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Star Wars 9: The Rise Of Skywalker Photos Reveal New Heroes, Villains, And Planets

Meet Zorri Bliss, General Pryde, and Jannah.

40 Comments

Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker is the final part in the trilogy that kicked off with 2015's The Force Awakens, and it releases in December. The first trailer arrived in April and gave fans a taste of what to expect from the movie, which is directed by JJ Abrams. Now a new batch of images has been released.

The images come via Vanity Fair, which has published an extensive feature about The Rise of Skywalker. They reveal some of the movie's new characters, alongside familiar faces. In terms of new villains, there's the amazing-looking "masked scoundrel" Zorri Bliss (Keri Russell) on the planet Kijimi, and First Order leader Allegiant General Pryde (Richard E. Grant) pictured alongside General Hux.

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Now Playing: Star Wars: Episode 9 "The Rise Of Skywalker" Teaser Trailer Breakdown

The good guys are represented by Jannah (Naomi Ackie), seen riding a creature called an Orbak alongside Finn, plus a group of Aki-Aki, who are natives of the planet Pasaana. Over at Vanity Fair's site you can also see new pictures of Rey, Kylo, Lando, Chewie, R2-D2, and Luke.

Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker hits theaters on December 19. Abrams returned to direct after helming 2015's The Force Awakens, although he wasn't the first choice of director. Jurassic World's Colin Trevorrow was initially hired, but he left the movie in September 2017.

The film stars Daisy Ridley as Rey, Adam Driver as Kylo Ren, John Boyega as Finn, Oscar Isaac as Poe Dameron, Kelly Marie Tran as Rose Tico, Lupita Nyong'o as Maz Kanata, Domhnall Gleeson as General Hux, Mark Hamill as Luke, and Billy Dee Williams as Lando. It will also include an appearance from Carrie Fisher. Although Fisher died before production began, she will appear in footage originally shot for 2017's The Last Jedi. For more, check out everything we know about Star Wars Episode IX.

Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker isn't the only new Star Wars release that fans have to look forward to this year. It has also been confirmed that the live-action TV show The Mandalorian will be available on the streaming service Disney+ when it launches on November 12.

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deactivated-5d4c0b80dcd76

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Totally indifferent to the current trilogy, but I'll still go see it. Star Wars has become the same as watching your favorite professional or your undergraduate college football team have either a mediocre or otherwise really bad losing season....if you're a fan you'll still watch it even if it sucks. SW is in a state of beyond repair or remediation right now. I think the first step might be for the writers to map and plan out the entire screenplay for the next trilogy rather than treating it like Lost or Scandal where all the episodes are written on a semi-weekly basis. Maybe also make Rai turn to the dark side and get killed in the process??

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Elranzer

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The Carrie Fisher footage is from The Force Awakens, not The Last Jedi.

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Sindroid

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Im BORED of this franchise.. Yawn.

Yeah you dont care.. get it.

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dzimm

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Edited By dzimm

Looking at that shot of Jar Jar at 20-seconds in is stunning. The Phantom Menace was made in 1999, and 20-years later, the character still looks 100% photorealistic, and in full sunlight!

Anyway, Rise of Skywalker looks just as dumb as the previous two.

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gul_darheel

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It's hard to see how a director can correct the last jedi's terrible flaws, and make a successful end of the jedi sith conflict and a successful end to 9 star wars films in a 2 hour film. Would be a miracle!

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PETERAKO

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Yay, more unsold figures!

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deactivated-5d4e6334bc1ce

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I liked Rogue One. I shall be seeing Rogue (Two?). This I shall not see... maybe rent. Yes I will rent this someday.

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salty101

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Even animated Carrie Fisher said they ruined Star Wars.

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Pierce_Sparrow

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I'm excited about the empty theater I'll be seeing this in on opening night....

Ahh, who am I kidding, everyone's going to be seeing this.

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Terrorantula

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It's just not Star Wars to me anymore, I cannot believe I prefer the days of the Prequels.

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dzimm

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@Terrorantula: The prequels are damn good movies and criminally underrated. George Lucas has more imagination, creativity, and storytelling sense in his left ass cheek than JJ Abrams has in his whole body.

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Terrorantula

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@dzimm: I personally didn't like them at all, but I did like their world building, but now I miss them for their creativity.

