awakens worked so well was the chemistry between Boyega and Daisy Ridley. Through their adventure, they sold audiences on Rey and Finn's burgeoning friendship. The two didn't share much screen time inThe Last Jedi, save for a cathartic embrace on Crait near the very end of the film. For those who like watching the youngsters play off each other,Episode IX could be your movie.
While at Awesome Con in 2018, Boyega revealed he received a text from Ridley that simply stated,"OMG we're together again." That makes it sound like Rey and Finn will by each other's sides for most ofStar Wars 9. Since this is probably the last hurrah for the sequel trilogy's new guard (at least for a while), this is a smart move on Abrams' part.
Star Wars 9 Casting Character Codenamed Mara
EveryStar Wars film introduces new faces to the canon, andEpisode IX won't be any different. It remains to be seen who is cast in any new roles, but there are some rumors about new characters. The first domino to fall was someone referred to as Mara, which makes fans instantly think of Mara Jade, Luke's wife in the old Expanded Universe (which is now dubbed Legends). However, the odds ofEpisode IX bringing Mara Jade to the official timeline are slim.
Related: Dave Filoni On Making EU Characters Canon
In all likelihood, this supposed character would (sadly) be some kind of Leia replacement (in the sense she's an older member of the rebellion who aids the youngsters), as she's described as a women aged between 40-50. Poe Dameron has cemented himself as one of the Resistance's leaders, but he can't do it all on his own. After taking heavy losses inThe Last Jedi, the heroes will need some reinforcements, and more generals or admirals never hurts.
Star Wars 9 Casting New Female Lead
"Mara" isn't the only newcomerStar Wars 9 is looking to add. A separate casting call detailed a character referred to as "Caro," who is between 18-26 years old. The preference is for an African-American actress to play her, but no names have been connected to the role. Among Caro's traits are leadership abilities, problem solving, and a sense of humor. It is unknown if she would be aligned with the Resistance or the First Order. Both sides could use some extra help (Snoke and Phasma are gone), so it'll be interesting to see what happens.
Mara makes some sense, as she could be a supporting character who factors into one of the subplots. The inclusion of Caro is quite curious, since the sequel trilogy seems to have an abundance of young leads already. Ridley, Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Adam Driver, and Kelly Marie Tran are all more than capable of headliningEpisode IX and handling action sequences. There doesn't seem to be room for someone else on-paper, but we're willing to give Abrams the benefit of the doubt for now.
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We will keep this page updated as moreStar Wars 9 rumors come flocking in!
MORE: What Star Wars Movies Are Coming Out?
Key Release Dates
- Star Wars: Episode IX- The Rise of SkywalkerRelease Date:2019-12-20
