Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker isn’t just the end of the sequel trilogy, but all nine films in the Skywalker saga. Such a heavy task has been given to JJ Abrams, who also introduced the sequel trilogy with 2015’s The Force Awakens. On closing such an epic, the filmmaker told Entertainment Weekly: “This is about bringing this thing to a close in a way that is emotional and meaningful and also satisfying in terms of actually answering [as many] questions as possible. So if years from now, someone’s watching these movies, all nine of them, they’re watching a story that is as cohesive as possible.”
That certainly is encouraging news for fans who are desperate to know the truth about Rey’s parents, who Snoke really is and just how Palpatine is back.
Abrams continued: “While there were many things that were planned for and discussed — George Lucas himself said when he created this he saw it as three, three-act plays — that doesn’t mean there isn’t discovery, that doesn’t mean there aren’t things that come up that make you realize, ‘Oh, here’s an opportunity.’
“It also doesn’t mean that there’s a list of payoffs that we have to do because of setups.
“But we also were very much aware this is the end of the trilogy and it needs to satisfy.
“We went into this thing knowing it has to be an ending. We’re not screwing around.”
In another recent interview, Abrams revealed why Palpatine is returning in The Rise of Skywalker.
READ MORE: STAR WARS 9 TRAILER TONIGHT – WHEN AND WHERE?
Speaking with Empire, Abrams highlighted the villain’s presence from the very beginning.
The 53-year-old said: “Some people feel like we shouldn’t revisit the idea of Palpatine.
“And I completely understand that.
“But if you’re looking at the nine films as one story, I don’t know many books where the last few chapters have nothing to do with those that have come before.
“If you look at the first eight films, all the set-ups of what we’re doing in IX are there in plain view.”
Meanwhile, the final trailer for The Rise of Skywalker drops tonight during Monday Night Football on ESPN.
This will be during the half-time advertising break, which will start around 9:30pm EST (2:30am BST on Tuesday morning).
Presumably, the trailer will then be released online simultaneously or shortly afterwards.
Hopefully, the first proper look at Emperor Palpatine will finally be revealed.
Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker will be released in UK cinemas on December 19, 2019.