Star Wars fans, can you believe were now just two months away from the conclusion to the Skywalker Saga? Rise of Skywalker is coming up quick and it seems as though with each new piece of information we learn, the longer the list of questions become. The new characters joining the franchise have particularly kept quiet, such as Naomi Ackie, who will play a character named Jannah.
Finally, the End of the Fucking World actress is offering up tidbits about Jannah, who can be spotted riding with John Boyega’s Finn on the Millennium Falcon in the latest trailer released during this summer’s D23 Expo. Here’s how Naomi Ackie describes her Star Wars character:
Jannah is a warrior, and she comes into contact with the rest of the group at a point where they need some help. She is part of the Resistance, and she’s spent a long time acquiring skills that might be helpful when it comes to the big conclusion of the film. So she shows up at the right time.
Okay… she sounds so badass. Jannah could play an important role in the film as the Resistance fights off the First Order. Perhaps, she’ll cross paths with Rise of Skywalker’s core heroes Rey, Finn and Poe and become part of their larger goal to take down Kylo Ren and his army. Ackie teases her particular skills that will come in handy during the film, which includes her donning a bow and arrow and riding a new horse-like creature called an “orbak”. She explains further:
I was training for seven months, three times a week, at an amazing horse ranch called The Devil’s Horsemen. By the end of it, I could canter without any hands. I could play catch with balls while on a horse… It’s the best part of the job – you get paid to learn!
As the actress told Total Film Magazine (via GamesRadar), she took the time to train the awesome skills her character will show off in Rise of Skywalker for almost a year with horses. It sounds like Jannah can do some cool multi-tasking on the orbak that is sure to be impressive to witness on the big screen in December.
Jannah is one of four main new characters we’ll meet in Rise of Skywalker. Richard E. Grant, Keri Russell and Dominic Monaghan will also play curious characters in the Star Wars universe we’ve yet to meet. Some have theorized Naomi Ackie’s character will be the daughter of Lando Calrissian. Billy Dee Williams is returning after all, and when asked this at the Star Wars Celebration, she didn’t deflate the rumor. It would certainly weave well into the pattern of family members often being explored and shockingly revealed throughout the franchise.
Naomi Ackie will also join the cast including Oscar Isaac, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Mark Hamill, Lupita Nyong’o, Domhnall Gleeson, Kelly Marie Tran and Carrie Fisher. It will wrap up an over 40 year saga that has revolved around the Skywalkers. The new Star Wars movie comes to theaters on December 20.
