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Rey, Finn, and Poe are back... and the Force is with them!
MOVIE SPECIAL Rian Johnson The Last Jedi’s director on Luke, Rey, Finn, and the most ground-breaking Star Wars movie to date!
All Access Interviews Mark Hamill, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Adam Driver, and more inside.
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A MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR ™
JAN/FEB 2018
WELCOME...
TITAN EDITORIAL
And so here we finally are. After two anxious years of waiting, The Last Jedi is here. When Rian Johnson was first announced as the director I was thrilled. His debut feature, Brick (2005), is a personal favorite—a brilliantly stylish and witty high school detective story, it clearly marked the arrival of a major new directorial talent. Johnson followed it up with The Brothers Bloom (2008) and Looper (2012), two films that couldn’t be more different from each other, but which shared Brick’s impressive visuals, intriguing characters and ability to surprise. However, I wasn’t surprised that The Last Jedi had all of those qualities in abundance. Of course, while this is the middle part of a trilogy, it’s also a film of new beginnings. The beginning of Rey embracing what seems like her true calling in life; of Luke taking on a new student; of Finn finding a place in the Resistance. And of new characters, like Rose, stepping up and choosing to fight back against an imposing enemy. It’s also a film of endings. This is the final time that we will see Carrie Fisher play Leia—a character that has meant so much to so many people for over 40 years. But stop and think about how incredible that is. Who could possibly have imagined back in 1977 that we’d be seeing her taking center stage once more, four decades later? Enjoy the issue and, more importantly, let us know what you thought of The Last Jedi.
Senior Executive Editor / Divinia Fleary Editor / Will Salmon Editor at Large / Jonathan Wilkins Copy Editor / Simon Hugo Editorial Assistants / Tolly Maggs, Jake Devine Art Editor / Andrew Leung LUCASFILM Senior Editor / Brett Rector Image Archives / Newell Todd, Erik Sanchez, Bryce Pinkos, Nicole LaCoursiere, Tim Mapp Art Director / Troy Alders Creative Director / Michael Siglain Story Group / Pablo Hidalgo, Leland Chee, Matt Martin CONTRIBUTORS Chris Cooper, Simon Hugo, Tricia Barr, Kristin Baver, Meagan Crouse, Daniel Wallace SPECIAL THANKS TO Lucy Goldsmith, Erich Schoeneweiss at Random House, Martin Eden, Holly McIntosh, Joseph Taraborrelli, Andrea Towers and Jim Nausedas at Marvel Comics, Lizzy Draeger, Tracy Cannobbio and Chris Argyropoulos at Lucasfilm TITAN MAGAZINES Senior Production Controller / Jackie Flook Production Supervisor / Maria Pearson Production Controller / Peter James Art Director / Oz Browne Senior Sales Managers / Steve Tothill, Santoosh Maharaj Circulation Assistant / Frances Hallam Direct Sales & Marketing Manager Ricky Claydon Subscriptions Executive / Tony Ho Brand Manager, Marketing / Lucy Ripper Commercial Manager / Michelle Fairlamb Advertising Assistant / Tom Miller U.S. Advertising Manager / Jeni Smith Publishing Manager / Darryl Tothill Publishing Director / Chris Teather Operations Director / Leigh Baulch Executive Director / Vivian Cheung Publisher / Nick Landau DISTRIBUTION U.S. Newsstand / Total Publisher Services, Inc. John Dziewiatkowski, 630-851-7683 U.S. Distribution / Ingram Periodicals, Curtis Circulation Company U.K. Newsstand / Comag, 01895 444 055 U.S./U.K. Direct Sales Market / Diamond Comic Distributors
Will Salmon Editor
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SUBSCRIPTIONS U.S. subscriptions / 1-800-261-6502, email: customerservice@ titanpublishingusa.com U.K. subscriptions / 01778 392085 email: swmag@servicehelpline.co.uk For more info on advertising contact
adinfo@titanemail.com Chris. Cooper Chris takes over as Insider editor from issue 179, having previously edited and written comic strip adventures for Titan’s Star Wars Comic.
Simon Hugo @omnishugo Simon is the author of 365 Things To Do With LEGO Bricks, and the forthcoming LEGO: Absolutely Everything You Need to Know.
Tricia Barr @fangirlcantina Tricia is the co-author of DK’s Ultimate Star Wars. She also wrote the acclaimed award-winning novel Wynde.
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Megan Crouse @blogfullofwords Megan enjoys watching movies, and taking walks. She is currently waiting for the Tesla Model 3 electric car.
Dan Wallace @danwall88 Dan has written many Star Wars books including several in the Essential Guide series and was a co-author of Ultimate Star Wars.
Find us WWW
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Kristin Baver @KristinBaver Kristin was a card-carrying Star Wars fan before she had reason to own a wallet. Now she’s a journalist who writes about all things sci-fi.
Star Wars Insider is also available online. To download, visit: www.titanmagazines.com/ digitial
STAR WARS INSIDER JAN/FEB 2018 (USPS 003-027) (ISSN 1041-5122) Star Wars Insider is published eight times per year (January/ February, March/April, May, June/July, August, September, October/November, December) by Titan Magazines, a division of Titan Publishing Group Limited, 144 Southwark Street, London SE1 0UP. Contents © 2018 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All Rights Reserved, Titan Authorized User. TMN 13628 PUBLISHER’S U.S. AGENT 2819 Rosehall Lane, Aurora, IL 60503. Periodicals Postage Paid at Aurora IL and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER Send address changes to Star Wars Insider, PO Box 18479, Anaheim, CA 92817-8479 U.S. subscriptions $49.99 per year; Canada $64.99 and U.K. £31.99. U.S. edition printed by Quad. © 2017 Lucasfilm Ltd. and ™ All Rights Reserved. Used Under Authorization.
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CONTENTS
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J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y
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The Last Jedi
Interviews, articles, and amazing images from the new movie!
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NEWSSTAND EDITION
COMIC STORE EXCLUSIVE
SUBS EXCLUSIVE
Subscribe to t Star Wars Insider Page 64
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Launchpad
Rian Johnson
Do You Remember..?
News of more Star Wars to come as movies and TV series are announced, we say goodbye to a Star Wars genius, and BB-8 goes into orbit!
The Last Jedi’s cast discuss working with the visionary director and Johnson himself describes his experiences making his first Star Wars film!
The cast recall their first experiences of the saga.
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66 Long Live Leia Ten defining moments from the princess-turned-general who has inspired generations.
Moving Swiftly On
Guide to the Galaxy
Discover secrets about the new movie as revealed by key cast and crew members.
Johnson shares his insights on the new worlds and species in The Last Jedi.
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Stories From the Set
Behind-the-Scenes
The actors relive their experiences making The Last Jedi.
Behind-the-scenes photography from The Last Jedi set.
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Name that Theme
Concept Art
An indepth look at what the movie is about, as told by the filmmakers.
A selection of stunning art created for The Last Jedi.
74 Rising to the Challenge Learn more about the new game that places players in the boots of the Jedi.
84 Keeper of the Holocron Leland Chee on his amazing career and who he thinks is really the star of the saga!
INCOMING TRANSMISSIONS 81
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Jedi Master’s Quiz
Fiction
Worldwide
Image Archive
Test your knowledge of the Jedi in this midi-chlorian packed quiz!
Read an extract from the compelling new book, Star Wars: Canto Bight.
Meet inspirational Star Wars fans from around the world.
Mark Hamill and Harrison Ford take a break from shooting!
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More Star Wars Movies… Rian Johnson to tackle brand new trilogy brand new trilogy of Star Wars films has been announced! The movies will be made under the creative control of The Last Jedi’s writer/director, Rian Johnson, with Johnson’s longtime collaborator Ram Bergman as producer. The new trilogy will not be part of the Skywalker saga (aka Episodes I-IX), and is separate from the standalone Star Wars Story movies Rogue One and Solo.
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Johnson is set to write and direct the first of the three new films, which will introduce new characters from a previously unexplored part of the Star Wars galaxy. No other details have been announced yet, and info is likely to be scarce for some time to come, given that the movies will not be released until the 2020s. The news was announced by Bob Iger, CEO of The Walt Disney Company, in November, with Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy adding: “We all loved
working with Rian on The Last Jedi. He’s a creative force, and watching him craft The Last Jedi from start to finish was one of the great joys of my career. Rian will do amazing things with the blank canvas of this new trilogy.” Johnson and Bergman issued a joint statement, saying: “We had the time of our lives collaborating with Lucasfilm and Disney on The Last Jedi. Star Wars is the greatest modern mythology and we have contributed to it. We can’t wait to continue with a new series of films.”
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…And more TV, Too! As if the new Star Wars movie news was not enough, Bob Iger has also announced the first ever live-action Star Wars TV series! Set to launch as part of Disney’s new streaming service in 2019, the show will be available to subscribers at a price that the Disney CEO expects to be “substantially below” the rates charged by other streaming services, such as Netflix. No details of the new show are available at present, but the Disney streaming service itself will also feature small-screen adaptations of Monsters Inc. and High School Musical, as well as a new show based on Marvel Comics characters. The announcement follows years of fan speculation about the likelihood of a live-action series. Previous animated shows Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008–2014), and Star Wars Rebels (2014–2017) have used the TV format to vastly expand the Star Wars universe, and have won a dedicated fanbase, independent of the live- action movies.
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Master and apprentice! Ridley and Mark Hamill have fun on the red carpet.
Behind you, Rey! Daisy Ridley poses in front of a battalion of First Order stormtroopers!
Princes, Jedi, and Droid!
A selfie with Finn! John Boyega shares the love.
Royal Princes William and Harry meet the stars of Star Wars: The Last Jedi at the European Royal Premiere, at London’s Royal Albert Hall December 12, 2017
Prince William seems to be using the Force to make John Boyega reveal secrets of the film!
Man in Black! Adam Driver takes in the atmosphere.
Supreme love for Snoke! Andy Serkis signs a lucky fan’s poster. Oh my! Anthony Daniels poses on the red carpet before signing some autographs.
Fantastic Phasma! The powerful force that is Gwendoline Christie meets the fans.
Hux appeal! Dapper Domhnall Gleeson: a world away from the evil general!
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Inside the Royal Albert Hall, Stormtroopers and Praetorian guards greet the audience.
BB-8, on his best behavior, bows before Princes William and Harry.
Oscar Isaac at his most suave.
A Rose by any other name! Kelly Marie Tran wows the crowds. Red razzle dazzle! Mark Hamill brings some showbiz magic to a freezing December evening!
Holdo captured? Laura Dern under stormtrooper protection.
Daisy’s devotees! Ridley poses for photos with some delighted fans.
Hey, Mr. DJ! Benicio Del Toro signs for fans.
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Who Said That? The big names behind Star Wars: The Last Jedi can’t stop talking about how great the movie is! The following are all quotes from the cast and other key creatives in the run-up to its release. Can you identify who said what? “[Carrie Fisher and I] were sort of in an unofficial contest to get to one million Twitter followers first. She was 63,000 ahead of me... I said, ‘Game on girl!’”
I think that Oscar is always looking at me with love in his eyes, and I guess that the fans saw it.
“Snoke is very unimpressed that there is such a huge female force that has been growing in the universe.”
“First and foremost, we were trying to make it a Star Wars movie. That means you have the intensity and you’ve got the opera, but it also means it makes you come out of the theater wanting to run in your backyard, grab your spaceship toys and make them fly around.” You have to do the work and block everything out, but then C-3P0 comes up, and you’re like… Ahhhh!
“Not to float my own boat, but I’m a really good bartender. I worked in two different pubs, for a year and a half, in a rowdy London district.”
“Star Wars resonates so deeply because it’s our foundation story of good versus evil. There is something about this film—and I think it’s because the world we live in is a changing and evolving place—that it retains the simplicity of those elements.”
The Force Awakens is the only movie I’ve been in that I’ve sat down with an audience and watched. Choose From...
Adam Driver
Daisy Ridley
Mark Hamill
John Boyega
Rian Johnson
Andy Serkis
Gwendoline Kelly Marie Tran Christie
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Use the Furze! Inventive Brit builds life-sized TIE silencer emember last year, when YouTuber Colin Furze built a giant AT-ACT playhouse to celebrate the release of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story? Well, the British inventor has been at it again for The Last Jedi! Challenged by eBay, he successfully made a life-sized recreation of Kylo Ren’s deadly new starfighter, the TIE silencer, using only parts sourced from the widely used auction site. Furze scoured eBay for every element of the build—his biggest project yet—
articulated trucks and a crane) in the grounds of Burghley House, in Colin’s home town of Stamford, Lincolnshire, in England last December. A troop of First Order stormtroopers was also on hand for the unveiling, along with a life-size, working replica of First Order droid BB-9E, built by James Bruton from the XRobots YouTube channel. See the story behind the build by searching Colin Furze’s Epic Star Wars Build, and go to www.colinfurze.com for all his other incredible projects.
Photography provided by eBay
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including LED lights, the steel required for the frame, and even the welding equipment used to construct the huge model. The exact replica of Ren’s ship is even kitted out on the inside with a pilot’s chair, targeting screens, and a joystick. The finished beast weighs in at approximately seven tons, and took Furze’s five-strong team a total of six weeks to build. Lucky fans were able to get up close and personal to the impressive ship when it landed (with the help of five
Hooray for Rey on eBay U.K.! Star Wars hero tops online search list utranking Disney princesses, Tomb Raider’s Lara Croft, and even the legendary Princess Leia, Star Wars: The Last Jedi’s Rey has emerged as 2017’s mostsearched-for female movie character on
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eBay in the U.K.. In fact, shoppers have sought out items based on Rey, played by Daisy Ridley in the Star Wars sequel trilogy, almost 7,000 times per hour since she first appeared
in 2015’s The Force Awakens. DC Comics’ Wonder Woman comes a close second to Rey at the top of the table, her popularity boosted by the Amazonian’s cinematic outing last summer, while searches for Leia place her high on the leaderboard in 3rd place, with hits coming in at almost 800 searches per hour.
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Driving Force
The Star Wars fleet is available to check out now!
Nissan takes Star Wars for a spin in its new fleet of show cars fleet of Star Wars-themed Nissan show cars is touring auto shows this year, after debuting at the Los Angeles Auto Show last December. Interests were piqued when Nissan unveiled the seven-strong fleet in Los Angeles, revealing the kind of modifications that would make Rey and Han Solo very proud. A collaboration between Nissan’s designers, Lucasfilm, and the artists at Industrial Light & Magic, ensured the show cars had the iconic looks of Star Wars characters and starships applied to vehicles from Nissan’s 2018 production range. The most striking of the vehicles are perhaps the two based on First Order figureheads Kylo Ren and
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Nissan Maxima – Kylo Ren’s TIE Silencer
Captain Phasma, whose signature styles add more than a hint of the dark side to the already stunning design language of the Nissan Maxima. The former is “a truly sinister sedan,” according to Nissan, and features a cool custom front spoiler modelled on Ren’s iconic mask. The latter has a highly reflective silver finish that matches Phasma’s stormtrooper armor, and which is designed as a celebration of female strength. Overall, the First Order is well represented in the Nissan line-up, with another Maxima being decked out as Kylo Ren’s fearsome TIE silencer—with angular wings, laser canons, and missile launchers—and
a Nissan Altima transformed into a Special Forces TIE fighter, complete with the multi-paneled windshield. The fifth vehicle in the edgy fleet is a mighty Nissan TITAN, taking on the role of an AT-M6 walker. Luckily, the Resistance has two vehicles of its own to mount a plucky defense of the roads, both of which are based on Nissan Rogues. One is based on Poe Dameron’s T-70 X-wing starfighter (and could be a nightmare to park with its locked, side-mounted S-foils), while the other is inspired by the Resistance A-wing. Sadly, the vehicles aren’t available to buy, but you can find out where to see them at nissanusa.com/starwars-the-last-jedi, and learn more about the fleet’s creation.
Nissan Rogue Sport – A-wing
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Timeline Important dates in Star Wars history.
1922 May 27: Sir Christopher Lee (Count Dooku) is born. 1929 April 10: Max von Sydow (Lor San Tekka) is born. 1937 April 6: Billy Dee Williams (Lando Calrissian) is born. 1973 August 19: Ahmed Best (Jar Jar Binks) is born.
