Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (also known as Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker) is an upcoming American epic space-opera film produced, co-written and directed by J. J. Abrams. It will be the third and final installment of the Star Wars sequel trilogy, following The Force Awakens (2015) and The Last Jedi (2017), and the ninth and final episode of the main Star Wars film franchise. The film was produced by Lucasfilm and Bad Robot Productions and is scheduled to be distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.

The Rise of Skywalker is part of a trilogy of films announced after Disney's acquisition of Lucasfilm in October 2012. Colin Trevorrow was announced as the film's director in mid-2015, but left the project by late 2017 due to creative differences. He was replaced by Abrams, who previously directed The Force Awakens. Most of the cast of the previous two movies reprise their roles, and Billy Dee Williams and Ian McDiarmid return to the franchise onscreen for the first time since 1983's Return of the Jedi and 2005's Revenge of the Sith, respectively. Principal photography began in August 2018 at Pinewood Studios near London and wrapped on February 15, 2019.

The Rise of Skywalker is scheduled to be released in the United States on December 20, 2019.

Premise
Many months after the battered remnants of the Resistance escaped the retribution of the First Order, some of its surviving major members embark on one final journey, where they will inevitably confront what may be the greatest evil ever known in the galaxy, bringing the Skywalker saga to a climatic close.

Cast

 * Daisy Ridley as Rey, an orphan and Jedi from the desert planet of Jakku and the last apprentice of Luke Skywalker.
 * Adam Driver as Kylo Ren, the Supreme Leader of the First Order and Snoke's former disciple, who is strong with the Force and leader of the Knights of Ren. He is the son of Leia Organa and Han Solo, nephew of Luke Skywalker, and grandson to Anakin.
 * John Boyega as Finn, a stormtrooper of the First Order who has defected to the Resistance.
 * Oscar Isaac as Poe Dameron, a high-ranking X-wing fighter pilot and commander of the Resistance.
 * Lupita Nyong'o as Maz Kanata, a former space pirate and ally of the Resistance.
 * Domhnall Gleeson as General Hux, the First Order's second-in-command and former commander of Starkiller Base.
 * Kelly Marie Tran as Rose Tico, a technician in the Resistance.
 * Joonas Suotamo as Chewbacca, a Wookiee and first mate of the Millennium Falcon.
 * Billie Lourd as Lieutenant Connix, an officer in the Resistance and ally of Poe Dameron.
 * Naomi Ackie as Jannah, a woman who will cross paths with Rey, Finn, and Poe Dameron in the film.
 * Richard E. Grant
 * Keri Russell
 * Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker, the last Jedi Master, who apparently died and became one with the force in The Last Jedi.
 * Anthony Daniels as C-3PO, a humanoid protocol droid in the service of General Leia Organa.
 * Billy Dee Williams as Lando Calrissian, an old friend of Han, Luke, Leia, and Chewbacca; a gambler and veteran of the Rebel Alliance.
 * Carrie Fisher as Leia Organa, the leading general of the Resistance, former princess of Alderaan, and Luke's twin sister.
 * Ian McDiarmid as Sheev Palpatine / Darth Sidious, the former emperor of the Galactic Empire and Dark Lord of the Sith who seemingly died in Return of the Jedi.

Additionally, Dominic Monaghan was cast in an undisclosed role. Brian Herring returns to puppeteer BB-8, and Jimmy Vee and Greg Grunberg reprise their roles as R2-D2 and Temmin "Snap" Wexley, respectively.

Characters with unknown performers include Klad, a slug-like creature and an ally of the Resistance and D-O, a droid who befriends BB-8.

