Even the director, Rian Johnson, has promised that Episode 8 will be the darket yet.
Fans have been bracing themselves for the inevitable death of Princess (now General) Leia on or off screen but Johnson has confirmed that none of her storyline was significantly altered following her tragic death last December.
Since Lucasfilm boss Kathleen Kennedy also confirmed that Episode 9 would have seen a major plotline for Leia, it seems unlikley that she will will die during The Last Jedi.
Other fans are expecting Luke to fall in a dramatic final scene which would provide the expected shocking climax to the film and allow Rey and the other new characters to truly take centre stage in the trilogy’s final movie.
Star Wars actor Domhall Gleeson, who plays the gleefully gurning and unpleasant General Hux spoke out about what fans can expect from Episode 8.
He told The Times: “They (Disney and Lucasfilm) just tell us to keep our damn mouths shut. Although what I will say is that Rian Johnson is a really interesting filmmaker and he’s brought a lot of himself to the film, and that’s what’s going to make it different.”
However Gleeson seems to have accidentally revealed his own character’s fate…
Early leaked reports from the sets seemed to indicate that Kylo Ren might have to kill General Hux as one of his Sith tests to prove himself to Snoke.
The First Order leader will have been very unimpressed with the loss of Hux’s baby, Starkiller Base. Kylo is unlikley to hesitate at the task, considering the fraught rivalry between the two rather emotionally unstable men for Snoke’s favour.
Gleeson was explaining that he demanded to see a script for The Force Awakens before committing to the role, when he revealed a tantalising hint at Hux’s fate.
Gleeson said: “Working on a film can be months, so you want to know what you’re doing. And with Star Wars that applies more than anything, because you have to sign a three-picture deal.
“So yes, I loved JJ (Abrams)’s work before that, and I was desperate to work with him. But why would I sign up for something when I didn’t know what it was? That doesn’t suit me.”
This would seem to imply that Hux will be around in Episode 9, although, Disney may lock all the Star Wars main cast into three films while they are still figuring out the plots and fates of everyone involved.
STAR WARS THE LAST JEDI IS OUT IN UK CINEMAS ON DECEMBER 14