John Mollo, 1931–2017 Farewell to the costume designer who helped define the livedin look of the galaxy far, far away he Oscar-winning costume designer John Mollo has died aged 86. Alongside concept artist Ralph McQuarrie, he was responsible for defining the look of many of Star Wars’ most defining characters, such as Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, and Obi-Wan Kenobi. Born in London in 1931, Mollo lived through the Second World War and grew up with a lasting fascination for military uniforms. He wrote several books on the subject, which led to him serving as a consultant on period films such as The Charge of the Light Brigade (1968), Nicholas and Alexandra (1971), and Stanley Kubrick’s Barry Lyndon (1975). When George Lucas was looking for a costume designer for Star Wars, he approached another Kubrick collaborator, Milena Canonero. She was unavailable, but recommended Mollo based on their work together on Barry Lyndon. Mollo professed that he knew very little about science fiction, but Lucas offered him the job precisely because his experience was based in real-world military knowledge. Faced with a small costume budget
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and Lucas’ vision of a galaxy with a realistic, lived-in look, Mollo adopted a thrift store approach to Star Wars, making ingenious use of plumbing spares, old theatrical props, and pieces of household junk. He devised the first iteration of Vader’s costume using a Nazi helmet, a gas mask, and a monk’s cloak; and when he was given just four days to establish the look of the Tatooine sandtroopers, he assembled their gear using bikers’ chest protectors, seed boxes, plastic drainpipe, and some metal backpack racks from a Boy Scout shop. The results looked far from cheap, however, and at the 1978 Academy Awards Mollo took home the Oscar for Best Costume Design. He would later win a second Oscar for his work on Gandhi (1982). Mollo returned to the Star Wars galaxy once more for The Empire Strikes Back, notably designing the cold-weather wear used by the rebels on Hoth. He went on to work on movie projects including Outland (1981), Cry Freedom (1987), and Event Horizon (1997), and wrote until his retirement.
1976 November 12: Star Wars: From the Adventures of Luke Skywalker by Alan Dean Foster is published. 1983 November 19: Adam Driver (Kylo Ren) is born. 1984 November 25: Caravan of Courage: An Ewok Adventure is released. 1993 February: Star Wars: X-Wing is released on PC. 2001 February 19: Star Wars: Starfighter is released for PC, Xbox, and PS2. 2007 January 30: Allegiance by Timothy Zahn is published.
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Ground Control to BB-8 Droid toy reaches new heights in U.K. stunt rave Resistance droid BB-8 is no stranger to space flight, but in September he took his first solo flight, thanks to a U.K. toy retailer! To celebrate the first wave of products tying in to The Last Jedi, catalog-shopping store Argos partnered with near-space experts SentIntoSpace to launch a BB-8 toy into the Earth’s stratosphere. The toy was modified for the mission over the course of a month, with a team of 12 experts preparing the droid for lift-off. The launch took place in a field in northeast England, using a large balloon to raise BB-8 skyward. Once airborne, the astromech climbed to an altitude of 23 miles and reached speeds in excess of 200mph before returning to Earth. Along the way, an on-board camera allowed BB-8 to capture some awe-inspiring images, too. “To follow BB-8’s journey, we had
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a road team with a mobile tracking station,” explained SentIntoSpace hardware engineer Jack Bryan. “We tracked him using a radio-frequency scanning kit and satellite tracking systems as well.” Paul Kinge, toy buyer at Argos, added: “Star Wars captures the hearts and imaginations of every generation, and the toys are part of what helps bring the films to life in homes across the globe. We’re thrilled to offer so many a glimpse into the out-of-this-
world experience that Star Wars offers.” SentIntoSpace was founded in 2011 by Alex Baker and Chris Rose after the duo successfully launched a weather balloon fitted with two video cameras and a tracking device. A series of prototypes led to increasingly predictable flights capable of returning bundles of useful data. Today, the company aims to make near-space exploration as easy and accessible as possible, to inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers, and space enthusiasts.
By Russ Brown and Jamie Cosley
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All The Right Notes Online auction turns Star Wars collectibles into charity cash anknote manufacturer De La Rue launched a limited edition Star Wars: The Last Jedi note in December 2017, in support of the U.K. children’s charity Together for Short Lives. One thousand notes were listed for sale on eBay.co.uk on December 7, alongside an auction for 50 premium notes, with all the proceeds going to charity. At the end of the 10day auction, the successful bidders had contributed to a very worthy cause. The notes, which are purely commemorative and not legal tender, are crafted from 100 percent cotton cylinder mold paper, fully securitized and printed in De La Rue’s high-security proofing department in Hampshire, England. The exclusive design features original light side/dark side artwork, an Aurebesh message, a replica of The Last Jedi writer/director Rian Johnson’s signature, and security features including serial numbers, scenes visible
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only under UV light, and hidden microtext. The premium notes also include an intaglio hand-engraving of Rey. The money raised will be donated to Together for Short Lives on behalf of Star Wars: Force for Change, the charitable initiative by Lucasfilm and Disney that harnesses Star Wars to truly improve the lives of children around the world. Together for Short Lives supports children’s hospices in the U.K. to make sure every child with a life-threatening or life-limiting condition receives the best possible care and leads as fulfilling a life as possible. The commemorative note is also intended to celebrate the U.K. film industry’s 40-year creative relationship with Star Wars. Produced in partnership with the U.K. Government’s GREAT Britain campaign, the design combines British technical and artistic know-how in a similar vein to U.K. creators such as
set decorator Roger Christian, costume designer John Mollo, and creature creator Neal Scanlan. “It’s really exciting to be part of this very unique initiative to mark the release of The Last Jedi and for a fantastic cause,” said Rian Johnson. “It was a joy filming in the U.K. and working with a British crew and I’m happy the GREAT Britain Campaign and De La Rue are celebrating this with the commemorative note.” Additional items in the auction included 10 very beautiful uncut final proofs of the note signed by the De La Rue studio manager, and 10 rare handcrafted engravings used for the raised intaglio printing and signed by De La Rue’s master engraver. To find out more about Together For Short Lives, or to make a donation, go to togetherforshortlives.org.uk. Read more about Force for Change at forceforchange.starwars.com
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Give the First Order its Orders Take charge of your own interactive stormtrooper f you’ve ever wanted to order a stormtrooper around, a new interactive robot can make your dreams come true—and you won’t be blasted for your efforts! UBTECH Robotics’ Star Wars First Order Stormtrooper Robot features augmented reality (AR), voice command, and facial recognition software, so you can issue commands and have them obeyed with unprecedented accuracy. Order the robot to act as a sentry, and it will patrol a designated area—responding to anything or anyone that attempts to get past. Train it to recognize your face, and those of up to two other people (three in total), and interactions will be personalized depending on who is giving the orders. Pair the robot with the smartphone app to launch attacks on the Resistance in an immersive AR environment. “We are thrilled to launch the Star Wars Stormtrooper Robot,” said UBTECH CEO, James Chow “Both Star Wars and UBTECH put a great focus on innovation and familyfriendly technology. Together, we are delivering a new and interactive experience for Star Wars fans.” Founded in 2012, UBTECH is a
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First Order Stormtrooper Robot, $299.99
global leading AI and humanoid robotic company. It places a high degree of importance on data security, and is at pains to point out that the Stormtrooper Robot does not connect to the internet, and no personal information is saved to the robot or the companion app. All biometric data remains secure within a closed network on an encrypted platform that meets at least the minimum Advanced Encryption Standard of 128 bits.
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Little Wonders Takara Tomy adds The Last Jedi to its metal miniatures range ig news for fans of small things, as Japanese toy company Takara Tomy expands its line of Star Wars Metakore figures to include more characters from The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi. Mostly standing just three inches tall and featuring articulated arms and heads, the new figures include Kylo Ren, Captain Phasma, BB-9E, a First Order snowtrooper, and a flametrooper. Updated sculpts have also been introduced for Darth Vader, the original trilogy stormtrooper, R2-D2, and C-3PO. Packed full of characterful detail and shipped in desirably simple boxes, the die-cast collectibles are not widely available in U.S. stores, but can be ordered from online retailers, go to ShopDisney.com. Previous releases have spanned the original, prequel, and sequel trilogies, as well as Rogue One.
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Imperial Weights New exercise equipment is fit for the Empire tar Wars fans can keep fit to Imperial Academy standards with a new range of workout gear from fitness firm Onnit. The fun and functional items all have a dark side slant, and include a Death Star slam ball, three helmetshaped kettle bells, and a Han Solo in carbonite yoga mat. The 20 lbs, 10in Death Star slam ball is ideal for overhead slams, squats, and wall ball training. A true technological terror, it is made from incredibly strong polyurethane rubber to give it the edge over traditional medicine balls, while its Death Star surface detail offers extra grip during intense workouts. The kettle bells include a 50 lbs Boba Fett, a 60 lbs stormtrooper, and a 70 lbs Darth Vader Cast in black iron with a
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chip-resistant coating, they are designed to build explosive strength and muscular endurance, and will appeal to collectors and athletes alike. Finally, the reversible, non-slip Han Solo yoga mat is made from topquality, moisture-wicking polyurethane rubber. At 70in by 25in, it is a striking conversation starter, but loses no grip as a result of its hi-res printing. It is 0.2in thick, for the perfect combination of cushioning and ease of carriage, and could even make Jabba the Hutt take up exercise! Death Star slam ball, $74.95 Boba Fett kettle bell, $149.95 Stormtrooper kettle bell, $179.95 Darth Vader kettle bell, $199.95 Han Solo yoga mat, $64.95
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Book Club There’s something for every Star Wars reader with these upcoming publishing releases.
Star Wars: Canto Bight Meet gamblers, grifters, and gangsters in four themed stories set on the casino planet Canto Bight is one of the key locations in The Last Jedi—a glamorous casino city full of intrigue and species from across the galaxy. But while the city sits apart from the conflict between the First Order and the Resistance, danger still lurks in the shadows. This collection of four linked stories by bestselling Star Wars authors takes place over one eventful city night. First up is “Rules of the Game” by Saladin Ahmed, which is described as an “alien buddy comedy.” Salesman Kedpin Shoklop’s vacation takes a dark turn when he gets caught up with criminal Anglang Lehet, and the pair must work together to survive. Next comes Rae Carson’s “Hear Nothing, See Nothing, Say Nothing.” Its protagonist, Lexo Sooger, works at an elite spa in Canto Bight, where he is ideally placed to overhear important intel.
He tries his best to avoid getting involved with the city’s criminal underbelly, however—until his daughter is abducted, that is. In “The Wine of Dreams” by Mira Grant, renowned
trader Derla Pidys arrives in Canto Bight to buy a priceless bottle of wine, but all is not as it seems. Could there be a con artist at work? Finally, in John Jackson
Miller’s “The Rise,” professional gambler Kaljach Sonmi meets the Lucky Three, a trio of rival gamblers. It isn’t long before all he knows about life in the city falls apart!
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Star Wars: The Last Jedi: Bomber Command
Star Wars: The Last Jedi: Heroes of the Galaxy
Star Wars: The Big Golden Book of Aliens, Creatures and Beasts
Forces of Destiny: Daring Adventures: The Leia Chronicles
Get in the cockpit with Cobalt Squadron, the Resistance bomber command introduced in The Force Awakens and further explored in The Last Jedi. This companion book to Elizabeth Wein’s middle grade novel entitled Cobalt Squadron contains short stories, facts about the unit, and gatefolds packed with starship schematics, and more. It’s available now from Readerlink.
This 48-page activity book by Ruth Amos is aimed at helping younglings develop their reading skills, with help from famous characters such as Rey, Finn, and the adorable BB-8. Published by Dorling Kindersley, Star Wars: The Last Jedi: Heroes of the Galaxy is available now.
From the cuddly and cute to the hulking and sinister, this 48-page book is packed with stories about the many and varied aliens from the Star Wars films. Learn all about Ewoks, wampas, Jawas, Mon Calamari, and many more with text by Richard Thomas and lavish, retro illustrations by Chris Kennett. It’s available now from Golden Books.
The third in the Forces of Destiny book range focuses on Leia Organa, highlighting three of her most daring big-screen adventures—including her encounter with the Ewoks on the forest moon of Endor in Return of the Jedi. The 128-page book is available now from Disney Lucasfilm Press.
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Comics Roundup Marvel’s latest Star Wars comics offer up an iconic villain and some classic tales.
Grand Admiral Drawn A new Marvel miniseries charts the rise of Rebels’ blue-skinned bad guy
Authors and Artists Jody Houser is best known in Star Wars circles for her expansive comic-book adaptation of Rogue One, but she has also worked on Faith (Valiant), Agent May (Marvel), and Orphan Black (IDW). Luke Ross is the acclaimed penciller of Darth Maul and The Force Awakens, and has also worked on Spectacular Spider-Man and Captain America for Marvel and Green Lantern for DC.
Created by author Timothy Zahn, the Imperial strategist Grand Admiral Thrawn has a long history in print. But it was only with Season Three of Star Wars Rebels that he made his animated debut. To celebrate that fact, Zahn returned to the character with a new novel, named simply Thrawn. Published in April 2017, it was full of revelations for old and new fans alike, and explored how the blue-skinned outsider rose from exile to indispensible ally of the Emperor. Now Thrawn has been adapted by Marvel Comics as a six-issue miniseries. Written by Jody Houser with art by Luke Ross, it promises yet another fresh take on this multifaceted and endlessly fascinating character. Set between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope, the story begins with Thrawn far from the trappings of a grand admiral, as the man born Mitth’raw’nuruodo lives a precarious life in the Unknown Regions. But an encounter with Imperial troops gives the wily Chiss survivor the opportunity he has been looking for, and he soon attracts attention at the highest levels of the Empire. The character of Thrawn first appeared in Zahn’s 1991 novel, Heir to the Empire, set after Return of the Jedi. Now considered part of Star Wars Legends, and therefore not part of official continuity, it saw a New Republic forged by Luke, Leia, and Han seriously tested by a resurgent Empire led by Thrawn. A classic of Star Wars literature, it spawned two sequels— Dark Force Rising (1992) and The Last Command (1993)—to form The Thrawn Trilogy. This, in turn, was followed by The Hand of Thrawn Duology, comprising Specter of the Past (1997) and Vision of the Future (1998). A new novel, Thrawn: Allegiances, will be published in 2018. Thrawn #1 is on sale from February 2018.
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Incoming Don’t Miss These Great Forthcoming Titles
DECEMBER Star Wars #40 Writer Kieron Gillen Artist Salvador Larroca Cover artists David Marquez and Matthew Wilson Star Wars Adventures #5 Writer Landry Q. Walker Artist Eric Jones Cover artist Eric Jones Star Wars: Poe Dameron #22 Writer Charles Soule Artist Angel Unzueta Cover artist Phil Noto
Star Wars: The Classic Newspaper Ne spaper Comics The classic “Han Solo at Stars’ End” is the centerpiece of IDW’s second collection of Star Wars newspaper strips. Adapted from Brian Daley’s novel by Archie Goodwin and Alfredo Alcala, it finds Han and Chewie trying to track down Doc, an outlaw technician who seems to have been abducted. The volume also includes a further seven complete adventures by
Star Wars Legends Epic Collection: Legacy Set more than a century after the events of the movies, the Legacy series explores a Star Wars galaxy riven by conflict between the Sith Empire and the Galactic Alliance. Follow the adventures of bounty hunter Cade Skywalker as he tries to take down Emperor Krayt, meet the Chagrian Sith Darth Wyyrlok, and find out whether the Mon Calamari species can avoid total extinction. Originally published from 2006 by Dark Horse, Legacy ran for 50 issues and became one of the company’s bestselling and most critically adored Star Wars series. This second collection by Marvel Comics is on sale from January 30, 2018.
Goodwin and artist Al Williamson—a pairing chosen to handle the strip by George Lucas himself. This is the first ever reprint of the newspaper strips in their complete format, including Sunday page title headers and bonus panels, fully restored to their original color glory. It is published on January 30, 2018, with a third and final volume to follow.
Jedi of the Republic - Mace Windu #5 Writer Matt Owens Artist Denys Cowan Cover artist Jesus Saiz Star Wars: The Last Jedi: Storms of Crait Writers Ben Acker and Ben Blacker Artist Mike Mayhew Cover artist Marco Checchetto
JANUARY Star Wars #41 Writer Kieron Gillen Artist Salvador Larroca Cover artist David Marquez Star Wars Adventures: Forces of Destiny: Leia Writers Elsa Charretier and Pierrick Colinet Artist Elsa Charretier Cover artist Elsa Charretier Star Wars: Darth Vader: Dark Lord of the Sith #10 Writer Charles Soule Artist Giuseppe Camuncoli Cover artist Giuseppe Camuncoli Star Wars Adventures: Forces of Destiny: Rey Writer Jody Houser Artist Arianna Florean Cover artist Arianna Florean Star Wars Adventures #6 Writer Delilah S. Dawson Artist Derek Charm Cover artist Derek Charm
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36 page Movie special
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24 Moving Swiftly On... Rian Johnson and the film’s key cast share how things have changed since we last saw them.
30 Stories from the Set The cast reflect on their personal experiences of making the movie.
34 Name That Theme
Conversations with the actors exploring the themes and meaning of The Last Jedi.
42 Rian Johnson
The Last Jedi cast discuss the director, while he reflects on his very first Star Wars movie.
52 Behind-the-Scenes
Photos from the making of the new movie.
57 Concept Art
A selection of the stunning art used to help inspire the visual tone of the movie.
