The highly-anticipated first trailer of "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" has been premiered online, garnering worldwide social media reactions. The eighth installment of the saga is due to be released in the US on December 15.
Director Rian Johnson unveiled the trailer at the "Star Wars Celebration" fan event in Orlando, Florida. The two-minute clip shows Rey, portrayed by English actress Daisy Ridley, learning how to use the Force. A voice, which appears to be protagonist Luke Skywalker, played in the movie franchise by Mark Hamill, appears to be instructing her.
The video ends with the ominous message "It's time for the Jedi to end," sending fans online into speculations as to where the narrative of the latest installment of the space saga might lead.
Shrouded in mystery
Disney has been teasing snippets of footage and releasing production stills from "The Last Jedi" for a while, having revealed over a year ago that the eighth installment would take longer than was originally planned to be released.
The trailer for "The Last Jedi" was dropped eight months before its releaseImage: picture-alliance/AP Photo/Industrial Light & Magic/Lucasfilm
The trailer, however, received close to half a million views on YouTube in the first few hours being posted, while #TheLastJedi became the top trending hashtag worldwide.
Although the teaser revealed little about the film, "The Last Jedi" seems to pick up where the previous episode, "The Force Awakens," left off. Daisy Ridley said at the "Star Wars Celebration" event that the newest episode would deeply explore her character Rey. Co-star Hamill confirmed that the narrative was a slight departure from focusing on Luke Skywalker's journey:
"To a certain extent, it's not Luke's story anymore. But I think he's an important part to the overall arc of the saga and again, there's a lot of mystery about him, even within the film," said Hamill. "The Last Jedi" producer J.J. Abrams, who previously had directed "The Force Awakens," hailed Mark Hamill's performance in the film, saying it could land him an Oscar nomination.
Return of Carrie Fisher
The film will also star Carrie Fisher, who made the franchise famous in her role as Princess Leia. Fisher died in December after finishing the production of "The Last Jedi." She is briefly seen in the trailer.
Fisher's daughter, actress Billie Lourd, came to the event in Florida dressed in a mini version of Fisher's iconic gown in the film as a tribute to her mother.
Goodbye Princess Leia: A tribute to 'Star Wars' actress Carrie Fisher
To moviegoers around the world, she is forever known as Princess Leia. But Carrie Fisher also appeared in several other cult movies, such as "Blues Brothers" and "When Harry Met Sally." DW looks back at her roles.
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Iconic role: Princess Leia
This is how we knew her, and it's how we will always remember her - as Leia Organa, leader of the rebellion against the Empire. Fisher played the role for the first time when she was just 19. In six "Star Wars" segments (including "Rogue One") she filled the role of the courageous Princess with life.
In "Shampoo" (1975) Fisher appeared on the big screen for the first time. In this comedy, she seduces Beverly Hills hairdresser George Roundy (played by Warren Beatty). "Shampoo" received one Academy Award along with several more Oscar and Golden Globe nominations. Later, Fisher decried that Beatty had asked her to act in front of the camera without a bra.
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A breakthrough: Star Wars
A mere two years later, Fisher plays Princess Leia for the first time. In "Star Wars episode IV: A New Hope" she and droid R2-D2 (pictured) try to neutralize the devastating Death Star (a moon-shaped space station). That film received a whopping six Oscars - and Carrie Fisher would be part of a highly successful ensemble cast from now on.
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Famous siblings
Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill shared screentime in three "Star Wars" installments, playing twins Leia Organa and Luke Skywalker, respectively. Their last collaboration was "Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi," which was released in 2017. Hamill has expressed deep sadness over the loss of his colleague.
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A powerful trio: Han Solo, Leia, Luke Skywalker
Han Solo (played by Harrison Ford) is not a volunteer but is rather dragged into the mission of saving the galaxy. However, Luke, Leia and the smuggler-turned-rebel leader develop into a powerful alliance. This "Star Wars" episode also marked Harrison Ford's breakthrough in Hollywood.
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Carrie Fisher and Paul Simon
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Fisher had an on-and-off relationship with Paul Simon (of Simon & Garfunkel fame). They were even married for two years (1983-4). Simon's song "Hearts and Bones" is a tribute to his relationship with the actress.
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New terrain
In 1980, Fisher switched from the "Star Wars" set to that of "Blues Brothers." In this legendary comedy, Fisher played the ex-girlfriend of protagonist Jake (John Belushi). She fires at him with an assault rifle for walking out on her. Allegedly, there was a cocaine bar on the set, and Fisher's job was to keep Belushi away from the drugs.
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Return of the Jedi (1983)
In several "Star Wars" segments, the droid C-3PO - a human robot - acted as Princess Leia's companion - including her imprisonment as a slave to evil Jabba the Hutt. The talkative robot was brought to life by actor Anthony Daniels.
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War against the Galactic Empire
Another member of the "Star Wars" combat team led by Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia was Chewbacca. The furry Chewie, a member of the Wookiee species, is played by Peter Mayhew, an actor who is 2,21m (over seven feet) tall. When Fisher had suffered her heart attack, Mayhew posted a tweet headlined, "Thoughts and prayers for our friend and everyone's favorite princess right now."
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"When Harry Met Sally" (1989)
1989 saw Fisher appearing in another comedy: "When Harry Met Sally." She played Marie, the best friend of heroine Sally (Meg Ryan). In the movie, she has a brief relationship with Harry (Billy Crystal) before eventually marrying his friend Jess (Bruno Kirby).
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"Episode VII: The Force Awakens" (2015)
Han Solo and Princess Leia have a son, Kylo Ren, who has deserted to the other side and become a dark warrior of the Force. She continues to lead the rebellion, including the one against the New Order. Fisher and Harrison Ford were not just close as film characters. In her autobiography, "The Princess Diarist" (2016) she mentions details of the affair they had during the 1976 filming.
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Carrie Fisher as writer
In addition to her acting career, Fisher published a total of eight books, including five novels. Lately, she published her autobiography, "The Princess Diarist" - her third memoir after "Wishful Drinking" and "Shockaholic."
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The fight against drugs
Suffering from a bipolar disorder and drug addiction herself, Fisher kept adressing psychic illnesses and addictions. In 2016 she received a Harvard University "Lifetime Achievement Award in Cultural Humanism" for her public engagement. On 27 December, she passed away after complications arising from a massive heart attack.
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Death of an Actress
Carrie Fisher passed away on the morning of 27 December, 2016, as a result of a severe heart attack suffered a few days before. She had collapsed on a long-distance flight from London prior to touchdown in Los Angeles and had received treatment at UCLA Medical Center. According to media reports she had just finished work on the British sitcom "Catastrophe."
