There is arguably no movie franchise quite as beloved and iconic as Star Wars. An epic space opera spanning decades of filmmaking, there are entire generations of moviegoers who'd give life and limb to see each installment in the galaxy far, far away. And with Solo: A Star Wars Story in the rear view, the time has come to look forward to J.J. Abrams' upcoming trilogy-ending threequel Episode IX. The project is filming now, so it's likely going to take a long time for any information to become public-- including the movie's title. Franchise star Mark Hamill isn't shy about teasing the fandom, which is exactly what he recently did on Twitter related to Episode IX's title. Check it out.
And that's why he's the Jedi Master of trolling. Sensing the fandom's rabid thirst for any information about Episode IX, Mark Hamill was sure to rub some salt in the wound, while he no doubt works on the upcoming mysterious project.
Mark Hamill's Tweet highlights how little the general public knows about Episode IX. The franchise is switching it up by not releasing a new installment this December. Episode IX is in the midst of filming, so it's unlikely that more information will be released anytime soon. Lucasfilm recently announced the film's cast, as well as its plan to bring Carrie Fisher's General Leia into the project through unused footage from the previous films. Director J.J. Abrams and the team are currently making sure the movie is in the can, and will likely worry about marketing later.
While anticipation for Star Wars movies are always sky high, there's a particular pressure associated with Episode IX. In addition to bringing a new story to the franchise, it will also essentially wrap up the Skywalker Saga forever. Decades of movies will boil down to J.J. Abrams' upcoming sequel, before the property begins exploring new and different stories. Abrams will also get to complete the narrative for the new characters he created, including Rey, Finn, Kylo Ren, and Poe.
Many fans had mixed feelings about Luke's role in The Last Jedi. While it gave Mark Hamill the chance to act and show his range, Luke was dark AF. And after Force Projecting to Crait in order to give The Resistance a way out, the character vanished into thin air a la Obi-Wan in A New Hope. Luke has died, but he'll still have a role in Episode IX. Smart money says this is done through the use of a Force Ghost, a common trope in the franchise. Any Luke will be appreciated, as he was all but absent in The Force Awakens.
All will be revealed when Episode IX arrives on December 20th, 2019. In the meantime, check out our 2018 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.