62 Do You Remember...? The cast discuss their first Star Wars memories!
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M OV I N G S W I F T LY O N … Nothing stands still in the Star Wars universe, and the characters of The Last Jedi are no exception. Here, writer/director Rian Johnson and the film’s key cast consider how things have changed since we last saw them, and what the future has in store for a couple of newcomers, too…
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he Last Jedi picks up where The Force Awakens left off—literally. With mere moments having passed between the end of the last movie and the start of this new one, you might think there was little room for character development, but in a fast-paced galaxy with the First Order on the rise, our heroes can either keep moving—or die! So what is different by the time we rejoin the action, and what other changes can we expect to see as The Last Jedi progresses? For writer and director Rian Johnson, these were exactly the questions he had to ask himself as he sat down to script the new movie. “After The Force Awakens, I wrote down the names of every character, and I asked myself what I knew about them,” Johnson recalls. “I asked: What do they want? Where are they going? And what would be the hardest thing for each of them to come up against in this next chapter?” The first part of that puzzle was Luke Skywalker—an absent figure for all but the last few seconds of The Force Awakens, and therefore the hardest character for Johnson to get a handle on.
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“Before I could do anything else, I had to figure out what Luke’s deal is,” he says. “Why is he on Ahch-To? I know he’s not a coward and I know he’s not hiding, so there must be some other reason why he’s taken himself out of the fight. “I worked and worked until finally I got to a place where I could put myself in his shoes. That’s kind of cryptic, but it allowed me to understand Luke in this movie.” With Luke’s motivation cracked, Johnson found himself in a position to ask where the Jedi would go next— and how his story would relate to Rey, the Force-sensitive young woman who would bring him out of exile. “Rey has a desire for connection to her past and wants answers about who she is,” says Johnson. “That’s really what she’s on a quest to find out. Not just who her parents are or where she comes from, but what is her place in the galaxy? When she shows up on that island, there’s a part of her, and a big part of us, that thinks she will get those answers from Luke. “She has an expectation of Luke based on the mythology that has built up around him. Because of the urgency of the situation, she doesn’t have the luxury of getting to know and understand who he really is. But he is in a very different place than we’ve ever
seen him before, and that’s a big change in this movie.” Mark Hamill, the actor who has played Luke since he was a young idealist more than 40 years ago, agrees that this is far from business as usual. “To say that Luke is disillusioned is an understatement,” says Hamill. “He’s literally turned off his link to the Force, and renounced the idea of the Jedi Order. It was unexpected for me as an actor, and it will be a big change for the audience, too. My character has always represented hope and optimism—and now, here I am pessimistic and demoralized. When Rey offers him the lightsaber, he just stares at her, interminably.” For Daisy Ridley, who plays Rey, facing such a reluctant Jedi has been the driving force for her character’s changes. “This time, the emphasis is very much on Rey pushing Luke,” she says. “And that opens up her ongoing journey. After hearing all these stories about Luke, and then finding out that the truth is not so rosy, she learns about her strengths and weaknesses. She doesn’t see herself as this powerful being, but when she sees that even the great Luke Skywalker can make bad choices, she starts to come around to her own potential. “She’s really learning about the human psyche in general, because growing up on Jakku she never really had relationships with anyone. And as she learns, she is trying to move forward and do the right thing, which is all she has ever done, really.” Dark Side Development With Luke and Rey locked down to his satisfaction, Johnson allowed himself a reward when choosing which character to develop next. “Kylo Ren was the character that I was the most excited about writing,” he says, “and it’s almost like Rey and Kylo are two halves of the same protagonist, so I was always going to tackle him. “My favorite kind of bad guys are the ones that you identify with, and
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01 Luke Skywalker is a changed man, having renouced the Jedi Order.
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in a way, you identify with Kylo as much as you do with Rey. They are both growing and developing, and they affect each other and play off each other along the way.” The big change for Kylo Ren this time round is, of course, that he is dealing with the fact he has killed his own father, and that’s something the film doesn’t flinch from. “It is obviously something that has really affected him,” says Adam Driver, the man behind Ren’s mask. “You can’t deny that it happened, so you have to explore the psychology behind it. In a way, that makes the new film more grounded in reality. “Ren is a changed man since we last saw him, but he is young, so it’s to be expected that he’s changing all the time. He’s becoming more and more certain in his ideas, and he’s experiencing something like a religious fervor. “Kylo Ren is actually the first person I’ve played who is younger than me, and that was something Kathy Kennedy was sure to remind me of when we were shooting the first time around.” Moving Kylo Ren into new territory left Johnson considering his dark side master. As Rey grows with Luke, and Ren grows with Rey, where does that leave Supreme Leader Snoke? “We do move Snoke along in this
“My favorite kind of bad guys are the ones that you identify with...” Rian Johnson, Writer/Director movie,” Johnson explains, “but he is still there to be the out-and-out bad guy. Kylo Ren is a more complicated character, but Snoke is the monster you need to drive the villainy. So whereas in The Force Awakens, you just get little glimpses of Snoke through a hologram, in The Last Jedi we actually meet him, and get more face time with him. That’s the perfect way to develop him without changing him, if you follow me. “It was actually my first time working with Andy Serkis [who plays Snoke], and I was blown away by just how extraordinary he is. It was obvious we had to have more of him. For the longest time, we just left Andy in the cut [rather than the CG version of his motion-captured character], because seeing him perform was just so mesmerizing.” Hard Times for Heroes Once the light and the dark started to mingle in Johnson’s mind, the other characters soon began to find their definition—and their direction. Leia, in the words of the late Carrie Fisher, is “exhausted” and burdened
with responsibility. Poe Dameron, as Leia’s right-hand man, also finds himself boxed in by problems that sheer heroics can’t solve. “Leia’s gone from shooting guns, swinging across chasms, and killing Jabba the Hutt to being serious and worrying a lot,” Fisher said before her untimely death in 2016. Oscar Isaac, who plays ace pilot Poe, speaks on the stresses that are shaking the upper echelons of the Resistance. “In The Force Awakens, Poe is a man on a mission, a man of action,” he says. “This time there’s a lot more conflict, and every move he makes matters all that much more. With the Resistance on the run, if something goes wrong, it could be catastrophic. “His old heroics aren’t necessarily what they need in this moment, so he has to learn how to not just be a soldier, but to be a leader as well.” One character who is blissfully unaware of the Resistance’s plight at the start of The Last Jedi is Poe’s friend Finn, last seen in a comatose condition following a run-in with Kylo Ren on Starkiller Base.
02 Rian Johnson shares a lighthearted moment with John Boyega and Oscar Isaac during filming. 03 Finn and BB-8 cross paths again in The Last Jedi. (Right) 04 The Last Jedi welcomes a new face to the fight, Rose Tico. (Right) 05 Wise to the game, the mysterious character, DJ, is known as an underworld fixer. (Right) 02
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New Angels, New Demons Naturally, the changes in The Last Jedi aren’t limited to established characters, and also include the introduction of new ones. Two in particular help Finn find his path: the Resistance technician Rose Tico, and the underworld fixer known as DJ. “Finn and Rose make a really good team,” says Johnson. “His relationship with her is different from his bond with Rey, but it’s similar, in that it’s a couple of people being thrown together by fate without really having any say in it.” Newcomer Kelly Marie Tran who plays Rose describes her meeting Finn as “like meeting a childhood hero.” She continues: “Rose has always been at the bottom of the Resistance food chain, mending pipes and doing maintenance. For her, Finn represents why she’s there. It’s a big deal for her, and when they end up on a series of crazy adventures together, it’s really interesting to see how their relationship actually evolves.” Johnson expands on this idea, saying: “Rose is a true believer in the Resistance, so she is very different from Finn. She is idealistic, but also very practical, and she becomes the angel on Finn’s shoulder.”
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Fans won’t be surprised that he returns to the fray, but Johnson did his best to make sure that he remained otherwise unpredictable. “The thing with Finn in The Force Awakens is that he never actually joins the Resistance,” the writer/director notes. “His big action is leaving the First Order; after that, he’s just trying to help a friend. He’s never done anything for ideological reasons, but this time around, he’s going to be pushed into figuring out what he believes in and what he’s fighting for.” Finn actor John Boyega goes even further when describing how his character is changed, following his rapid recuperation. “Finn is really not the same person,” he says. “He’s more aware of the part he has to play, and gets more opportunities to use the knowledge he gained in the First Order as a stormtrooper. Although he’s matured a lot, he’s still confused about where he belongs.”
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06 Rey is on a quest to uncover her past.
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07 BB-8 is hardwired to assist the fight for good. 08 General Organa’s focus is fixed firmly on the Resistance. 09 Captain Phasma is armed and ready to go. 07
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there are no certainties anymore. When Rey stood before Luke at the end of The Force Awakens, we were sure we knew what would happened next. The fact that we were wrong is disconcerting, but it also feels exciting—up there with the buzz from the reveal of Luke’s parentage in The Empire Strikes Back. For Daisy Ridley, it’s “definitely more intense,” but there are also “little breaks for air.” She continues: “Everyone seems to be saying it’s darker, but I think we have a good balance. There are so many stories happening simultaneously, which is something we didn’t have before. So there’s always something light to even things out. There are some genuinely funny moments, some of which I didn’t expect, and it was a lot of fun when we got to play them.” That sense of moving things on while still being Star Wars is perhaps
best captured by an actor whose character comes back with a vengeance in The Last Jedi, with a new suit of armor but the same dedication to the First Order. “I think The Force Awakens was the homecoming we all needed after such a long time,” says Gwendoline Christie, who plays Captain Phasma. “We all wanted to bathe in that story again and rejoice in it. Now it’s time to move on, and to reveal more about our human nature. “The Last Jedi feels richer and like more of a reflection of the world around us. But, it isn’t at all heavy-handed: it’s beautiful and incredibly magical. We’re now invested in these characters and we can watch them grow as their lives change and expand. And as they continue to develop, we can all learn lessons from the lives they lead and the choices they make.”
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Of course, an angel on one shoulder needs a counterpart on the other, and that’s where DJ comes in. Superstar Benicio Del Toro is the devil in this equation, arguing that there is no such thing as a real good guy, and that if you need a motto to live by, you can do worse than ‘Don’t Join.’ “DJ is a cynic and a mercenary,” says Del Toro. “He believes that good guys and bad guys are basically the same, so why take sides when you can profit from both? He tries to show Finn that even the good guys are dirty at times and perhaps corrupt as well. Is he good or bad? We don’t know. He’s just an opportunist who can get you out of a jam—or into one.” With characters such as DJ casting shades of gray into the battle between good and evil, and Johnson explicitly drawing parallels between Rey and Kylo Ren, perhaps the biggest change this time around is that
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S TO R I E S FROM THE SET The cast of The Last Jedi explain what it’s like to go to work on other worlds, surrounded by starships, explosions, and iconic characters.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS Kelly Marie Tran (Rose Tico)
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It’s surreal being on a Star Wars set anyway, but it’s even more surreal
In a way, staying detached is the hardest part. I’m staring at iconic, archetypal characters and creatures and images from my own childhood. On my first or second day, Rian says, “Laura, go over to C-3PO.” I’m sorry, did you say C-3PO? It was like a Disney ride. I couldn’t believe it was me in a scene with C-3PO.
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Adam Driver (Kylo Ren) You can try to be professional and forget that you’re making a Star Wars movie, but there are times when it just seeps in. You see a TIE fighter, and it’s hard to ignore that it’s a TIE fighter! The biggest moment for me was realizing I was in a film with Mark Hamill. It was just surreal to see him. Growing up with those movies, I’ve attached so much meaning to them that to suddenly be in a film with him was very surreal. He was cool about it, though!
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My first day on set, I walked on and C-3PO was there. I just walked up to Anthony Daniels and asked for a hug, and he hugged me. It was actually the best experience ever. It was so insane to have this mix of the new characters and the older characters and me being a new character with all of them. I still can’t separate reality from fantasy in my mind because I can’t believe it’s really happening, and that I got to work with all these people.
inside a stormtrooper’s helmet, where you can barely hear and sometimes can’t see. I can’t feel anything because of the armor. But I love having the costume on, and I love being on the sets. I love being around these phenomenal people who have been burned into my mind since I was born.
Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker) Being back on board the Millennium Falcon was bittersweet. Everywhere I looked, memories came flooding back. It’s like going to your old high school or the house you lived in in sixth grade. The detail is absolutely perfect, so it’s just as I remember it. I climbed up and down the ladder, got in the hold where we stowed away, and sat in the cockpit with my grown-up children and wife. Later I slipped away and got really choked up. It was a moment, and then it was gone.
Domhnall Gleeson (General Hux) A lot of the people making this film, especially behind the scenes, are in this industry because of Star Wars. They went to see the original films, and that had a huge influence on them. Now they want to make something special of
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their own inside this universe. You can see it everywhere: in the costumes and the set design. There’s so much care. It’s a different level of filmmaking and a great thing to be a part of.
SET CRAFTSMANSHIP Kelly Marie Tran
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I would go to the set a lot, even if I wasn’t working. I would just walk into different departments and look at different stages to see what they were doing that day. It was so much fun to see the art department and the creature department, and production design and costumes. As an audience member, I had never realized how much detail and how much time goes into everything. It was mind-blowing to think about it, and to realize that I was working with the best of the best across all departments.
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It’s amazing to see the craftsmanship and detail of the sets. If I go to open a drawer or press a button, you can guarantee it’s a real thing and it really works. They’re probably the best set designers working anywhere in the world. They really know the story and allow for unexpected things to happen
still make it real for ourselves and have it make sense and be personal. Rian [Johnson, writer/director] did a good job, I think, in erasing everything he knew about the original Star Wars and The Force Awakens and starting fresh, and that starts with the costumes and the sets.
Oscar Isaac (Poe Dameron) Being on set and interacting with droids and aliens, the actual ships, and hundreds of extras… All that infuses you with the energy of the scene.
Daisy Ridley (Rey) The sets were absolutely amazing. Stunning. You forget that you’re standing on a set, which does make it easier.
Kelly Marie Tran The Canto Bight set was incredible. There were hundreds of creatures and extras. It was the biggest, most extravagant set. I walked in and I couldn’t concentrate because there were things to look at everywhere! Then there were the scenes where we were running around, and there were flames, and stormtroopers, and explosions, and it felt like you were really in a war zone. It was such a cool experience and such a cool thing to be a part of.
Adam Driver Star Wars is so much a part of our vocabulary now that there are some things that people take for granted. Everyone understands that people are wearing masks, but we have to
huge fires around me. Rian shouted “Action,” I walked forward, and it created the most beautiful effect in the smoke. But there was a moment when I was in position and readying myself, when I thought, “What am I doing? Everyone else is sensibly at the other end of the room, and I’m surrounded by fire!” But then I thought: just go for it. Phasma wouldn’t be scared, and you are Phasma. You are not scared. That’s very liberating: to throw all of yourself out of the way and become someone else. As an actor it’s quite something to be willing to walk through fire and to feel safe.
EXPLOSIVE ACTION Gwendoline Christie There was a moment when I had the armor on and they set off these
Carrie Fisher (General Leia) We had some explosions. I’m a vet with the explosion stuff. Whenever they say, “Get ready, we’re going to have the explosions,” it’s never as loud as they say it will be. I find that disappointing. I like the explosions!
GETTING PHYSICAL Adam Driver Simon Waterson was our physical trainer. The good thing about Star Wars is they make it really easy for you by hiring the best in the business! The training went beyond getting muscular: it was about how my character uses his body. If Kylo Ren has been fighting emotionally and physically all his life, that has to be reflected in the way he carries himself. You should be able to get a sense of his temperament from the way he moves, how he fights, from his physicality when nothing is being said with words.
01 01 Poe Dameron, Kaydel Connix, and the team keep a close eye on events as they unfold. 02 Rey takes aim on First Order TIE fighters. (Right) 03 Kylo Ren deep in thought. (Right)
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Daisy Ridley I do struggle with the training, because physically I have never had to push that hard. It’s a psychological thing of knowing you can do it more and more. In The Force Awakens, I was allergic to the fake snow, so I wasn’t able to do as much as I wanted to. This time, because I trained hard, I feel like I pushed through. But the stunt team is absolutely amazing for the stuff I can’t do. They’re the first people I made relationships with here. They’re my boys and girls!
Kelly Marie Tran The stunt team is amazing, one of the best in the entire world. You watched them fight, and it looks real. So, the whole time I was trying to be as accurate as they were. They showed us how to do different types of fighting and jumping around—even how to take a bullet and wield different types of weapons. It was hard, but it was really cool. The hardest part for me was doing any sort of jumping or falling while also trying to stay in character!
Oscar Isaac There’s a stunt scene where Carrie Fisher slaps me, and it was one of the first things we shot. I think we did about 23 takes of that slap! And when we had shot it from my side, we had to do it again from hers. She just kept slapping me! It was surreal to be in a starship getting slapped by Princess Leia, but it was OK, because I knew it was an important scene, and a chance to see some of her fire.
Gwendoline Christie This is the hardest physical thing I’ve done, because of the amazing suit. It looks great, and it’s so shiny that other members of the cast and crew come and fix their hair in it. But, it’s heavy and it can be very restrictive to move in. Normally, you’d do a move and repeat it all day. In this, you do the move and think: Gosh, is it lunchtime yet? It’s a big challenge, but you stick with it because it’s a really exciting, fun club, and there’s a feeling of joy about being part of the process. I don’t think I’ve been asked to be a part of a club before. This is my first club.
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together to get around the obstacle. That’s something I really enjoy on a Star Wars set. When the people are solid, the running is smooth.