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Wraith3

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@Terrorantula: I'm from the OT gen and I generally liked the Prequels. I'm done with these after what they did to Luke. I'd rather watch 3hrs. of what Jar Jar is up to at that time instead of ruining Luke.

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Dirty_Window

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@Terrorantula: A semi famous YouTuber said when Disney bought the rights that "we'd be screaming for George Lucas before the end". He was right.

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Pyrosa

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Easy enough to just set expectations to "popcorn," like any other Disney/Marvel film, and maybe there will be some good scenes.

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esqueejy

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Let the butthurt flow through you....

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maustin5

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This is the first star wars movie i have zero interest in seeing. This series is beyond repair, they need to do a clean reboot.

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Izraal

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@maustin5: In what way do you consider the franchise beyond repair, maustin5?

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Packer1080

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Edited By Packer1080

@izraal: The mythology is dead. It's basically like Terminator now. The previous films destroyed how great they were. I kid you not. Watching the end of the Last of the Jedi my heart sank. Why? Because I didn't care what happened next. None of it mattered to me anymore. I don't hate Star Wars I just don't care anymore and that actually upsets me more.

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Izraal

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@Packer1080: I suppose you might be right about the mythology being dead, but that was a very intentional choice of the most recent core Star Wars title, The Last Jedi, to actively demolish the mythology that the franchise had been reiterating essentially for decades both in fiction and in the real world to pave the way for something new. "Burn your traditions and heritage, etc," it wasn't subtle about it. The setting is rich enough to adapt to change, and if anything I'd say the film actually made me more excited for future iterations since, for essentially the first time with a core franchise title, I didn't find the major beats of the story predictable.

It's nice to see a movie where you don't entirely know in advance how the story will go, and that wasn't something I could really say for Star Wars films, prior to The Last Jedi. Admittedly abandoning a "template" puts a franchise into uncharted territory, which could be good or bad depending on the execution. The Terminator example, where the movies that broke from the "heritage" of the originals were perceived to be of lesser quality, doesn't have to apply to all films that attempt to break away from tradition, but I can see why you have cause for worry.

In short, I agree with you on the mythology being dead. Whether or not that's a good thing or not will depend on the execution of the films that follow. As a self contained film, The Last Jedi was obviously excellent. Whether it will have good or poor ramifications for the franchise going forward, time will tell. So, I understand your trepidation - was The Last Jedi a fantastic "standalone" film that damaged the storytelling potential of the franchise going forward? We won't know until we see where they take it from here.

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dzimm

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@Packer1080: As far as I'm concerned, Star Wars is a six-film saga that started in 1977 and ended in 2005.

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HBninjaX

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Edited By HBninjaX

caring about Star Warts

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deactivated-5d0a4c3876874

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I think this one will be better than previous 2(7&8) due to the little involvement that George had in it.(Abrams asked some guidance from him from what I've heard)

But it will be less successful than 7&8.

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Utnayan

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They killed everything with Last Jedi. Rian Johnson is a stain on the SW franchise and to think this guy will get his own 3 part series? HOW? His only SW film tanked in all directions and ruined any hope for a decent conclusion. So yeah, don't care about this movie at all - can watch it when it hits Netflix.

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Zenopants

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@Utnayan: "Can watch it when it hits Netflix"

Um...no.

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Utnayan

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@Zenopants: Oh that's right. Well, I guess I'll rent it from Redbox :)

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jsprunk

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Meh. I think I'm quite done with crappy Disney movies.

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Packer1080

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Pass.

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videogameninja

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Wonder how this one will be received in relation to the previous installment.

-FAN WARS: NO HOPE… NINJA APPROVED-

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untouchables111

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im super excited for this film. i loved the others and am very pleased with the story direction.

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UltimateBastard

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@untouchables111: Just out of interest, what was it that pleased you about the story direction?

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untouchables111

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@UltimateBastard:well for starters This is how i personally see the films and whats been laid out. its not fact other than what actually happened in the films.

the largest overall was the fact the the entire series has always followed that the Jedi had to be these special people. when in fact the message built in to these films goes against that and its explained... most notably in TLJ..

