By: Nick Gambino
Star Wars movies are slated to hit theaters pretty much every year from now until who knows when, with The Force Awakens and Rogue One having already opened to big business (Rogue One just crossed $1 billion worldwide).
The next film on the Galaxy Far, Far Away roster is Episode VIII, the anxiously awaited sequel to The Force Awakens, the latest in the Skywalker saga. Until now we’ve only known it as Episode VIII but now we know the official title is Star Wars: The Last Jedi.
The title was revealed Monday on the official Star Wars website. So what does it mean? Is this an ominous foreshadowing or the beginning of an uptick in Jedi population?
If I had to make an educated guess based on numerous viewings of Episode VII, I’d say “The Last Jedi” alludes to Luke Skywalker who appeared only at the end of the last film. If you’re one of the 3 people who’ve yet to see it and consider that a spoiler then I’ll warn you that there are more ahead. So, as I’m legally required to do – Spoiler Alert!
Luke has sent himself into exile after his efforts to train new Jedi failed and his star protégé Kylo Ren turned to the Dark Side. So it’s safe to say at this point he is the last Jedi after having been the Return of the Jedi back in ’83.
Now we don’t know enough about Rey’s (Daisy Ridley) origin to know whether she’s truly a Jedi or not. She did find Luke’s lightsaber and showed her skill with it and the Force at the end when the Force…you know…Awakened.
But that doesn’t mean she’s a Jedi yet. You’re not a Jedi just because of your lineage (maybe she’s Obi-Wan’s daughter or granddaughter?) or because the Force is strong with you. If you’ll recall Anakin and Luke both trained before they were Jedi. Though Episode VIII may jump ahead and show Rey well into or complete with her training.
And hey maybe, just maybe, she already trained to be a Jedi when she was young and her amnesia has made her forget most of what she learned. How about that for far-fetched, huh?
Alright, so the title could refer to Rey being the last Jedi which may mean they kill off Luke in yet another effort to rip my heart out of my chest and stomp it into the ground. (What is with Han trusting the wrong people at the wrong time? Lando, Kylo, I mean, come on, it was bound to be his downfall.)
This last theory where Luke meets his demise would explain the use of the color red in the new movie title instead of the usual yellow. Red looks more sinister and is the color of more than one Sith’s saber (pretty much all of them).
Now “Jedi” can be both singular and plural so optimistically the title refers to both Rey and Luke and neither one has to die. Yay for optimism!
For now it’s nothing but speculation and we’ll have to wait until December 15th 2017 when all will be revealed. Star Wars: The Last Jedi is being written and directed by Rian Johnson (Looper) with J.J. Abrams producing. The main cast, minus Harrison Ford, are all returning including the late great Carrie Fisher who passed away in December.
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