Laura Dern It’s the Special Forces of the film industry. You can’t navigate over 100 sets and not be Special Forces. You never see a big crew. I thought I’d see 125 crewmembers, but it’s so seamless that I never see more than 15 people at a time. As an actor, that means you can really believe you are the only people in this isolated space.
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Benicio Del Toro Coming into The Last Jedi, on the heels of The Force Awakens, feels like working on a winning team. There’s a crew here that has worked on the previous movie and is really in sync. There’s no wasted time and tempers don’t flare. Usually on big movies there are so many elements that have to click. On this one, there’s the feeling that they allow creativity to grow in front of the camera.
John Boyega Unity is so important on a set like this. It’s so massive, and there are so many ideas and so many challenges, that you need to have a cast and crew who believe in the same vision. Making a great movie and having a great time doing it is the fundamental goal, so, if something goes wrong, everyone comes
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NAME T H AT THEME…
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Star Wars is a saga of ideas as much as action, and The Last Jedi explores an array of themes as part of the adventure. Conversations with cast members and writer/director Rian Johnson help identify some of the key concepts…
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hat is The Last Jedi all about? Ask the cast and crew about specific plot points, and they will rightly stay tight-lipped. They know that spoilers live up to their name, and aren’t about to ruin years of work with an off-the-cuff reveal. But ask them about the movie’s themes and an interesting thing occurs. Freed from narrow speculation about who fights who, and whether so-and-so is a bad guy, they find they can really talk about what The Last Jedi means to them— and what they hope it will mean to us. So, here’s an honest spoiler warning: what follows really doesn’t contain any spoilers, sorry. But it is also what The Last Jedi is all about, in the words of the people who made it.
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Shades of Gray To date, the Star Wars saga movies have taken place in a galaxy of good and evil. With few exceptions, characters align themselves with the light or the dark—capable of changing sides, but rarely walking the line between the two. But if there is one theme fans are already expecting to see in The Last Jedi, it’s the gray areas that exist for characters on both sides. “People are never just one thing,” says Adam Driver, aka Kylo Ren. “There’s a lot of gray in the world, especially within ourselves, and [writer/ director] Rian Johnson understands that. “At the center of this epic drama are two people—Rey and Kylo Ren—who are on opposite sides but who are only divided by a very thin line. There’s dark and light in both of them, and in a way they’re on this journey together, even though they both feel alone. “Kylo Ren hasn’t come to terms with the fact that there is light and dark within him,” concludes Driver. “It’s still an internal battle, and that’s an interesting thing that I find fun to play.” Benicio Del Toro, who plays new character DJ, agrees with his co-star about playing morally complex characters—and about Johnson’s understanding of them. “It’s fun to walk the line between good and bad,” he says. “Rian and I talked about similar characters in other movies, and one that came up was Eli Wallach in [classic 1996 Western] The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. His character, Tuco, is cunning, but maybe there’s a good side to him—or maybe not! DJ is like that in that he has to be both repulsive and attractive, and that’s something the film takes time to explore.”
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A Family Affair Speculation about which recurring characters might show a different side in The Last Jedi has seen a lot of fan attention focus on Luke—something actor Mark Hamill has been happy to play along with on social media. In teasing Twitter posts, he has sent up fan theories that Luke has turned to the dark side, and that Luke and Rey could be related. Though the two possibilities might seem unrelated at first, both speak to ideas of affiliation, and tie into another key theme of the Star Wars saga at large: family and how it affects us. As Hamill himself puts it: “So much about the previous stories has to do with lineage. Who’s your father? Who’s your sister? Wanting to know what the relationships are has become an obsession for people, and that’s understandable. But this time around, it’s not so simple. It’s broken down a bit.” Quite what that means remains as tantalizingly vague as the actor’s tweets, but his colleagues are at pains to make clear that family remains a defining factor. “In the original films,” says Johnson, “if there’s one thing we can all identify with—to some extent at least—it’s the battle Luke has with his father. As adolescents, we all want to reject our parents and tread our own path. And so, while Darth Vader was a great villain, he was never the one we identified with. Luke was the one going through that transition, and Vader is the scary father he had to navigate to get to where he wanted to be. “But now it’s Kylo Ren who’s transitioning into adulthood—along with Rey—and hopefully we can relate to both of them. The anger of adolescence is as familiar as the hope Rey feels when she looks up at the stars on Jakku. She has issues around her parents, too, so it’s a common thread that links them both.” For Kelly Marie Tran, who plays Resistance technician Rose Tico, family is also a major motivation. “Rose’s sister is a Resistance gunner, and Rose has always lived in her shadow,” she says. “But more than that, when I talked to Rian about the character, it became clear that she had experiences
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“If there is one thing we can all identify with–to some extent–at least –it’s the battle Luke has with his father.” Rian Johnson, writer/director that mirrored that of my own family. “My parents both left the Vietnam War, and my dad was a street kid. He had everything taken away from him and was very poor growing up. That’s exactly where Rose’s family is from, so a lot of the things she is dealing with are things that I already had inside me. She has such a specific relationship with war and family, and I listened to a lot of podcasts about the Vietnam War in order to better understand that.” Come Together Yet not all families are linked by blood, and friendships forged through shared experience can also become a kind of kin. That is the kind of family that Star Wars represents for Gwendoline Christie, the long-time fan now found inside the armor of Captain Phasma. “A New Hope is all about outsiders making their own family,” she says. “For me, seeing it all those years ago threw up lots of things about what family means.” Someone who was part of that family from the very beginning was Carrie Fisher, and in one of the last interviews she gave before she passed away in 2016, she talked about how the theme of commonality has spread out into fandom, too. “For me, it’s about family,” she said. “That’s what makes Star Wars so powerful. When I go to Comic-Con, I meet lots of people and it’s very powerful for them, too. They show the films to their children and their grandchildren, and share something that moved them as a child. “I’ve seen a lot of that over the years—like people whose babies are in Princess Leia outfits! It creates a community, and anything that does that heals people. If you have one thing in common, then you can find others.”
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And, as if to impress just how important the theme of family is to Star Wars in fiction and in real life, Fisher’s daughter, Billie Lourd, even had a role in The Force Awakens—a part she is reprising for the new film. “Her part [as Lieutenant Kaydel Ko Connix] got bigger and bigger as we went along, so Rian must have liked her performance,” Fisher reported, proudly. “We had a lot of the same scenes together, so I was always telling her what to do! She was really good and fit in really well. She had a fantastic time and it was great to see that.”
02 Luke explores a different side of his personality. (Left) 03 Family ties keep Rose‘s focus firmly on the Resistance. (Left) 04 The powerful General Organa.
Independent Women Leia, Phasma, Connix, and Rose all have very different parts to play in The Last Jedi, yet their disparity is indicative of another major theme in the movie. The diversity of female role models is a through-line that can’t be missed—though it is presented without fanfare or fuss. The galaxy is full of fascinating characters: it’s just a fact that many of them will be women. “One of the first things [Lucasfilm president]
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Kathy Kennedy told me when she asked if I’d be interested in doing Star Wars was that the lead character is a girl named Rey,” says Johnson. “I was instantly into that, because it just felt right. “In The Last Jedi, there are a lot of really interesting female characters: strong and powerful; weak and conflicted; good and bad. Obviously Leia came first as a figure that girls and women could look up to. Now, in addition to Leia and Rey, we have Rose, Phasma, and Vice Admiral Holdo, too. There are a lot of kick-ass women in this movie, which is great.” Vice Admiral Amilyn Holdo is a new character played by Jurassic Park and Twin Peaks star, Laura Dern. She spoke to Johnson at length about how her character should be portrayed in the movie. “It was important for Rian that she had room to be feminine; ethereal and other-worldly; even spiritual,” says Dern. “She’s a woman in a position of power, but she doesn’t dress like a man and set out to save the day in military garb. She is flirtatious and sensual, which is an interesting choice and something you don’t often see in film, so I was excited to be a part of that. “It’s been an incredibly good time because Rian, Kathy, and [The Last Jedi producer] Ram Bergman care deeply about how the characters are represented, and how women in positions of power are represented. To have a female protagonist is a really beautiful thing, and new characters like mine are a tribute to that. They serve something greater than just storytelling; they serve to create new archetypes.” Dern continues: “I think about my 10-year-old daughter, and the idea that she’s going to have heroines in this story who all look very different and have very different qualities and natures—but who are all fierce—is really exciting to me. “Of course, Carrie started that, and
“In The Last Jedi, there are a lot of really interesting characters: strong and powerful; weak and conflicted.”
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Rian Johnson, writer/director became iconic. A young woman saving the day wasn’t something we had seen before. And because my character is a pupil of Leia’s, I get to continue her legacy as a seer, as a fighter, and as someone who is sassy, funny, and no-nonsense. New characters like mine are a tribute to that, and to all of the girls who have fallen in love with Star Wars over the years.” New Power Generation As one of those women who have always loved Star Wars, Christie is inclined to agree with Dern. “The whole new Star Wars world that came to us in The Force Awakens felt genuinely exciting,” she says. “I was so happy that it felt more reflective of our modern world. Having the opportunity to play the first major female Star Wars villain was incredible. But more than that, I loved the fact that it wasn’t sexualized. The focus was on Phasma’s deeds, rather than how she looked. “There’s been a lot of talk about whether or not we’ll get to see who Phasma is, but I thought it was really interesting to have her remain incredibly mysterious, yet still have a lot of impact. We get a sense of her only through her actions. “I work with a charity called The Circle, which is all about women empowering women. That’s something wonderful that comes out of a job like this: characters like Phasma and Rose can really affect change, and give back to an audience. The opportunity to enhance people’s lives outside of entertainment is beautifuI and should be embraced.” Tran herself sees an extra dimension to that empowerment. “It’s so exciting to see women as badass characters—and to see women of color as badass characters,” she says. “It feels like a lot of responsibility to be this person that people will look up to, and I just want to do it right.” It seems unlikely Tran need have any worries on that score, but if she needed any guidance about being a role model, she could do worse that talk to Daisy Ridley, aka Rey. “You know, I never questioned being a heroic woman in a film,” Ridley says. “I like that, and it’s thanks to my upbringing. My mum always worked, and so did the other women I grew up around. Some of them have families and some don’t, but they are all inspirational people just living their lives. “Rey is a great role, but not just because she’s a
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05 Having arrived on Ahch-To a new sequence of events will take Rey deeper on her journey to self discovery. (Right) 06 The First Order poised to crush the Resistance. (Right) 07 General Organa’s long-standing friend, Vice Admiral Holdo. (Right) 08 The ever-confilicted Kylo Ren. (Right)
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woman. That’s how simple it was to me. But for a lot of other people it was a big deal, and it made me think about the way things are a lot more than I ever had before. It’s exciting to be a part of that, and I’m like: Let’s continue! This is how it should be.” Power and Control Of course, power isn’t solely the purview of women in the Star Wars universe, and its application is another strand that binds characters on both sides in The Last Jedi. For the First Order, power is the path to control—but not necessarily to restraint. As General Armitage Hux, Domhnall Gleeson serves as an analogue for its officer class. “From Hux’s perspective, it’s all about order,” he says. “It’s called the First Order for a reason! Individuality scares him, and the First Order is all about crushing that and keeping everything in its ‘right’ place. “Control is huge for him: control over his circumstances; control over people. And the fact that he has no control over Snoke or Kylo Ren puts him under extra pressure. Hux likes discipline, but there’s a wildness to Ren that inspires Hux’s fear and hatred. But it also inspires a strange sort of respect, because it’s another kind of power, and that’s what Hux really cares about.”
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09 Supreme Leader Snoke reveals more of himself in The Last Jedi. 10 The brutal General Hux and his insatiable thirst for power.
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Captain Phasma, too, is juggling order and chaos on behalf of the First Order—something that Christie was keen to explore. “I talked to Rian a lot about what sort of person would be driven to behave in the way she does,” says the actor. “To have such focus and seeming lack of emotion, yet to have such vengeance when it comes to Finn. Hate is a strong emotion—it’s not like dislike or irritation—and cold hate is what she feels toward Finn. “We thought perhaps it was born of fear: Finn scares Phasma because he moves her out of her comfort zone. He has broken free of his confines and is becoming the person he wants to be. He is a romantic figure—a rebel—and that sort of freedom terrifies Phasma. She likes things to be precise and specific, so his romanticism and his creativity go against everything she believes is right. From there, we found the foundation on which to build up the character.” Life During Wartime For the Resistance, power is exercised more softly, even in the heat of war. Vice Admiral Holdo is an example of this, which could well put her at odds with ace pilot Poe Dameron. And, as actor Oscar Isaac explains, the strengths that Poe has relied on in the past might not to be enough in these desperate times. “One of the themes we get to explore is what it is to be a hero and what it is to be a leader,” he says. “They’re in the midst of a war; it’s life
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and death, and the decisions made affect so many. “It’s also exploring things that haven’t been seen before about what it means to resist and what it means to win. There are some very truthful messages about power and the nature of power, and how easily those seeking it can go one way or the other. “Vice Admiral Holdo is an interesting character that speaks to the nature of leadership. She isn’t saying, ‘Look at me, I’m the hero.’ She does things more quietly. As for Poe, he can’t just stand on his own anymore as the man who gets things done.” Isaac continues: “When someone wants to prove themselves at the expense of others, it can be detrimental, no matter how noble the aims. Too much ambition can blur the
lines of what’s right and wrong, and the same goes for too much power— even in the hands of the good guys. “For me, that’s one of the most interesting themes, and it says something about the nature of rebellion and resistance as well.” And that brings us full circle—back to the shades of gray described by Driver and Del Toro. With a movie as multilayered and meticulously crafted as The Last Jedi, every theme overlaps with the others, and the few we’ve covered here are only the beginning. We promised no spoilers, and when it comes to whether or not it’s truly time for the Jedi to end, we have nothing more to add. But as a taster of what the saga still has to offer in terms of topics and ideas, it seems as if we’re just getting started…
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When the cast of The Last Jedi talk about its writer/director, Rian Johnson, they paint a picture of a modest man with big ideas and an inspirational attitude, who is ready to take Star Wars in bold new directions. WORDS: SIMON HUGO
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01 Rian Johnson takes in the views on the set of Ahch-To.
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“Some of the stuff that happens will surprise people, and I think that’s really great.” Daisy Ridley
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ian Johnson is not only the writer and director of The Last Jedi, he has also recently been revealed as the driving force behind a whole new trilogy of Star Wars films that will be separate from the Skywalker saga. Clearly, he is doing something right, but what is it that makes him the man to take Star Wars to the next level? Ask the cast, and they are more than happy to count the ways. “‘Amazing’ doesn’t do Rian justice,” enthuses Adam Driver (Kylo Ren). “He comes across as very unassuming, but he isn’t interested in making something that doesn’t have blood coursing through its veins. “He is appropriately territorial when he thinks something works,” he continues, “but he is open to the possibility of being wrong. “That’s a great combination, and
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SHE SAID, HE SAID… It’s not just Rian Johnson! The stars of The Last Jedi are eager to sing the praises of their other colleagues, too…
I think it comes from the fact that he trusts the people that he works with. You really get the sense that he is giving you a lot of creative control.” Speaking in 2016, Carrie Fisher (General Organa) also highlighted Johnson’s blend of personability and passion. “Rian has a very specific vision,” she said, “but he doesn’t seem like that when you meet him! He’s not a dominating man, but he has a dominating vision. He’s a really good director and he’s great with actors and structuring story.” Benicio Del Toro (DJ) agrees with that assessment, too. “Rian is laid back, but that doesn’t mean he’s not prepared,” says the Oscar-winning actor. “He knows his story backwards and forwards, which makes him very easy to work with. “His attention to detail, his ear for dialogue, and his general coolness all trickle down through the crew and make it a very pleasant experience for the actors.”
After Abrams Of course, no two directors are the same, and one of the challenges of a saga like Star Wars is being consistent with what has gone before, while also making it your own. For Johnson, that meant following in the immediate footsteps of a certain J.J. Abrams. “To pick up where J.J. Abrams left off and take it further seems like an insurmountable task,” says Driver, “but Rian has done it with ease. He is a great visual storyteller and he is really good at giving direction that is very playable.” Daisy Ridley (Rey) sees just the right mix of differences and similarities between Johnson and his predecessor. “Rian and J.J. are similar,” she says, “in that they are both fanboys and they both know the universe so well, and they are both writers and directors. But they are very different in the kind of energy they bring. Rian’s vibe is very chilled. He knows exactly what he wants and he can just picture the
Oscar Isaac on Carrie Fisher
Daisy Ridley on Mark Hamill and Adam Driver
“She was incredibly funny and witty, and told the most amazing stories. The scenes I had with her are very heartfelt, and there’s tenderness to them— even when she slaps me!”
“Mark and Adam are very different men. Mark’s a talker and Adam isn’t. Mark has lived a crazy life, a lot of which has been influenced by Star Wars. He’s older, and he’s a father, so his energy is steadier. Adam is incredible. He has this amazing depth of emotion. I don’t know anyone else like him.”
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02 Rian Johnson directs a shot with Daisy Ridley on Ahch-To. (See previous page) 03 Rian and Carrie Fisher explore a scene.