Force awakens: Provides a taste of whats happening in this story. its about this person who is a no body from a junker planet. not special by any means. struggles her life to scrap for food money. Its not until the next file that it actually makes sense why that film was the way it was. the movie ends with a boy living in similar hardship force pulling a broom to his aid... and the crowd goes wild.. that moment revealed so much. The Jedi dont own the force.

The last Jedi: Luke is seen at the very end of the force awakens and that sparked huge excitement with fans.. yet his position as the story progress is...He's done. He feels he failed and became disillusioned with Order of what was, and now what can no longer be. Here comes the ambitious Rey who only wants to understand who she is...she, assumed to be a nobody has the ability to use the force in an advanced way. Luke breaks down and decides to guide her on WHY the Jedi must end...Because the force is not owned by the Jedi they are not special.. that scene where he makes her close her eyes....to truly understand it all, it spoke so true to what the entire 3 films are about. Kylo message at the end... forget the "side taking" let us create a new era..she want him to revert because he actually (i believe) believes in what Rey says.

The Rise of Skywalker: I expect this film will focus on Rey fight to turn Kylo with the entire premise being Lukes message. to break the cycle that the jedi are not the only special ones who can use the force. i expect Kylo to die and we will never know who Reys parents were. she is a no body and thats not going to change. Palpatine will ultimately die by Reys hands. but how.. Her life was one of an untrained mind..she fought for everything she had she developed seemingly advanced control of the force... is she perhaps Palpatines kid...maybe... doubt it would be that simple especially since that kids also could use the force and being of the same life of hardship. she will win the fight simply because she is a survivor a fighter with a will to live...look at the trailer why did they use that clip.. cause it shows her determination to control the force. it captures he passion to fight.

anyway that what ive taken from these films and im excited to see what happens. Palpatine did what luke did..that why he was hidden

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dzimm

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@untouchables111: "Force awakens: Provides a taste of whats happening in this story. its about this person who is a no body from a junker planet. not special by any means. struggles her life to scrap for food money."

Sort of like how The Phantom Menace introduced us to a young slave, a nobody working in a junk shop, right?

Just another example of how these new movies are recycling old ideas.

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untouchables111

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@dzimm: in a way sorta.. the difference being that Anakin was found by Jedi masters and took on as a padawan. he was specifically talked to about the force and how he might be "special" enough.. Reys story gives the same initial feeling but we have yet to learn anything more than what we see from her surviving in the beginning of the film.

If anything the notion of it being recycled idea....it would make perfect sense to use that initial setup (same as Luke fyi) to begin with.. if what i explained above is true., that is the end of the jedi...as Luke explained the Jedi are not special people who are the only ones the force lives in...blah blah....then it fits even better because then all three "hero" began the same, as in they were not special at all and their personal hardship life style advanced their attunement of the force beyond most others..

we have always know the force lives ion all things but only the jedi can wielder of it.

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dzimm

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Edited By dzimm

@untouchables111: "Reys story gives the same initial feeling but we have yet to learn anything more than what we see from her surviving in the beginning of the film."

Except for the scene in the cantina basement where Maz essentially tells Rey, "You're special!" and the fact that she (Rey) effortlessly overcomes every obstacle throughout her adventure up to the defeat of her nemesis in one-on-one combat. A character really doesn't get more special than that. (I've heard rumors that Kathleen Kennedy insisted on a story where the female protagonist defeats the male villain in the end, and the rest of the film was crafted in service of that climax).

As for the idea that Jedi are "special", a key plot thread in the prequels was about deconstructing that notion. Much of what happened with the rise of Darth Sidious and the Jedi Council's failure to predict and prevent it is because the Jedi had become arrogant and complacent. I think Qui-Gon was the last true Jedi until Luke, a man who was despised by his peers as rebel but who was willing to keep his eyes open instead of being locked in to a paralyzing philosophy.

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Packer1080

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@untouchables111: Well some people are junkies and you can't help them till they hit rock bottom. Don't worry. You're getting there.

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untouchables111

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@Packer1080: sounds like you have experience... thanks for the tip bud

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Packer1080

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@untouchables111: Good go collect your check from the Disney lot.

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Pierce_Sparrow

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@Packer1080: So because he enjoys what Disney did with the franchise, he's bought? I have enjoyed it too. Many people have.

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untouchables111

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@Packer1080: for an opinion.. sweet.. u know how to get there..

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