The Star Wars movies have never shied away from death, which was a constant threat throughout George Lucas' original trilogy. From Obi Wan Kenobi, Darth Vader, Emperor Palpatine and Yoda, to Luke Skywalker's Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru, numerous characters died in emotional scenes. The prequels saw even more of this, with Qui Gon Jinn, Darth Maul, Shmi (Anakin Skywalker's mother), Mace Windu and Padme Amidala all counted among those who lost their lives as the Jedi and Sith waged their brutal war.

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The list of the dead goes on and on, which makes sense given that Star Wars has always revolved around the battle against cosmic tyranny and dictatorship. Then came Rogue One: A Star Wars story, a film that preceded A New Hope's narrative and, well, no one made it out alive, a turn that regulated in the most war-driven and grueling film in the franchise to date. In times of war, there will be casualties -- a theme fans somehow tend to forget -- which is why J.J. Abrams' Star Wars: The Force Awakens, shocked everyone when Kylo Ren killed his father, Han Solo.

From what we've seen thus far of director Rian Johnson's Star Wars: The Last Jedi, the sequel appears to be one of, if not the darkest Star Wars films of all time. The latest trailer not only depicts all-out war between the First Order and the Resistance, it also highlights the familial struggle within the Skywalkers, from Luke to Leia to Kylo Ren, as well as the battle between the Light and Dark sides of the Force through Rey and Supreme Leader Snoke. What the trailer also did was paint the stakes higher than ever and cast ominous shadows over what's to come. So with this harrowing impression left on us, it must be asked -- who will die next in the Star Wars universe?

General Leia Organa is the most obvious choice for a couple reasons, including the most tragic: Carrie Fisher's death. While Disney has kept mum on whether her character will perish in this film, the company has made it clear that she won't be in Abrams' Episode IX. In the trailer, we see Kylo Ren in his ship, hand on trigger, seemingly ready to kill his mother. "Let the past die. Kill it if you have to. That's the only way you'll become what you were meant to be," he says in voiceover, hinting that he could be gearing to take his other parent out, bringing him full-circle to the Dark Side.

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We already saw Kylo's inner-conflict illustrated in The Force Awakens,, which he alleviated by murdering his father, so perhaps Leia's death would serve its purpose in terms of completing the transformation he began by betraying his Uncle Luke, years ago. Despite Disney's protests, it's possible Leia could survive and return, briefly, in Abrams' sequel through some clever editing of footage that hd already been shot at the time of her passing. But we're guessing her story ends here, out of respect for Fisher and for what her character means to so many fans.

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Luke is another solid candidate to meet the Grim Reaper. We glimpsed him in the trailer, with his back literally to the rocks, looking defeated on what appears to be the cliffs of Ahch-To, where he exiled himself. "This is not going to go the way you think!" he declares, perhaps to someone who has gotten the upper-hand on him. Is it Kylo returning to finish the job he started when he destroyed the Jedi Temple?

Or, given the disillusionment he showed with the ideals of the Jedi in the teaser trailer a few months ago, could tension have brewed between him and Rey in her training, tension which leads to a fight? It's hard to see any of these folks besting the Jedi Master, but Luke is older and out of practice, so perhaps his mental and physical disenchantment with the galaxy -- and more so, the Light Side -- could lead to his downfall.

While the Skywalkers are the clear picks, Snoke has potential to be making his final Star Wars appearance, if Kylo follows the history of Sith apprentices who kill their masters. Maybe Kylo has been the one using Snoke, and not the other way around. The fact that we see his hand outstretched to Rey, perhaps asking her to join him, could mean that just like the ay in which Luke wanted to look at the Jedi in a different light, Kylo may similarly have a new ideology on the Dark Side, even though he was never really confirmed as a Sith. Killing his master would be quite a shock, especially as fans have yet to really dive into his history with Snoke, but it could cement Kylo as a truly ruthless Force-wielder who doesn't care which side his mentors are on.

Of course, another wildcard pick is Kylo himself. What if Rey decides to act on her impulse and kill him based on his past actions? This would truly place her in a precarious position, with Luke and Snoke now literally battling for her soul.

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Then there are the players not directly affiliated with the Force. We saw Finn fighting Phasma and then being imprisoned by the First Order. We don't know the order of how this unfolds, so any one of these situations could lead to his demise. Dying at Phasma's hand or a public execution by General Hux and the First Order would send shockwaves throughout the galaxy, reminding everyone that these are serious times.

Poe Dameron could also be biting off more than he could chew; the trailer shows Snoke's army coming out hard for vengeance after their Starkiller Base was destroyed, after all. Kylo's prowess with his TIE Silencer spacefighter was highlighted, and with that many ships attacking, it's entirely possible Poe's luck runs out.

It's also important to remember that there are also a few robots on the table. R2-D2 or C-3PO could also bite the dust, bringing to end quite a storied career. If Johnson wants another legacy death, then these two would make perfect candidates. Given that they're not human, it might lessen the blow, but then again, they've been such crucial elements of Lucas' vision, any one dying would be tough to take.

Opening Dec. 15, Star Wars: The Last Jedi features returning cast members Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker, Carrie Fisher as General Leia Organa, Adam Driver as Kylo Ren, Daisy Ridley as Rey, John Boyega as Finn, Oscar Isaac as Poe Dameron, Lupita Nyong’o as Maz Kanata, Domhnall Gleeson as General Hux, Anthony Daniels as C-3PO, Gwendoline Christie as Captain Phasma and Andy Serkis as Supreme Leader Snoke, joined by franchise newcomers Kelly Marie Tran as Rose, Benicio del Toro as “DJ” and Laura Dern as Vice Admiral Amilyn Holdo.