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“He’s not a dominating man, but he has a dominating vision. He’s a really good director and he’s great with actors and structuring story.”
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Johnson’s rise to prominence began with Brick, a low-budget crime thriller he wrote and directed in 2005. He took the same dual credit on con-man caper The Brothers Bloom (2008) and mindbending time-travel thriller Looper (2012) before he landed the Star Wars gig. Gwendoline Christie (Captain Phasma) is one of many fans of his earlier work. “Rian Johnson’s films are so beautifully, brilliantly, and intelligently executed,” she says. “They have such depth, but a real lightness of touch. His wonderful personality and his sense of humor are all over them, and on set
Another actor who has worked with her fair share of directors is Laura Dern (Vice Admiral Holdo). Perhaps best known for her collaborations with David Lynch, she has also worked with Robert Altman, Clint Eastwood, Paul Thomas Anderson, and, of course, Steven Spielberg on Jurassic Park. “I’ve spent my life having different experiences and have always been very fortunate to work with directors who want to mine the material and find more in it,” says Dern. “What’s amazing about Rian is that you don’t expect to have that process on a blockbuster film like Star Wars. “You get it on independent films and—I have to say—Kathy Kennedy and Steven Spielberg were very diligent about everything being very character driven on Jurassic Park, too. But when I arrived to do this, I didn’t expect that level of exploration, and Rian’s been wonderfully committed to it.
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whole thing in his mind. “With the crazy success of The Force Awakens, there was a lot of pressure to keep things feeling good,” she adds. “But it’s been really positive and everyone feels like it’s going in the right direction. “Rian has written a story that people won’t expect, and it stands as its own thing as well as being a bridge to the next one. Some of the stuff that happens will surprise people, and I think that’s really great.” For John Boyega (Finn), Johnson’s input has been exactly what the saga needed at this point. “Rian has elevated the stories of the individual characters and made them fresh and new,” he says. “He has really paid attention to detail, and his notes have been specific and honest. The best directors know how to collaborate, and he has done just that.”
you can really see why. “I’ve never known a set that’s so relaxed and lighthearted,” she explains. “I’ve laughed so much and had such a great time. But, every moment is forensic, and that’s a rare and beautiful balance. “Rian puts you at ease and asks you what you think about the story and how you feel about the dialogue. That’s an incredible freedom to give an actor. It makes you feel more invested in the project, and it makes for a better film.” Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker) has worked with many creators over the years, and he can only concur. “If you look at Rian’s movies, each one is different than the last,” he says. “You can’t pigeonhole him and say: that’s the kind of film he makes. And that’s true of The Last Jedi. It’s so different in many ways—subtle ways— but it is satisfying in terms of delivering what the fans want to see as well.”
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Carrie Fisher on Mark Hamill
Rian Johnson on Laura Dern
“I always think of him as Luke. Mark and I have a very sibling-like relationship. Our relationships in the movie are very much like our relationships in life. We take care of each other, in a way.”
“Laura is a great actor who makes unexpected choices. She has a real humanity to her, even when she’s being tough. She is definitely not your average, hardass, cigar-chomping admiral!”
Adam Driver on Mark Hamill “Mark is very approachable, totally available, and willing to talk about anything you want. He wants it to be good, and he wants to talk about it and make it as connected as possible and as deep as possible. Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher were like that, too. They had a youthful ambition to make it the best.”
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“He makes remarkable movies with an independent vision, and we worked as we would on any independent film. I think that’s why Rian is making something so special. It’s in keeping with what J.J. Abrams set up—which is a return to character-based stories that have a simplicity to them—and I think that audiences will be thrilled.” Oscar Isaac (Poe Dameron) is a newcomer compared to Hamill and Dern. He got his big break working with the Coen Brothers as the star of 2013’s Inside Llewyn Davis, but he had plenty of indie experience beforehand. He does see differences when it comes to making Star Wars— albeit ones that are alleviated by having Johnson at the helm. “It’s a massive undertaking, and there are so many people around that it’s not really like an indie movie at all,” he argues. “But Rian has created a space within that where we can really delve into the characters and explore them. It’s those moments—where there’s no sense of a pressing clock— that have an indie quality. “On The Force Awakens there was an enthusiasm and a momentum that pushed everything forward. This time, the characters are getting tested in a more complicated way, so it’s right that we get to explore things a little more.” Isaac is also a talented guitarist, which gives him another insight into Johnson’s approach. “Rian reminds me of a West Coast jazz musician,” he concludes. “He knows his scale and he knows what he’s playing, but he’s open to trying out new things, too. He’s very laid-back, but very sharp.”
Writer, Director, Friend Another newcomer is Kelly Marie Tran (Rose Tico). What she values most about working with Johnson
04 Director hall of fame! Rian updates J.J Abrams’ signature on the Millenium Falcon.
is that it didn’t feel like work at all. “Rian is one of my favorite people in the world,” she says. “As a director, he is so open and collaborative. And even though he wrote it, he isn’t precious about the words. If an actor felt that something wasn’t working, or if someone wanted to talk through something, he was totally ready for that. “I know that I’m very lucky, because even though it’s a huge movie, it felt more like I was hanging out with friends. There was no pressure there, and that’s important for an actor, because you need to be in a comfortable place if you’re going to be honest in the moment. “Rian was so good at inspiring that trust, and I think everyone on set felt as comfortable as me.” Of all the terms used to describe working with Johnson, ‘friendship’ and ‘trust’ are perhaps the most telling. While his output inspires respect and admiration, it is his personal qualities
Kelly Marie Tran on John Boyega “John is so naturally funny, and just very generous and giving. We were always laughing and joking around, but I learned so much from him, too. We immediately hit it off because his parents are immigrants and so are mine, and we had quite similar upbringings. He was the best partner I could have had on a massive movie like this.”
that make people want to go that extra mile on his behalf. “Rian Johnson is one of the nicest people I’ve ever met,” says Hamill, as if to assuage any last doubts. “He’d be a friend of mine even if we didn’t work together. Every so often you meet someone like him, who has such a passion for film and television and pop culture, and I had this instant connection with him. “He came over to my house to get to know me, and we hung out and talked about this, that, and the other. I invited him into my den where I keep all my DVDs, toys, and memorabilia, and we watched some [of Phil Silvers’ 1950s sitcom] Sergeant Bilko. I don’t ask just anyone into my den to watch Sergeant Bilko, but Rian has a golden ticket in my book! “He is so gifted a filmmaker. He told me, in so many words, to stop acting and just to ‘be’. There’s no one more deserving of trust I can think of than Rian Johnson.”
Gwendoline Christie on Kelly Marie Tran
Kelly Marie Tran on Benicio Del Toro
“Kelly is such a talented and warm and ebullient human being. She inspires such joy in me! She is so hilarious and glorious and fun that I know she will be a positive role model for girls and women.”
“John [Boyega] and I are obsessed with Benicio Del Toro! He’s so amazing, and we learned so much from him. Every time he did anything, we would just turn to each other and say, ‘He’s such a legend!’”
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THE LAST JEDI SPECIAL
RIAN JOHNSON’S G U I D E TO T H E GA L A X Y
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The writer/director at the helm of The Last Jedi shares some behind-the-scenes insights about the new worlds and species seen in the movie. WORDS: SIMON HUGO
athleen Kennedy once described Rian Johnson as “moving the camera as well as Steven Spielberg.” It’s high praise indeed, and as Johnson was recently announced as the creator of an all-new Star Wars trilogy, there’ll be more to come. But for now, there’s the small matter of the middle chapter of the new trilogy.
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What new destinations do we visit during The Last Jedi? One of the new planets we go to is Cantonica, where the city of Canto Bight is located. It’s kind of the Monte Carlo of the Star Wars universe, where the galaxy’s one percent hang out. We’ve seen luxury before, in the prequels, so there is some precedent for it design-wise, but it was still a fun challenge figuring out what it should look like. The other big new world is Crait, which is a mineral planet. I had a really specific visual idea for Crait from the start: it would be white, thanks to a thin layer of salt, and then under that would be ruby red. I liked the whole notion of what a battle on a planet like that would look like. It felt like it would give incredible possibilities in terms of design.
What look did you settle on for Canto Bight? For the costumes, I told our designer, Michael Kaplan, that I wanted to see what the Armani tuxedo of the Star Wars world looks like. I didn’t want the outfits to look very ornate or sci-fi—I wanted it to feel like these guys could show up at the Oscars, and you’d buy it. We created a very rich, warm environment with the set, so I wanted all the costumes to be just black and white, and Michael did an extraordinary job. The casino set was the biggest that we built, and we just filled it up with incredible, practical [as opposed to CGI] creatures. A lot of them are just there in the background, but they create this incredible palette. Neal Scanlan and his creature department did an insane amount of amazing creatures. You can keep going back and seeing new ones in the background that you hadn’t noticed before. What’s it like working with so many practical creatures? Entering Neal’s workshop is like walking into Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory, and it was my favorite place to review stuff. His team would sketch out designs for these creatures, and then we would pick ones to proceed with. The next step would be a sculpture,
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01 Rian Johnson offers some directorial advice to Joonas Suotamo (Chewbacca).
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and then a working puppet. By that point, you could get six inches away, look into its eyes, and believe it was a real, living creature. It was just absolutely extraordinary. Did it take long for you to learn the visual language of Star Wars? In terms of design, we had a lot of early conversations about what makes something feel like Star Wars. It’s an interesting balance, trying to design new things that also feel like they could be in a toy box from 1977. Luckily, designers like Kevin Jenkins and James Clyne at ILM are able to hone in on the Star Wars feel of things instantly. In terms of shooting, Steve [Yedlin, cinematographer) and I looked at The Empire Strikes Back as a reference and figured out pretty quickly that we couldn’t just copy the look of previous Star Wars movies—it would be like going through your day trying to imitate someone else’s accent. I had to tell the story in a way that’s visually exciting to me, and after starting out trying to be very formal with the composition of each shot, the camera moves started getting more and more groovy. Eventually we gave in and said: “You know what? We just have to make this movie look cool the way we think it would look cool.” How many sets were built for the movie in total? We shot for about 100 days and we had something like 114 sets, which is insane. The entirety of Pinewood Studios was just us: every single stage. It was like a big game of Tetris in terms of shuffling things around. “You’re done with this set? OK, so let’s instantly tear it down and build another while you’re shooting over there.” But it was really worth having all those practical sets [rather than relying on greenscreen and CGI]. When you watch the film, it gives that sense of everything being grounded in the real world. A big part of what defines this world is the feeling that you could reach out and touch it. Combining the tactile, real sets with all that Ben Morris and his ILM team can do is what makes Star Wars feel really special.
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What real-world locations did you visit during the shoot? We did some traveling. We went high up in the salt flats of Bolivia to get elements for the battle on Crait, and to the city of Dubrovnik in Croatia for a chase scene in Canto Bight. I had been to Dubrovnik before, and it’s one of the most beautiful cities on the planet. We went there with a second unit, and one of the actors in the scene is
Warwick Davis. It was a night shoot, so I ended up hanging out with him in an alleyway at two in the morning, listening to stories about Willow and Return of the Jedi ! And you returned to Ireland, which is briefly seen as Ahch-To at the end of The Force Awakens? Yes, the big location was Ireland. A big chunk of the movie takes place on Luke’s island, which is actually
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02 Finn takes control of his ski speeder on the mineral world of Crait. (Left) 03 Chewbacca and a porg aboard the Falcon. (Left) 04 The First Order’s military might faces the Resitance. (Left) 05 General Organa faces a personal crisis as Kylo Ren attacks the fleet. (Left) 06 Poe, Finn and Kaydol Connix witness the First Order’s terrifying advance.
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07 Rey confronts Luke on Ahch-To.
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a couple of locations. One is Skellig Michael, which is a tiny, uninhabited island off the southwest coast of Ireland, and the other is a stretch of the nearby mainland. Skellig is a bird sanctuary and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, so we could only shoot there for two days. It is quite inaccessible, and we had to really pick our battles in terms of what we could shoot there. The vast majority of the scenes set on the island
were shot nearby in County Kerry, which shares the same attributes, but is far more accessible. We had so much fun shooting in Ireland, and the Irish crew was amazing. They built the set that Luke is living in—cantilevered over a massive cliff, just outside of Dingle. They even built a temporary road for everyone to get up to it. It was a massive project, but totally worth it, because once you’re up there, you’re
instantly in the scene. We could have just set up a greenscreen, but when you watch it, you can tell it is actually real. Tell us about the porgs… Every time they would come out on to the set, our first assistant director, Jamie Christopher, would say, “Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the porgs!” We joked that they shouldn’t be with us on set: they should be out playing gigs!
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Behind the scenes 01 Johnson and Bergman listen to Joonas Suotamo (Chewbacca). 02 Johnson and the crew shoot on a waterlogged set. 03 The crew get a close-up shot of Rey handing over the lightsaber to Luke Skywalker on Ahct-To. (Right)
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Behind the scenes 04 Captain Phasma (Gwendoline Christie) rules the scene as the crew capture her work.
06 Veteran commander Admiral Ackbar proudly shows off the number of filming days. 07 Rian Johnson sees Carrie Fisher right during filming, as Leia takes command of the Raddus.
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05 Finn (John Boyega) and Rose Tico (Kelly Marie Tran) share a hearty laugh on set. (Right)
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THE LAST JEDI SPECIAL
The Last Jedi
Concept Art The beautiful illustrations that helped inspire the movie.
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01 Luke Skywalker oversees as Rey sits in meditation on Ahch-To. Art by Justin Sweet 02 Luke, Chewie, and Rey gather around the fire to keep warm. Art by James Carson and Rick Heinrichs
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03 AT-M6 Walkers head into battle. Art by Kevin Jenkins. (Left)
04 The Resistance in formation in the trenches on Crait. Art by Kevin Jenkins. (Left) 05 The ultralight ski speeders race across Crait.
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06 Performance artists Rhomby and Parallela Grammus. 07 The well-heeled visitors to Canto Bight mingle. Art by Mauro Borelli and Aaron McBride 08 Attack on the hangar bay as Poe and BB-8 are thrown back by an explosion. Art by Kevin Jenkins
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D O YO U R E M E M B E R T H E F I R S T T I M E ...?
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Some of the stars of The Last Jedi weren’t even born when the original trilogy came out—while others were at the heart of it! Here, they reflect on when they first encountered the galaxy far, far away…
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The sheer size of Star Wars is what I recall from when I was a kid. I hadn’t seen the original movies all the way through, but I still knew all about it. “Later, I saw the prequels in the cinema, and I also saw the originals on a big screen when I was getting ready to do The Force Awakens. That’s the way everybody should see Star Wars: in a cinema full of people, on the big screen!
OSC AR ISAAC
OSCAR ISAAC P O E DA M E R O N D A ISY R I DLE Y
DAISY RID L EY RE Y My first memory of Star Wars is going to the cinema and being terrified! But culturally it’s so massive that it reached me through osmosis over the years. Even people who have never seen it have more awareness than they think. Look around and you’ll see T-shirts and hear references and quotes… It’s crazy! It’s literally everywhere, and it feels as if it always has been.
The first movie I saw in the theater was Return of the Jedi. I would only have been four or five years old, and it really stayed with me. I remember the moment Darth Vader’s helmet came off, revealing this vulnerable man. It was very shocking to me. I was also a big fan of the Ewoks!
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“That was my introduction to Star Wars, and so obviously I went to see it. Then, when I went back to Puerto Rico I was the one telling everyone else about it! But in those days it took about five months for movies to come to Puerto Rico, so I was this kid talking about a movie that would never show up! Luckily I had the book this guy had given me, and I think I still have it somewhere!
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I was in New York City in the summer of ’77, and a stranger came over to me in a restaurant and handed me a little booklet from a movie he’d just seen. He said, ‘This movie has just opened and you have got to see it!’
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I have so many memories from the early days that it’s hard to single one out. But doing the cantina sequence was an experience I’ll never forget. That and swinging across the chasm with the Princess! We were in harnesses and flown by the people who developed that system to fly Peter Pan on Broadway in the 1950s! It was so much fun and I was ready to do it again, but sadly they had four cameras and they got it in one take. I was so disappointed! But then someone said, ‘You really want to fly? Unhook him from Carrie.’ Then they flew me all around the set. It’s the closest to playing Peter Pan I’ll ever get! So is there one moment I remember more than any other? No. There are a million moments!
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G W E ND O LI NE C HR I S T I E CAPTAIN PH ASMA I saw my first Star Wars film when I was six. I thought it was so exciting and had so many incredible elements: the misfit rebels, the dark side… That image of the two droids in the sand was the weirdest thing I’d ever seen. It’s our most ancient story of good versus evil, but told in the most fascinating, light-hearted, funny way. “I thought it was a beautiful story, and it was so powerful that it has stayed with me, as it has stayed with millions of other people. It’s woven into our consciousness now, and it resonates in a way that not many things do. It’s such an outrageously surreal thing to be a part of!