Development
In October 2012, Star Wars creator George Lucas sold his production company Lucasfilm, and with it the Star Wars franchise, to The Walt Disney Company. Disney announced a new trilogy of Star Wars films. In August 2015, Colin Trevorrow was announced as the director of the film. He was to write the script with frequent collaborator Derek Connolly. It was also announced that Rian Johnson, writer and director of The Last Jedi, would write a story treatment for the next film. However, in April 2017, Johnson stated that he was not involved, claiming it was "old info". In February 2016, Disney chief executive officer Bob Iger confirmed that pre-production on Episode IX had begun. In late April 2017, Disney announced that the film would be released on May 24, 2019. A month later, filming was expected to begin in January 2018, but this was later pushed back to August.

In August 2017, it was announced that Jack Thorne would rewrite the script. On September 5, 2017, Lucasfilm stated that Trevorrow had left the production following creative differences. The Hollywood Reporter reported that his working relationship with Kathleen Kennedy had become unmanageable after failing to deliver a satisfactory script, despite writing several drafts. Johnson was rumored as the top choice to replace Trevorrow as director, but stated "it was never in the plan for me to direct Episode IX." The next day, it was announced that J. J. Abrams, the director of The Force Awakens, would return to direct the film. Abrams would also co-write the script with Chris Terrio and produce the film with his company Bad Robot Productions, Kennedy and Michelle Rejwan. Disney also moved the film's release date to December 20, 2019.

Before filming, The Rise of Skywalker was initially given the working title Black Diamond, which was then changed to Trixie. The production team has gone to great lengths to keep information about the film secret.

Casting
Carrie Fisher, who played Leia Organa, died in 2016. Variety and Reuters reported that she had been planned for a key role in The Rise of Skywalker. In January 2017, Lucasfilm stated that there were no plans to digitally generate Fisher's performance as they had for Rogue One. The following April, Fisher's brother Todd revealed that Fisher's daughter, Billie Lourd, had granted Disney the rights to use recent footage of Fisher. However, a week later, Kathleen Kennedy stated that Fisher would not appear in the film. In July 2018, J. J. Abrams announced that unused footage of Fisher from The Force Awakens would be used to help complete the story. A week later, it was revealed that unseen footage from The Last Jedi would also be used. According to Todd Fisher,"There's a lot of minutes of footage. I don't mean just outtakes. This is unused, new content that could be woven into the storyline. [...] It's going to look like it was meant to be. Like it was shot yesterday."

In July 2018, Keri Russell was in talks to play a part for some "action-heavy fight scenes", along with the long-awaited confirmation that Billy Dee Williams will return as Lando Calrissian. At the end of the month, Russell was confirmed to have been cast, along with the announcement of returning and additional new cast members. In late August, Dominic Monaghan and Matt Smith were reportedly cast in unspecified roles, but Smith later denied his involvement. Jimmy Vee and Greg Grunberg reprise their roles as R2-D2 and Temmin "Snap" Wexley, respectively. Brian Herring returns to puppeteer BB-8. At the 2019 Star Wars Celebration in Chicago, it was revealed that Ian McDiarmid will return to portray Palpatine.

Filming
Principal photography began on August 1, 2018, at Pinewood Studios near London, England. Filming was also done in Wadi Rum, Jordan. Oscar Isaac stated that Abrams was allowing more improvised acting than in the previous two films. On January 28, 2019, Anthony Daniels finished filming for his role as C-3PO in the film. Principal photography wrapped on February 15, 2019. Footage from the film was shown at the Walt Disney Company's annual shareholders meeting on March 7, 2019.

Music
In July 2013, Kennedy announced at Star Wars Celebration Europe that John Williams would return to score the Star Wars sequel trilogy. On January 10, 2018, it was reported that Williams would return to compose and conduct The Rise of Skywalker. The next month, Williams announced that it would be the last Star Wars film for which he would compose the score.

Release
The Rise of Skywalker will be released on December 20, 2019 in the United States. It was originally set to be released on May 24 before being pushed back.

Though Abrams stayed silent about details of the film, he expressed his hopes that its viewers would be "satisfied." He headed a panel dedicated to the film on April 12, 2019 during Star Wars Celebration in Chicago, Illinois, where the first trailer revealed the film's title and new images.