Decoding the new Star Wars trailer

The trailer for the final film in the Star Wars sequel trilogy has dropped, leaving tons of clues for fans to chew on as they wait for the film’s release on December 20, 2019.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is slated to be the longest Star Wars film yet. The trailer teases a lot and promises a film that is at once action-packed (with J.J. Abrams directing it) and emotive.

Some takeaways from the trailer are below.

The resistance fights back

The trailer promises a large battle, as a fleet of Resistance ships are shown gathering for battle, presumably with the First Order. The rebuilding of the Resistance Fleet takes place in between the new film and the last one, and will be covered in the comic ‘Star Wars: The Resistance Reborn’ which will be released on November 5.

Emperor Palpatine is back

A golden rule of cinema is that unless you see someone die on screen, they may not be truly dead. Emperor Palpatine, the man who turned the Galactic Republic into an empire, was last seen in Episode, pushed down a shaft in the Death Star by Darth Vader.

But, a voiceover by Luke in the earlier teaser, saying, “No one's ever really gone” suggested that he was to return. In the new trailer, this is confirmed with a visual from over his shoulder, in some kind of mechanical body a voiceover (“long have I waited!”) combined with the subtitle showing his name. The sight of his former throne in the new trailer suggests that he may be seeking his former glory.

New locations

A desert planet, a forest planet and an ice planet were shown. In addition, the sight of horses on top of a Star Destroyer suggests that the ships are parked somewhere with an atmosphere.

C-3PO may be on his way out

The iconic golden robot has been a staple of Star Wars films since the very beginning. In Episode 9, however, C-3PO may finally see his end at the trailer suggests an ominous ending for him, as he desires to look at his friends one last time.

It could also be that his memories may be wiped (or restored) again, as his circuits had been erased of all the events that took place before episode IV (A New Hope).

Will Kylo Ren join the good side?

Ren has proved a highly fickle character so far in terms of joining the Dark or ‘Good’ side of the Force. While he refuses Rey’s offer to join the good guys in the last episode, the trailer shows him fighting side by side with Rey. Could the vision seen in Episode 8 where they were both seen to become partners at some point end up happening?

More Rey-Ren fights are on the charts, as the two can be seen duelling at a watery location.

Unresolved questions include the role that ‘broom kid’—the boy seen at the end of Episode 8 summoning a broom with the force—will play in this film.