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20/12/2017 13:28
LEIA ORGANA
AN UNFORGETTABLE HERO
Insider looks back on the character Carrie Fisher made her own, and picks 10 immortal Leia moments that will live forever in the hearts of fans. WORDS: TRICIA BARR
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electing 10 memorable moments for a character should be an easy task. But consider the legacy of Leia Organa in the Star Wars universe and beyond it, and you realize it is no such thing. Leia is heroic and flawed, like any good character should be, and so was Carrie Fisher, the actor who portrayed her. Fisher was candid about her own life, and made us laugh, even when she was hurting on the inside. She was aware of how important her character was to fans facing their own struggles, especially when they involved mental illness, substance abuse, or bigotry—all battles that she fought herself. Little girls aspired to be Leia in 1977, and little girls are still putting on the white robes and signature buns to this day. But what are the moments that make her character resonate? Is it the princess planting a kiss on the dashing hero before they swing across a chasm? The adopted daughter seeing her father’s world destroyed? Or the mother asking her former partner to bring their child home? There are so many instances throughout the saga that fans could cite as their favorite instance of Leia gracing the screen. Here are a few that are special to me.
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10 IntroDUCing a hero Fearless. That is the main trait that comes to mind when we first meet Princess Leia in A New Hope. She is confident in the face of adversity, and has the steely composure of a warrior. As the movie continues, everything we see of her only reinforces our initial assessment. Indeed, over 40 years of the Star Wars franchise, nothing has made the character waver from those traits. We have seen her as a daughter, a lover, a friend, and a mother, but always as a woman who defies fear. When she reappears in The Force Awakens, she still radiates the confidence needed to lead the Resistance, and inspires it in others—now as a general. From the start, everything we learn about her is garnered through “show not tell” techniques. A woman concealed by a hood hides something in a small droid. As the droid leaves, she peeks out from cover and draws back her hood to reveal herself. Immediately, we know she is hunted, she is beautiful, and she is brave. She is clearly a fighter, as she draws a weapon, but she is also a tactician, as she allows herself to be captured so that her droid can escape. It is a selfless, heroic moment. She is then taken to Darth Vader, but does not cower before his towering figure. Instead she asserts her rights, insisting that she is on a diplomatic mission. Everything we have seen so far suggests otherwise, and we can only admire her brazen attitude in the face of overwhelming odds. Though she seems doomed, we know this character will be one to watch.
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09 Self-Rescuing Princess
The escape from the Death Star detention block is one of Star Wars’ most iconic scenes. From Han’s awkward conversation with Imperials to Luke’s breathless introduction as he bursts into Leia’s cell, the rescuers seem to be in over their heads. But the prisoner remains calmly acerbic, with Leia coolly declaring Luke “a little short for a stormtrooper,” and critiquing the lack of an escape plan even as she gratefully flees with her rescuers. This is the first time that Leia, Luke, and Han are all together, and they quickly fall into their familiar roles. The rebel leader Leia takes charge, snatching Luke’s blaster and firing across the hall to a spot right next to Han. Han shows his trademark incredulity as she explains: “Someone has to save our skins. Into the garbage chute, flyboy!” Luke is the only one not to question Leia’s actions (even Chewie has his doubts), acting on youthful, reckless bravery, and perhaps already feeling a bond of trust with Leia.
08 Yavin Medal Ceremony Leia does many awesome things over the course of A New Hope, but in keeping with her selflessness, she doesn’t give herself an award at the end of it. When she presents medals to Luke and Han, she does so as a princess and a symbol of something greater. She has responsibilities beyond those of other rebel fighters, and must stand apart from time to time. The pomp of her role provides
a sense of structure and tradition in a galaxy that the Empire would remake as new. In storytelling terms, her presence on the dais reminds us just how important she is to the Rebel Alliance, even after the destruction of her home planet, Alderaan. Of course, in this moment we are not invited to remember Alderaan: it is a scene of triumph, and—in a way—the best tribute the atomized planet could have. Life finds a way, and the young, vivacious princess flirting with two handsome men represents the fun, romantic spirit that the Empire simply cannot quash, even with a superlaser. Leia has a new outfit and new hair, the assembled audience is huge, the medals are magnificent, and the music is rousing. It is a lavish, uplifting scene that makes the heart soar and imaginations run wild.
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07 Briefing the Pilots on Hoth Some Leia scenes gain greater significance with hindsight. The Hoth scenes in The Empire Strikes Back include some fun Leia moments that build on the romantic possibilities set up in A New Hope. Yet it is the briefing of the rebel pilots on the icy planet that invites reassessment after seeing The Force Awakens. Whereas, in A New Hope, Leia is the natural leader of a small group, and a proficient fighter, on Hoth she is already in her element as a military commander. The screenplay captures this accepted authority in a few lines:
LEIA: All troop carriers will assemble at the north entrance. The heavy transport ships will leave as soon as they’re loaded. Only two fighter escorts per ship. The energy shield can only be opened for a short time, so you’ll have to stay very close to your transports. HOBBIE: Two fighters against a Star Destroyer? LEIA: The ion cannon will fire several shots to make sure that any enemy ships will be out of your flight path. When you’ve gotten past the energy shield, proceed directly to the rendezvous point. Understood? PILOTS: (in unison) Right. OK. LEIA: Good luck. She might still be known as ‘Princess,’ but to all intents and purposes, this is our first glimpse of ‘General’ Leia. She is an even more empowering figure than the one we meet in A New Hope, and in 1980, she helped to convince a generation of women that they had a place in the military and other high-status strategic roles. The scene remains inspirational today.
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06 The Kiss If romance is your thing, The Empire Strikes Back delivers it in spades. Much of it is played for laughs, which lightens the dire situation on Hoth—such as when Han comes back for Leia to make sure she escapes from Echo Base. The snarky banter that follows sets up a woman who is trying to stay emotionally detached. Dedicated to thinking about others’ safety, she finds herself faced with a man who thinks about hers—and is therefore forced to think about her own needs, too. The tension builds as Han chips away at the wall she erected after Alderaan was destroyed. Even as the story builds toward the release of this tension, Leia is portrayed as capable. The script
says she has finished “welding the valves she has been working on” on the Falcon as Han steps in to the confined area to help her “reengage the system.” In this moment, we can feel Leia resisting the temptation to give into the proximity and the attraction. It starts out with a return to the playful repartee. Han calls Leia “Your Worship” and she asks him to stop. She calls him a scoundrel, and he accepts the insult with delight. All the while Han is moving closer and Leia’s inner conflict becomes more obvious. Then Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford deliver on an ambitious moment in the screenplay:
HAN: You’re trembling. LEIA: I’m not trembling. Then with an irresistible combination of physical strength and emotional power, the space pirate begins to draw Leia toward him...very slowly. HAN: You like me because I’m a scoundrel. There aren’t enough scoundrels in your life. Leia is now very close to Han and as she speaks, her voice becomes an excited whisper, a tone completely in opposition to her words. LEIA: I happen to like nice men. HAN: I’m a nice man. LEIA: No, you’re not. You’re... He kisses her now, with slow, hot lips. He takes his time, as though he had forever, bending her body backward… To see Leia give in to feelings of intimacy is rare and unexpected. It is a standard storytelling move for a male hero to convince a woman of his charms, but here the moment is more about Leia than it is about Han. This is owing to the skill with which the character has been written and performed up to this point, and it makes the kiss beautiful. Leia is enriched by her romance, rather than reduced to the side role of ‘love interest,’ and fans continue to find satisfaction and empowerment in how it plays out in this movie.
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04 Ewok First Contact
05 The Force Calls to Her
In 1980, the world sat stunned as Darth Vader revealed, “No. I am your father.” Yet while that one moment has become a shorthand for the entire Skywalker saga, The Empire Strikes Back contains another key moment for that crucial clan. Though it would not become a movie title for another 35 years, the idea that the Force could awaken within a character was seeded as Leia sensed Luke’s peril on Cloud City. Where Luke himself had trained to unlock his Force potential, Leia’s awakening is spontaneous and—tantalizingly— never fully explained. As Luke hangs by his one hand from an antenna on the underside of Cloud City, still reeling from Vader’s revelation, he calls out to his
mentor, “Ben” Kenobi. We know from A New Hope that Ben can still reach out to Luke through the Force, but Luke does not get the spectral assistance he is presumably hoping for. Instead, it is Leia who senses her brother’s plight (though she doesn’t yet know they are related), and turns the Falcon around to go back and find him. Does Ben nudge Luke’s own Force powers in Leia’s direction, or help Leia’s own sensitivity on its way? Do Luke and Leia unwittingly tune into a Force link they have always had without realizing it? Perhaps the best part of this scene is that we can all decide for ourselves and have lively, fun-filled debates about it. What is not up for debate, however, is that Leia takes control of the situation without pause. She does not stop to question her instincts or to weigh up the odds. Having just lost Han to the carbonfreeze chamber, she is not about to ignore a chance to save Luke, and the call to action is just the sliver of hope she needs. In that moment, the Force is perhaps her own salvation as much as it is Luke’s.
After pursuing a personal quest to rescue Han in the first act of Return of the Jedi, Leia returns to the thick of the fight against the Empire. Before long, she is on Endor, piloting a speeder bike as part of a coordinated attack on the second Death Star: the latest iteration of the superweapon that destroyed her homeworld. For a presumed first-timer, Leia handles the bike like a boss—her latent Force abilities no doubt allowing her to keep up with Luke. But a scout trooper gets off a lucky shot, causing Leia to crash and pass out. When she wakes up, Leia has a new companion: a small, bear-like creature that is eyeing her with caution and curiosity. Though the creature doesn’t look like a serious threat, Leia knows well enough not to judge by appearances, and affords it respect and space. This leads to a tentative alliance that proves surprisingly instrumental in the downfall of the Empire. On a straightforward level, it’s a heartwarming scene that makes good on Leia’s earliest claims to be a diplomat. On a broader scale, it’s indicative of how Leia’s sometimes snarky attitude is merely a shield for a deep humanity—something that proves as powerful against the Empire as Luke’s mercy for Darth Vader in their final reckoning.
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03 Return of the Jedi is undoubtedly memorable for its big set pieces and special effects, but its story works because of the intimate character moments. Perhaps the only thing harder than finding out you are the child of the galaxy’s most fearsome bad guy is admitting that you are the child of the galaxy’s most fearsome bad guy. Even for
a diplomat, Leia has a hard time disguising her horror when Luke reveals his lineage to her. But then he also tells her that she is his sister, and therefore Vader’s daughter, too! Leia accepts this news with a simple: “I know. Somehow, I’ve always known,” but still the truth clearly shocks her. When Luke leaves and Han enters, she has no words to explain to him what she has learned, but takes comfort in his presence nonetheless. At first, Han is angry that Leia and Luke are keeping secrets from him, but this swiftly passes. As Leia trusts Luke to face their father despite the risks, so Han has learned to support Leia’s choices, and to stand by her regardless. As the core of a rebellion built on trust, they are all part of a family, whether or not they are bonded by blood.
many deeply personal losses— her brother, her son, her husband— and yet she fights on with quiet resilience. When she is reunited with Han, her composure almost falters, but she holds it together and they exchange a few words— an awkward echo of their one-time back and forth. It’s a stark reminder that heroes stay human, and that their stories don’t finish when their epic quests are complete. To reintroduce Leia in such a different place from where cinemagoers left her in Return of the Jedi is daring and far from an easy
option in story terms. But it has still more significance for audiences who know the battles Carrie Fisher fought in her own personal life. For Leia to have had an easy time over the past 30 years would have shattered the symbiosis that existed with actor and character, and done a disservice to Fisher’s own life story. As a result of these choices, and Fisher’s subtle, sensitive performance, Leia’s return to the screen is a triumph, and as her body language lets us know that she still loves Han, we can’t help but be reminded that we still love Leia.
Brother and Sister
02 Reunion With Han Solo With a new generation of heroes on the front line in The Force Awakens, Leia’s screen time is markedly reduced. Her presence, however, is felt throughout the film. For a start, it is Leia who has been instrumental in establishing the New Republic that has brought relative peace to the galaxy. Again, it is General Leia who has spearheaded the Resistance against the First Order when the New Republic has proved too peaceful for its own good. Rey is inspired by the Resistance long before she meets Leia, and is no doubt representative of many others across the galaxy who believe in the same things (even if they lack Rey’s innate abilities). But for all that Leia is a figurehead in The Force Awakens, she is also allowed her intimate moments. She has suffered
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GENERAL SLAYER Carrie Fisher could slay anyone with her wit, and she brought that sharp tongue to her portrayal of Princess Leia as well. Here are just some of Leia’s best and funniest lines. “Governor Tarkin, I should have expected to find you holding Vader’s leash. I recognized your foul stench when I was brought on board.” (A New Hope) “Aren’t you a little short for a stormtrooper?” (On first meeting the disguised Luke Skywalker in A New Hope) “You came in that thing? You’re braver than I thought.” (On first seeing the Millennium Falcon in A New Hope)
01 Leia Hugs Rey
Not long after she asks Han to bring back their son, she realizes she has lost him forever. As she senses his death through her connection to the Force, she is left in the darkest place she has been since the destruction of Alderaan, all those years ago. Leia hasn’t simply lost a husband; the fact he is slain by Kylo Ren means she is losing her son all over again. When the Millennium Falcon returns to the
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Resistance base, Leia locks eyes with Rey, who witnessed Han’s death and Kylo Ren’s rage on Starkiller Base. Heavy with her loss, Leia holds Rey, and the pair seem to support each other. But this is not the act of a widow seeking solace; it is the work of a tireless empath, giving comfort to relieve another’s pain. Decades earlier, Leia embraced her new friend Luke as he mourned the loss of his mentor, Ben Kenobi. Now Luke is missing, and a new young friend needs her help to come to terms with the loss of her own mentor—Han. It is a moment of beautiful symmetry, but also of circularity, as it is Rey who will finally track down Luke, and seek to cast him in the role of mentor, too. Luke is the start and end point of the circle, but Leia is the thread that gives it shape.
“Will somebody get this big walking carpet out of my way?” (On Chewbacca in A New Hope) “Why you stuck up, half-witted, scruffy-looking, nerf-herder!” (To Han after he brags about her to Luke and Chewie in The Empire Strikes Back) “I don’t know where you get your delusions, laser brain.” (To Han in The Empire Strikes Back) “Would it help if I got out and pushed?” (To Han when the Millennium Falcon stalls on Hoth in The Empire Strikes Back) “You have your moments. Not many of them, but you do have them.” (To Han, with a peck on the cheek, after he hides the Falcon amid an Imperial Star Destroyer’s trash release in The Empire Strikes Back) “Oh, it’s not like that at all. He’s my brother.” (To Han when he asks if she loves Luke in Return of the Jedi) “When did that ever help? And don’t say the Death Star.” (To Han, when he says he is trying to be helpful in The Force Awakens)
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JEDI CHALLENGES
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Jedi challenge
Rising to the challenge Want to battle Kylo Ren in your own home? Or turn your living room into the Millennium Falcon with your very own holochess table? With new augmented reality game Jedi Challenges, you can do just that, writes Megan Crouse ightsabers mean different things to different people. For a Sith Lord, they are mighty, dangerous weapons. For anyone under the protection of a Jedi, they can be beacons of hope. But for many Star Wars fans in the real world, they are simply the ultimate toy.
L
Jedi Challenges is a new augmented reality (AR) game that brings lightsaber play into the living room. Complete with an authentic lightsaber hilt controller, it uses Lenovo’s Mirage AR technology to track your movements as you battle opponents seen through an immersive headset. Your smartphone slots into the headset to become your window on
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JEDI CHALLENGES
this exciting world. What you see while playing is not some involved alien environment, but your own home, with the villains overlaid in classic Star Wars hologram style, as if they were being projected into the room. The effect is like being a real Jedi in training, as you take on simulations of Kylo Ren and Darth Vader, your epic lightsaber blade sparking against theirs. You can even feel the impact of blade against blade, as the hilt controller vibrates in real-time with the action! As well as the Lightsaber Battles mode, the game also has two more sedate options: Holochess, just like the version seen on the Millennium Falcon; and Strategic Combat, where you use the controller to command rebel forces as they advance in miniature form across your carpet! But it’s the ability to actually wield a lightsaber in one-to-one combat that is perhaps the greatest feature of Jedi Challenges, giving fans the experience of practising their skills with the Jedi
weapon in a very specific—and fun! —“training” experience. Insider spoke to head writer Michael Kogge about the creative process, and to Mike Goslin, VP of Advanced Development at Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media, about combining the story with the game’s innovative technology.
Life Lessons “I think what’s really cool about Jedi Challenges is that you’re not just taught how to fight with a lightsaber,” says Michael. “You learn part of a Jedi Code and a blueprint on how to live your life. As a kid or a teenager, you can take the lessons that you learn in the game and apply them in real life. “So in Jedi terms, the Holochess is a test of insight, and Strategic Combat is a test of leadership. In Lightsaber Battles, each villain you defeat involves overcoming a different aspect of evil. “For example, when you fight Darth Maul, at the basic level you fight his ferocity, which comes from fear.
