The first footage from J.J. Abrams' Star Wars: Episode IX is expected to drop before Christmas. Plus, in addition to a look at the galaxy far, far away in a post-Luke Skywalker world, there could also be the big announcement of the movie's official title.
According to Star Wars News Net, audiences will be able to get behind the controls of the Millennium Falcon before the end of December, so for Star Wars fans who've stuck with the series since 1977 to newcomers alike, Christmas will be coming early if Episode IX gives a festive tease. The report suggests that footage will arrive in the next 7-10 days. Of course, while the site says that the source is trusted, it also reminds everyone that it could be a cryptic behind-the-scenes video as opposed to a full trailer.
The article also points out that The Force Awakens premiered its first trailer alongside Peter Jackson's The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies. If a full trailer was coming, insiders at Trailer-Track claim it would be available online by now. Sadly, Disney's previous Star Wars movies don't offer much insight. The Force Awakens showed a teaser 13 months before the movie's release and followed it with more footage throughout the following year. Elsewhere, The Last Jedi waited until April and then sprinkled a series of trailers and TV spots.
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The sequel to 2017's The Last Jedi will round off the sequel trilogy that was started by Abrams with The Force Awakens in 2015. Franchise favorites Mark Hamill, the late Carrie Fisher, John Boyega and Daisy Ridley will be back, alongside newcomers including Richard E. Grant and Keri Russell. That being said, there is still a veil of mystery surrounding Abrams' threequel.
December 19 could be the time for Star Wars: Episode IX to shine, though, thanks to it being the date that the last Darth Vader: Dark Lord of the Sith issue hits shelves and various reports that Disney wants to air footage before Mary Poppins Returns steals the studio's limelight. However, with nearly a year to go before Abrams rounds off the story of Kylo Ren and Rey, an action-packed full trailer would be a little optimistic right now.
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Ultimately, the first Star Wars: Episode IX trailer isn't likely to give away any major spoilers but is sure to give everyone enough to talk about for now. Sources already suggested that the Episode IX trailer would drop this month, but it's currently unclear what will be shown and when. Considering trailers for Avengers: Endgame and an upcoming first-look at Hellboy have also landed in December, the battle for the box office is on in 2019.
Directed and co-written by J.J. Abrams, Star Wars: Episode IX stars Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Domhnall Gleeson, Kelly Marie Tran, Joonas Suotamo, Billie Lourd, Keri Russell, Matt Smith, Anthony Daniels, Mark Hamill, Billy Dee Williams and Carrie Fisher, with Naomi Ackie and Richard E. Grant. The film is scheduled to open on Dec. 20, 2019.