The Star Wars franchise has long thrived on an ability to defy expectations and provide audiences with unexpected storylines. This idea dates all the way back to the Darth Vader twist from The Empire Strikes Back, and once again reared its head during the deadly climax of last year's Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. All eyes are on Rian Johnson's Star Wars: The Last Jedi to do the same later this month, and Poe Dameron actor Oscar Isaac recently sat down with CinemaBlend to explain that the film may shock audiences. Not with narrative turns, but by providing a narrative that's heavy on emotional catharsis. The actor told us:
I think the nature of the way that the story plays out. You know, regardless of your ideas, I think once it starts you're gonna get so swept up in it that your brain is gonna take a backseat to your heart and you're just gonna go with it and whatever theory kinda comes together with a little bit of what you thought was gonna be and what's actually happening, the actual moment of witnessing it all coming together is so emotionally overwhelming that I think that stuff is gonna be in the backseat anyway.
It is no secret that the Star Wars films naturally lend themselves to fan theories and seemingly endless amounts of speculation. That said, even if some fans manage to nail some of their assumptions about the overarching plot of Star Wars: The Last Jedi (ranging from possible matricide to major Dark Side turns), Oscar Isaac seems to think that there's no preparing for the emotional nature of the film. His comments also suggest that the film will place a significant emphasis on heart, and potentially opt for emotionally-charged storytelling over something overly-cerebral.
This seems to line up with other comments made by Oscar Isaac about Star Wars: The Last Jedi, particularly with regards to audience expectations and the preservation of spoilers. Elsewhere in the actor's interview with CinemaBlend, he even noted that the trailers can't really spoil the film because the most prominent character beats come from little moments that require the nuance of the movie around them. Viewed through that lens, it seems that The Last Jedi is shaping up to become a film that may deliver its best moments by capitalizing on our emotional connections to the characters, rather than unexpected plot twists and abrupt left turns.
If you want to see Oscar Isaac pontificate about the emotional impact of Star Wars: The Last Jedi's story for yourself, take a look at a clip from CinemaBlend's interview with the actor below!
Star Wars: The Last Jedi's emotionally-charged story will come together when the film debuts in theaters on December 15. Pick up your tickets for Rian Johnson's first foray into the galaxy far, far away now, and let us know the plot element that you're most excited to see in the comments below! If you need to get up-to-date on the film before it debuts, then do yourself a favor and check out our handy Episode VIII guide.