And you have to defeat your own fear to be the better combatant.” At the heart of the game’s story is the Archivist: a manifestation of the knowledge contained in the Jedi holocron who serves as a Jedi teacher with vast knowledge of the battles fought throughout the galaxy’s history. She guides the player through all three game modes, tying them together, and making the how-to sections into in-universe fun. To create the Archivist, as well as to craft dialogue for the more familiar characters in the game, Michael worked with fellow writer Olivia Peterson. “The story mostly focuses on the Archivist and the player,” says Kogge, “with the Archivist helping you to understand what the different trials mean and why they are very important. “But there are some fan-favorite characters in there, too, and you might learn a few new tidbits about some never-before-seen Jedi Masters!”
“ You have to defeat your own fear to be a better combatant. Micheal Kogge, Head Writer
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“ You might just learn some new tidbits about some neverbefore-seen Jedi Masters! Micheal Kogge, Head Writer
Something Special To build a game that could live up to the concept, Mike and the team at Disney Interactive designed the AR headset from the ground up, before partnering with Lenovo for manufacture and distribution. With other popular interactive Star Wars experiences already out there in many different ways (from panoramic behind-the-scenes footage you can explore on a smartphone to the fully immersive Star Wars Secrets of the Empire experience at Disney resorts), Mike knew this had to be something special if it was going to make its mark. “When we started developing the technology, we were trying to see what was possible,” says Mike. “No one had ever done it before, so we had to do a lot of experimentation. “We knew we wanted to create a lightsaber game, but we also wanted to do more, and that’s what led us to the Strategic Combat mode.
“That was inspired by how I played with Star Wars action figures when I was a kid, when I was in my room and I believed they were moving around, and there were explosions, and all the other things you see in the films. “So what you get when you play the game is action-figure scale soldiers who really move—with dialogue and sound effects—and who interact with vehicles on a real surface. “We weren’t sure it was going to work at first, but when it is roomscale and all around you, it is really immersive and fun.” Just like the other two interactive modes, Strategic Combat is presented as a semi-transparent Star Wars hologram, as if you are presiding over a war room, rather than trying to convince you that you are really on a battlefield, side by side with the troops. “Holograms have been a part of the Star Wars story from the very
beginning,” says Mike, “starting with Princess Leia in A New Hope asking Obi-Wan Kenobi for help. So it’s a natural fit for this technology. “Also, one of the nice features of augmented reality is that you can see the real environment around it, so you can move around freely without crashing into anything. That’s ideal for this sort of context. Of course, AR also means that you can see your friends, so it’s more of a social experience.” Jedi Challenges doesn’t support multiplayer just yet, but the ability to interact with friends is one of the additional features that Mike says to look out for further down the line.
Jedi Journey When it came to designing the third game mode, Holochess, Mike again harked back to one of his early childhood experiences. “I remember being a kid and seeing
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“ We wanted to make sure that all three modes were a challenge for hardcore gamers.” Mike Goslin, VP of Advanced Development the Holochess in A New Hope,” he says. “You only get a quick glimpse of it, but I always wanted to get a closer look at it and perhaps even play it.” So, after examining the scene in great detail, Mike and his team took eight different monsters from the
ones pictured in the film aboard the Millennium Falcon and made them part of the AR game, using some of the assets from the original film to create new 3D models. They devised a set of rules that nurtures the skills needed as part of a player’s training, with some of the monsters available to every player from the start, and others only becoming unlocked as rewards for specific accomplishments. “We wanted to make sure all three modes were a challenge for hardcore gamers, as well as being an entertaining experience for more casual players,” says Mike.“So that sense of progression can be found in all three modes, whether it’s the acquisition of new Force powers in Lightsaber Battles or additional ground units in Strategic Combat.”
Mike expects that many people who are drawn to Jedi Challenges will be picking up an AR headset for the first time, so he and his team have set out to make it as accessible as possible to everyone. “A consumer might not know why they need an AR headset,” he says. “They might not understand the difference between AR and virtual reality. But they do know that they love Star Wars and they’ve always wanted to wield a lightsaber, just like they do in the movies. That’s what Jedi Challenges can give you, and it’s how we’re trying to introduce it: not as the next bit of must-have technology, but simply as wish-fulfillment.” Star Wars: Jedi Challenges is available now with the Lenovo Mirage AR set. Currently supported smartphones include iPhone 6 and upward, Samsung GALAXY S7 and upward, Google Pixel, and Motorola Moto Z.
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Master Yoda once said “The Jedi use the Force for knowledge and defense, never for attack.” Is the Force with you? Now’s the time to find out! Take our Jedi test to see if you are worthy of the title of Jedi Master! Compiled by Tolly Maggs and Jake Devine
THE JEDI ORDER The ey were e the guarrdians of peace and justtice fo or ove er a thousan nd ge enerattions– –but how w much do o you know w about them? ?
1. In Star Wars: Attack of the Clones, Obi-Wan describes Anakin’s lightsaber as: A: “Your greatest ally” B: “Your best friend” C: “A civilized weapon” D: “Your life”
4. The droid Professor Huyang instructs Jedi younglings on how to: A: Use the Force B: Do backflips C: Build their lightsabers D: Perform Jedi Mind Tricks
2. The Jedi who have renounced the Jedi Order over the course of its history are known as: A: The Lost Boys B: The Lost Causes C: The Lost Twenty D: The Lost Legends
5. What command did Darth Sidious issue to his clone troopers to brand the Jedi Order as enemies of the Republic? A: Command 88 B: Decree 77 C: Order 66 D: Proclamation 55 6. Name the water-logged planet that holds the location of the first Jedi temple? A: Hosnian Prime B: Ahch-To C: Ahch-Three D: Jakku
3. During the Clone Wars, who was the Jedi Grand Master? A: Obi-Wan Kenobi B: Mace Windu C: Ki-Adi-Mundi D: Yoda A.
B.
C.
D.
7. Which of these Jedi did not sit on the Council? A: Ki-Adi-Mundi B: Plo Koon C: Kit Fisto D: Quinlan Vos 8. What species is Jedi Master Aayla Secura? A: Twi’lek B: Toydarian C: Rodian D: Kel Dor
10. What was the name of the ritual that Jedi younglings undertook to secure their own kyber crystal? A: The Collective B: The Gathering C: The Meeting D: The Undertaking
9. Which planet did Ahsoka Tano hail from? A: Ryloth B: Dantooine C: Shili D: D’Qar
11. Who was a Padawan to Luminara Unduli? A: Barriss Offee B: Ahsoka Tano C: Knox D: Nahdar Vebb
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PICTURE ROUND! Can n yo ou give these e chara acters theirr correct name es? 1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
12. On which of these planets could you find kyber crystals for a Jedi’s lightsaber? A: Toydaria B: Ilum C: Moraband D: Dagobah 13. What color were the lightsaber pikes used by Jedi temple guards? A: Blue B: Red C: Yellow D: White 14. Where was the Great Library based before the Jedi Temple Archives? A: Ahch-To B: Tatooine C: Jedha D: Ossus 15. Who was the Chief Librarian of the Jedi Archives during the Clone Wars? A: Yaddle B: Ki Adi Mundi C: Jocasta Nu D: Sammo Quid 16: What is the name of Obi-Wan Kenobi’s planet of origin? A: Coruscant B: Stewjon C: Tatooine D: Jakku
HOW DID YOU FARE? 1-8 You’ve clearly got a way to go before you’re ready to face your destiny. 9-16 Good work, but you need to finish your training before you can confront the dark side. 17-25 You truly are a Jedi Master!
Answers - JEDI ORDER QUIZ! 1 D, 2 C, 3 D, 4 C, 5 C, 6 B, 7 D, 8 A, 9 C, 10 B, 11 A, 12 B, 13 C, 14 D, 15 C, 116 B PICTURE ROUND 1 Plo Koon 2 Yoda 3 Mace Windu 4 Kit Fisto 5 Shaak Ti 6 Ki-Adi-Mundi 7 Saesee Tiin 8 Eeth Koth 9 Ima-Gun Di
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Keeper Holocron Of The
Keeping track of Star Wars’ ever-expanding fictional universe calls for a multilayered database and the skills of one lifelong fan—Lucasfilm’s Leland Chee. WORDS: CHRISTOPHER COOPER
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INTERVIEW: LELAND CHEE
sed by Jedi Masters and Sith Lords alike, the Holocrons of the Star Wars universe are repositories of ancient knowledge and essential information— teaching valuable lessons to Force users across generations. In the real world, where thousands of fictional facts from a wealth of stories make up the Star Wars canon, Lucasfilm has its very own version of a Holocron—a database built and maintained by one very important man. Boasting the title of “Keeper of the Holocron,” Leland Chee’s dedication to the Star Wars saga began in 1977, with a TV clip of the Millennium Falcon. Twenty years later, he scored his dream job of working for George Lucas, but that was just the beginning of a glittering career with Lucasfilm.
U
How did your interest in Star Wars begin? I was watching a TV show called Creature Features, hosted by Bob Wilkins. It was on a local Bay Area monster movie program that showed horror movies late at night. They showed a brief clip from Star Wars—of the Millennium Falcon vs. the TIE fighters sequence—and it instantly piqued my interest. I was six years old at the time, and soon after we went to see Star Wars at the Coronet Theater in San Francisco—I remember the lines going around the block. I don’t remember much about seeing the movie itself, but over the next few years, getting the soundtrack, the storybook record, the action figures, and the trading cards was what really cemented Star Wars in my brain. Were you filing away bits of information even back then? I was the kid that opened my action figures, but kept the card backs so I could refer to them and remember all the names. And I went through all the trading cards, reading every behind-the-scenes
fact that was printed on the back. I must have listened to the storybook on record a thousand times, because there wasn’t video or DVD. The only way to experience the movie was to see it, and as you couldn’t see the movie every day you ran to things like the record, so you could encapsulate the story in your brain. In your first ever blog post for StarWars.com, you said, “It’s mind-boggling to think of all the myriad little decisions and circumstances that had to transpire for me to get to where I am.” That sounds like a long and winding road. I knew when I was a kid that I wanted to work on Star Wars, but I never really thought that was realistic, especially after 1983. Return of the Jedi came out and George was saying he was taking a break from movies, so things were looking dire. But I went through high school and college thinking: You know, it would be great if Star Wars were to come back someday, and I’m going to be there for it. But until then, I’m going to get some skills, and maybe I could apply to Lucasfilm, and maybe one day end up working on Star Wars. So I did a lot of work in entertainment. During college and after graduating I did theater volunteering work, voluntary work at public-access television, and I worked on independent films. I graduated in 1993, and I ended up working at a TV station, but I was always checking the Lucasfilm job hotline. Back then, you had to call in to learn of any openings. I’d call in once a week and send in résumés for anything I could possibly get— security guard, dishwasher. I did manage to get a phone interview with ILM [Industrial Light & Magic], but I didn’t get the job. That was the closest I got until I heard from a college friend that another friend of ours was working at LucasArts as a games tester. I sent off an email to him, and he had me send in my résumé. This was in
“I was the kid that opened my action figures, but kept the card backs...”
Leland Chee
January 1997, as the Special Edition was coming out. I had the interview on the Tuesday or Wednesday, and there was going to be a 10am showing of A New Hope on the following Friday. I remember going to the line that was already massing days before the movie came out at the Coronet. I was having second thoughts about me being “the biggest Star Wars fan,” when these guys were doing the three-day sleepover and I wasn’t! But Friday comes round, I see the movie, I come out of the theater, and I’m so ecstatic. To have Star Wars come back in that way, and to have Star Wars fandom come back, was a huge moment for me. Tears were running down my face! And, as fate would have it, when I got home there was a message from LucasArts on the answer machine saying that I had gotten the job! It was quite amazing. So how did you progress to becoming Keeper of the Holocron? At LucasArts, I was a games tester for about three years—which is an eternity. Most people who came into that department would be a tester for a year, and then move on to a different division. It was an entry-level job and a way to get your foot in the door. I had applied for jobs in the sound department and production to no avail. I felt like I would be confined to QA forever. Less than a year before the release of The Phantom Menace, I was chosen to be the lead tester on a multimedia CD-ROM called Behind the Magic. This was before DVDs or YouTube, so this was the only place you could get the sort of extras you would later get on DVDs. It had the complete scripts, a glossary, and scene-by-scene call-outs for the entire trilogy.
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That opened my eyes, because the more I learned about Star Wars, the more I realized that there was much more I needed to learn. The radio adaptations of the trilogy, for example, were a huge gap in my Star Wars knowledge that I had been oblivious to. Not long after that, a company called Wizards of the Coast got the license to make Star Wars card games, roleplaying games, and miniatures games. The publishing department at Lucas Licensing decided that they needed a person to track all the materials that were being created for Star Wars— because this material was feeding those kinds of product—and that somebody was me. How did you go about collating all the information? The way to do it was with a database. Previously this had been done with binders. People would write up summaries of the books, with glossaries that would include character descriptions, and this was a physical binder that only existed at Lucasfilm. By creating a digital database, we could create a searchable archive of all the content that was being created, and that would be a way to share it all without having to go through these binders. We were able to share the database on CD with writers, with the people at Wizards of the Coast, and later on with other partners, editors, and product managers. This gave those creating Star Wars content access to the internal materials that weren’t easily accessible before. What was the software you used to create the database? FileMaker. It’s the same database that I’ve been using for the past 17 years. FileMaker gets new features every once in a while, and I will update some of my layouts, to build layouts that are more useable for my purposes, or for the purposes of some of my users. But the meat and bones of the database are still the same.
01 ‘The Keeper of the Holocron,’ Leland Chee has found a prime spot to dream up some new, great ideas.
Do you still upload all the data yourself? I’m still the person that maintains everything which goes into the Holocron database. There are other systems that we use to catalogue information inlcuding summaries, character charts, and timelines. We have a digital asset management team that archives anything digital, whether it’s images, a PDF of a book or comic, a sound file, or a movie clip. The Holocron is the only archive of the story content we are creating across all platforms. And that’s an open resource for everyone within Lucasfilm? Because of the high security levels that we have within Lucasfilm, there are some people that have access to certain portions of the database and others that don’t. I developed it to do all I needed it to, and how other people in the company use it is up to them.
Which outside users would rely upon the Holocron most of all? Wizards of the Coast were creating dozens and dozens of sourcebooks, which went into every detail of Star Wars minutiae, so they really needed to have something that collated all the different pieces of information. It was useful to non-fiction publishers whether it’s role-playing games, or DK books such as the Visual Dictionaries and the Cross-Sections books—things that include lots of granular snippets of information. That’s when the Holocron really came in handy.
“I knew when I was a kid that I wanted to work on Star Wars, but I never really thought that was realistic...” Leland Chee
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INTERVIEW: LELAND CHEE
“Wizards of the Coast were creating dozens and dozens of sourcebooks, that went into every detail of Star Wars minutiae, so they really needed to have something that collated all the different pieces of information.” Leland Chee Which is quicker—Leland Chee or the database? I can definitely search the database quicker than anybody else! I know that thing inside and out. I can do things with that database in minutes that would take people hours—or days. That’s just the way I have it set up. In the process of maintaining the database, I’m also feeding the database, so I know what to search for, and I have made the database work for me as much as possible. Back in 2012 there were an estimated 55,000 entries in the Holocron. Where do you estimate you’re at now? I think we’re close to 80,000 entries. We’ve been doing a lot of new content lately. For comparison, Wookieepedia has well over 100,000 entries, but they have a lot more people working on their database. The Holocron is just me. How did you feel when the novels and comics were recategorized as “Legends”? My mind was made up about the Expanded Universe the moment I learned we would be making new films that took place after Return of the Jedi, which was something that I truly believed would never happen. In the Expanded Universe, Chewbacca was dead post-Jedi and there’s no way anyone’s doing a Star Wars movie post-Jedi without Chewbacca, so it was pretty clear to me that things in the EU were going to have to change. We also needed to make sure we gave our creators as much room to explore as possible, and not just freedom for the films, but freedom for new opportunities in books, games, and theme park
experiences, across the entire Star Wars timeline. In creating Legends, we could have that space, and if there were things that we liked, we could still mine that material for ideas. It’s easier, because new creators can tread their own path, but we can still bring back great things like Thrawn and the TIE defender, and finds other ways to give a nod to all the hard work we’d put into building up the Expanded Universe. What changes did you make to the database to accommodate the shift from the Expanded Universe to Legends? It was as simple as adding a new field in the database for the canonical material and shifting the Legends material to a less prominent place on the screen. I did have to delete the timeline I had in the Holocron because it was going to be much easier to start from scratch. How do you feel about the concept of ‘head canon,’ where fans decide on their own personal version of Star Wars continuity? We make Star Wars for everyone, and different platforms cater to different audiences whether they be fans of the movies, the animated shows, the toys, the books or the games. And from that cornucopia of Star Wars content, fans can pick and choose what they want to enjoy without the burden of having to consume everything if they don’t really want to. Star Wars means something different to everyone, and it’s this meaning, that is unique to each person, which makes up a person’s head canon. So if someone
likes the Jedi Knight video game or the original Thrawn trilogy or Vader and Son or LEGO, those are the building blocks that lay the foundation, and go on to form their head canon. How do you feel as a fan today, compared to the fan you were queuing up outside the Coronet Theater, all those years ago? I just celebrated a huge milestone this year, which is 20 years with the Lucas companies. Coincidentally, that also means I’ve been a Star Wars fan inside the company for as long as I was a fan outside of it. It’s great being on the inside, getting to experience Star Wars in so many unique ways that most people will never experience. Listening to Rian Johnson pitch what he wants to do with The Last Jedi, and then watching the process, every step of the way, has been so amazing. And working with all the creatives across all our platforms is a huge joy, because most of them are huge Star Wars fans themselves. I could never have dreamed anything as big as what we’re doing now. I can’t imagine a better place to be as a Star Wars fan.
