Star Wars: Episode IX The Chosen One

"After the darkness Shines through the light."

- Rise of the New Jedi tagline

Star Wars: Episode IX Rise of the New Jedi, marketed as Star Wars: Rise of the New Jedi, is a 2019 film directed by J.J. Abrams from a script by Abrams and Chris Terrio and produced by Kathleen Kennedy, Abrams, and Michelle Rejwan. It is the third and final film in the Star Wars sequel trilogy. The film sees the return of Mark Hamill, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong'o, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, Kelly Marie Tran, and Benicio Del Toro.

Rise of the New Jedi begins one year after the events of Star Wars: Episode VIII The Last Jedi, set thirty years after the conclusion of the original Star Wars trilogy. It concludes the story of the war between the Resistance and the First Order.

The film was released in theaters on December 20, 2019.

Synopsis
In Lucasfilm's Star Wars: Rise of the New Jedi, the Skywalker saga concludes.

Development


Unofficial reports claimed in November 2012 that Lawrence Kasdan&mdash;who originally wrote the screenplays for both Star Wars Episode V The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars Episode VI Return of the Jedi&mdash;and Simon Kinberg would divide writing responsibilities for Star Wars Episode VIII The Last Jedi and Star Wars: Episode IX Rise of the New Jedi, and both would co-produce all three films of the upcoming sequel trilogy, alongside Kathleen Kennedy. However, in February 2013, Disney confirmed that Kasdan and Kinberg were working on standalone films, not main episodes. It was also believed that Rian Johnson&mdash;who had signed on to direct Episode VIII&mdash;would write the treatment for Episode IX, though this was later denied by Johnson. In August 2015, Colin Trevorrow was announced as director for Episode IX. Johnson and Trevorrow worked closely to ensure continuity between their respective films. Trevorrow planned to shoot on 65 mm film, and wanted to capture some footage in actual outer space. According to Kasdan, the Lucasfilm creative team developed a general idea early on as to how they wanted the film to end.

Death of Carrie Fisher
"The minute she finished, she grabbed me and said, 'I'd better be at the forefront of IX!' Because Harrison was front and center on VII, and Mark is front and center on VIII. She thought IX would be her movie. And it would have been."

- The Last Jedi director Rian Johnson on Carrie Fisher

Carrie Fisher passed away on December 27, 2016. In light of this, Trevorrow met with Kennedy in January 2017 to discuss possible story solutions. Kennedy said that the team had "pretty much started over," and it was reported that Jack Thorne was hired to rewrite the initial script. However, in September 2017, it was announced that Trevorrow had left the project due to creative differences, and would be replaced by The Force Awakens director J.J. Abrams, who would also co-write the film with Chris Terrio. Disney agreed to pay a fee to Paramount so that Abrams could make the film, as he had been in breach of contract with the latter by his involvement in The Force Awakens.

Lucasfilm dispelled rumors that it would digitally recreate Fisher in future films. Fisher's brother Todd claimed he and Billie Lourd had granted Lucasfilm rights to use recent footage of her. However, Kennedy later confirmed that Fisher will not be in the film.

Production
"I had no intention to return. But when the opportunity presented itself to finish a story that we had begun with these new characters, to tell the last chapter of their story, it felt like there was a chance to do it in a way where we could go beyond, and do better than we did in Seven."

- J.J. Abrams on returning to Star Wars



Principal photography began in June 2018. Some sequences were filmed with IMAX cameras.

Music
During a concert with the Young Musician's Foundation Debut Orchestra on February 9, 2013, composer John Williams said he was hoping to get the chance to write the musical scores for the sequel trilogy films. It was implied in Star Wars Insider 144 that he would score the entire "new Star Wars trilogy," but Lucasfilm clarified that he has only been confirmed for Episode VII. Williams was later confirmed for Episode VIII and Episode IX as well.

Release
The film was originally scheduled for release on May 24, 2019, but was later pushed back to December 20.