02 Leland having fun with the Millennium Falcon in the Lucasfilm hallway.
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exo Sooger had 41 bones in each of his hands—14 more than his human daughter Lula had in each of hers—and every one of them burned like fire. He loved to work with his hands, he truly did. He was the star masseur at Zord’s Spa and Bathhouse, with a loyal clientele and a two-month-long waiting list. He could work out any knot, relax even the most anxious customer. But decades of 12-hour shifts would age anyone, even a Dor Namethian at the top of his game, and Lexo knew his massaging days were nearing their end. He didn’t know what would happen to him and his daughter then. “Papa,” said a small, clear voice. “Let me help you with your hands?” “Please,” Lexo said. He laid them flat on the rickety wooden table that served
The oil released the corwindyl’s odor and color, turning the mixture bright blue, filling their tiny apartment with its tangy-sweet aroma. Lexo felt his shoulders begin to relax at the scent, because it signaled that real relief was coming. Gently, Lula rubbed a bit of the corwindyl paste against his knuckles, along his tendons. Warmth seeped into his muscles, loosening his joints. “Thank you, my azure sea,” he said. Something snagged against his thumb, startling him. “Sorry,” Lula said. “Just a callus.” Lexo grabbed her hand and turned it over, examining the offending bit of excess skin. Not a callus. A scab, barely covering a fresh injury on the fleshy part of her palm. “What happened?” he demanded. Lula wrenched her hand away. “It’s nothing. My glove split is all.” “And Bargwill Tomder refused to provide a new one.” Lula worked at
fingers, allowing them to bend. But it wouldn’t be enough. Not today, anyway. His worst client was on the schedule. “Do it,” he ordered. “I promise I’ll make it quick,” she said, reaching for the injector probe on the shelf. “I know.” “You’ll be so relieved in just a few minutes.” “I know.” The probe was scrap, salvaged from an old interrogator droid. Lexo forced himself to watch, to not flinch away, as his tiny daughter leveled the probe’s tip at the base of his metacarpals, just above his wrist. Lula had to manually depress the injector button. The initial puncture was never too bad, just a tiny pinch. But the liquid flowing into his blood burned like fire, and he half expected flames to start shooting from his fingertips. The injection cocktail—corticosteroids, enzyme blockers, numbing agent—
“HE USED TO CONSIDER HUMANS REVOLTING, WITH THEIR SMOOTH EPIDERMIS AND EXCESSIVE FINGERS, AND NECKS THAT STOOD STRAIGHT UP LIKE FURLONG MARKERS.” as the centerpiece for the tiny apartment they shared. Their room was small, low-ceilinged, and windowless, with adobe walls, two built-in beds, and a single small hearth. The table, along with two chairs and a sagging shelf, made up the only furniture. Lexo contemplated his human daughter as she gathered the necessary ingredients from the shelf. Lula was slight, even for 13 years old, with bright brown eyes, dark skin, and hair like a cloud of charcoal. He used to consider humans revolting, with their smooth epidermis and excessive fingers and necks that stood straight up like furlong markers. But on that day 13 years ago when he’d found Lula abandoned in an empty cargo box, staring up at him with big, trusting eyes, he’d decided humans weren’t so bad. Lula dropped a pinch of corwindyl herbs into a mortar, added a little oil, and mashed away with the pestle.
the fathier racing stables, and Tomder, the stable keeper, was the cheapest, meanest fellow he’d ever met. It gave Lexo a shiver to send Lula off to work with him every day. “It’s fine, Papa. I can handle it.” She smiled. “I guess I inherited some toughness from you.” Lexo regarded her gravely. He reached a pleading hand toward her and announced in a solemn voice, “Lula. I am not your father.” She feigned shock. “But we look so much alike!” It was a constant joke between them, almost a family ritual. She bent to kiss the top of his head. “Ready for the injections?” His Lula missed nothing. “You can tell I need them.” “I always know,” she said with a shrug. Lexo glanced down at his hands. Bright-blue corwindyl paste outlined every line and crease, warming his
made it hard to draw breath, made his scent glands fill with liquid. He was glad none of his clients could see him like this. Only Lula knew how hard it was. The pain, though exquisite, only lasted a minute. It was always followed by delightful warmth, increased flexibility, even a little surge of energy. There were better ways to get relief, of course. But a derelict injector probe was the best they could afford, and besides, he could handle it. He was tough, just like Lula said. “Better?” Lula asked. “Better,” he agreed, flexing his fingers. They repeated the process with the other hand—stabbing pinch, incredible pain, slow but sure relief. Lexo rose from his chair. “Papa,” Lula said, “I have a favor to ask.” Lexo grabbed his robe from the peg by the door and started to swing it on. “Oh?” “Would it be all right if I took some
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corwindyl to the stables today?” He nearly dropped his robe. “My azure sea…” “I know it’s expensive. I know how hard it is to acquire. It’s just…” Tears welled in her eyes, and she blurted, “Hard Luck got hurt!” “Your favorite fathier.” The longlegged, wide-eared fathiers were built for speed, and their races drew thousands of guests to the track every night. She explained, “Pinrado Jozo was riding Casual Retort last night—you know what a cheat that jockey is. He pushed Hard Luck into the rail so he could pull Retort ahead. Luck’s got a nasty rail burn now, but only because his hock joint is giving out. He was too weak to push back, see, and maybe the
corwindyl will help? I mean, he’s gelded, so they won’t retire him if he’s lame. They’ll just take a blaster and… But he’s so sweet, Papa. The best fathier in the whole stable. He loves treats, and every time he sees me he dances in place, his ears flopping, and—” “Yes, you can take some corwindyl.” She wilted with relief. “Thanks.” “Are you going to make a paste?” “No. Too hard to smuggle into the stables. I’ll just rub the herbs directly onto his hock joint.” Lexo watched silently as she stashed some of the herbs in her pocket, then grabbed her ruined gloves, her pitchfork, and her leather bag from their place by the door. Like all the indentured children at the stable, she
A Story with a Massage Award-winning fantasy author Rae Carson tells Insider about her new Star Wars novella, set in the casino city of Canto Bight. est-selling fantasy author Rae Carson made her Star Wars debut in 2017, with a short story in the 40th anniversary anthology From A Certain Point of View. Now she’s stepping into the era of The Last Jedi with Hear Nothing, See Nothing, Say Nothing—part of the new novella collection, Canto Bight. Set in the exotic and dangerous casino city visited by Finn and Rose in The Last Jedi, Carson’s first longform Star Wars work tells the tale of a Dor Namethian masseur with a shady past. When he is drawn back into the underworld he thought he had left behind, both he and his adopted human daughter find themselves in danger. Insider spoke to Carson to find out more about the story and her writing process.
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Star Wars Insider: What inspired you to write about an alien masseur? Rae Carson: I have chronic pain from some old sports injuries and a car accident, and I can’t tell you how many times a massage has saved me from missing a writing deadline! I was going through the creature concepts for The Last Jedi looking for inspiration when I saw this amazing alien masseur, and I was immediately drawn to him. My imagination went wild: what ridiculous, cool, and dangerous clients must he have had? Does he know any secrets about them? What would it be like to work on hundreds of different species? I had to know more about him... So who is this character? His name is Lexo. He’s a totally new species in the Star Wars universe, and he’s a masseur in Canto Bight’s most famous spa. He’s been a loner for a long
was responsible for maintaining her own equipment. She worked hard, long hours in the hope that she’d pay off her indenture debt one day. If she never missed work, if her equipment didn’t break down too often, Lula could be a free woman by the time she was 19. After that, her dream, the thing she wanted more than anything in the galaxy, was to ride in the fathier races. She yearned to be a jockey, to feel the wind in her hair, to hear the screams of the crowd, as she urged her mount toward the finish line. She felt connected to the fathiers. She insisted to Lexo all the time that they were more intelligent than people gave them credit for, that she understood them better
time, content merely to survive, but everything changed for him when he found an abandoned human baby and took her in. Now, more than anything, he wants to make a good life for his adopted daughter. What happens to Lexo in the story? His position in the spa gives him access to all sorts of beings—and their secrets. This makes him invaluable as an informant, and Canto Bight’s major players will stop at nothing to exploit him... When his daughter is threatened in order to force his compliance, Lexo has no choice but to resurrect his secret past and enter the game. Canto Bight is full of very wealthy people, but Lexo presumably isn’t one of them. Does the story address issues of class and inequality in the city? Absolutely. I spent my formative years in poverty, and it seemed like every time my family was about to get ahead, something awful happened to put us in our place—a creepy boss, an unexpected car repair, a lifethreatening illness. Poverty is horrific, and it’s a topic that’s showing up more and more in my work. Thematically, it’s a good fit for the Star Wars universe, too. So many of our favorite characters—Luke, Rey, Anakin, and more—come from humble beginnings.
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than anyone. And she knew, she just knew, that if she got her chance to ride she’d be the greatest jockey Canto Bight had ever known. Lexo was the only person she’d ever told about her dream, and Lexo couldn’t bear to give her the dose of reality she probably needed. A tiny human girl, an indenture and orphan besides, was about as likely to become a fathier jockey as a droid was to become a Jedi. Lula was heading for the door when she whirled back around. “Papa, what’s wrong? If you’re mad about the corwindyl, I won’t—” “You’ve done nothing wrong, my sea.” “Then…?” He decided to tell her some of what
was bothering him. “I have Big Sturg Ganna on my schedule today.” Her mouth formed a little ‘o’. “I was hoping he’d given up on me,” Lexo admitted. Lula frowned. “Don’t do it, Papa. One of the stable kids agreed to inform for that gangster. He was dead inside a month.” “I have no intention of giving him what he wants. I left that life behind decades ago.” “Good,” she said fiercely. “He’s horrible.” “He’s also horrible to massage. So many hard-to-reach places.” She swung the strap of her bag over her shoulder and hefted her pitchfork. “Good thing you’re the
best in the galaxy,” she said. “Just… Please be careful tonight.” They both worked a swing shift, which inevitably dragged into a night shift, and the sun would be rising before they would be reunited. They stared at each other a moment. Maybe Lula had a bad feeling, same as him. But as her papa, it was his job to be encouraging. “I hope Hard Luck feels better,” Lexo said. Lula gave him a final wave as she exited their apartment. He watched the bag bounce against her back as she hurried down the corridor toward the long stairway that would take her up to the surface, to the shining, beautiful city of Canto Bight.
across the screen to the medal ceremony at the end. I was rapt, and I knew my life would never be the same. And I knew, with the certainty that only a precocious three-year-old can have, that the Force was strong with me and I was destined to become a Jedi.
It’s both harder and easier. Harder because I feel the weight of responsibility as a fan. It’s really important to me to get the details right and make my story feel like it belongs in the galaxy far, far away. But it’s also easier because it makes such a refreshing change from a professional point of view. After six novels entirely of my own creation, it’s a delight to play in another, more collaborative sandbox and stretch a different set of writing muscles.
How do you depict the city itself? Beautiful and luxurious, but also wasteful, exploitative, and dangerous as hell. Canto Bight is a playground for the rich and famous—the kind of place everyone dreams about going to on vacation. But like many such places, it has secrets—including a dark underbelly of shadow labor and shady dealings. I was lucky enough to get a sneak peek at some photos and concept art from The Last Jedi in order to write the story, and I was blown away by how fully realized it is in all its gritty and gorgeous detail. What challenges does the novella form bring? I think the biggest challenge is one of storytelling expectations. We belong to a generation whose minds have been shaped by long-form narrative—feature films, novels, and television series. So how do you make a novella immersive and satisfying? For me, the answer lies with character. If I create a character people love and give them some memorable moments, my readers will happily go along for the ride, no matter the length of the story. When did you discover Star Wars? I saw A New Hope in the theater in 1977. I was three years old, and it’s one of my most vivid childhood memories. I loved everything about it, from the moment the Star Destroyer cruised
You’ve written several best-selling fantasy novels. How does writing for Star Wars differ from creating your own universe?
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NEW HOPES Megan Cullinan’s love of Star Wars helped her to battle breast cancer
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he Star Wars saga has helped many of us through difficult times, but for Megan Cullinan its empowering message of hope became a literal badge of courage in her battle against cancer. As documented on her blog, ‘I Rebel,’ Megan was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2016, when she was 35. Faced with a potentially overwhelming challenge, she channeled her best Jyn Erso, using the Rogue One quote “Rebellions are built on hope” as her rallying cry. Her fight back against the disease involved grueling
chemotherapy treatments that would eventually mean the loss of her long hair. Faced with the choice between letting it fall out naturally or making a bold statement, Megan opted for a buzz-cut with the Rebel Alliance Starbird emblazoned on the back of her head. Megan, who lives in Peru, Illinois, didn’t stop there, either. She wore a Star Wars T-shirt to every treatment, describing it as her “shield.” On her blog, she charted her treatment and recovery through the prism of Star Wars, to bring hope and comfort to
other fans in similar situations. “Star Wars has always been that thing I can go to and find happiness, hope, and an escape,” she says. “I needed all of those things throughout my treatments.” After her diagnosis, Megan wrote about having to work through “dark side” emotions such as fear and anger. “Life before treatments for me was a daily routine of working full-time at a bank, teaching parttime as a voice teacher, being involved in community theatre, and having some singing gigs here and there. When I was diagnosed with cancer, life came to a halt.” “During the treatments, my body and mind were in a constant battle with the side effect. I was dealing with hair loss, loss of taste, loss of
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YOUR EMPIRE NEEDS YOU! We want to hear from you! Tell us about your Star Wars experience. What made you want to become a fan? What have you done in the name of Star Wars? Tell us your Star Wars story by sending your photos, art, and letters here:
starwarsworldwide@titanemail.com Or via regular post: UNITED STATES Star Wars Worldwide, Star Wars Insider, Titan Magazines, 2819 Rosehall Lane, Aurora, IL, 60503, U.S.A.
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SKYWALKER SAGA These two amazing pieces are from Sebastien, “I’m celebrating the Saga by drawing it.” Sebastien Le Bouthillier, pen name is NegaZeeMan
appetite, and constant fatigue, among many other things. It was a very emotional time, but staying positive and hopeful and having the support of family and friends got me through.” Just over a year on from her initial diagnosis, Megan has been given the all-clear, but is still coping with the side effects of her intensive treatments and intends to continue her blog. Echoing the imperatives that brought many different rebel cells together to oppose the Empire, she says: “Everyone who deals with cancer has a different journey, but the connective thread is that it needs to be fought.” Read more about Megan’s inspiring courage at: rebelcancerwar.wordpress.com
CREATURE COMFORTS
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FROM NABOO, WITH LOVE Florian Szaefer made sure his engagement to fellow Star Wars fan Juliane Titze was out of this world
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hen German Star Wars fan Florian Szaefer decided to ask fellow enthusiast Juliane Titze to marry him, he knew location was allimportant. “With a girl that loves Star Wars as much as I do, it had to be a Star Wars-related place we hadn’t visited before,” he said. To keep his intentions under wraps, he invited six of the couple’s Star Wars fan friends to make the six-hour drive to Villa del Balbianello in Italy: the location used to film Padmé and Anakin’s secret wedding on Naboo in Attack of the Clones. Florian saved up for six months to buy the engagement ring before the pair packed up their stormtrooper armor and hit the road. The couple, who are both members of the 501st Legion, had previously traveled to Tunisia to wander the desert planet
Tatooine in their gear, so they even had genuine sand from Anakin’s “homeworld” to bring along. “Bringing a jar filled with ‘Tatooine sand’ to the exact spot where Anakin moaned about sand, was quite fun,” says Juliane. But for Florian, the trip had only one real purpose, and he was understandably anxious. “Florian was really nervous, and took his chance just before we got dressed at the exact spot where Anakin and Padmé got married,” says Juliane. She said yes, and the happy pair celebrated by donning their gleaming white armor for photos at the scene. “I was the happiest man alive, dressed up as an engaged stormtrooper!” says Florian. The couple from Nuremburg met several years ago at a Star Wars
event, but it took them until the midnight premiere of The Force Awakens to fall in love—in full costume, of course! Following their romantic engagement on Naboo, they are now planning some galactic nuptials for an already auspicious date. “We will be getting married on May the 4th, of course,” says Juliane. And for the honeymoon? Scarif seemed the obvious choice—or rather the Maldives, where the Scarif sections of Rogue One were filmed. “It is a popular location for honeymooners, so we can combine that with the fact that Rogue One was shot there,” says Juliane. “Chances are high that we will be bringing costumes along, too” says Florian. “I’ve got a 501stapproved Director Krennic outfit, and some death trooper armor is in the making!”
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LEARN, YOU WILL Star Wars is bringing learning to life, thanks to Thomas Riddle and Wes Dodgens
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hen teacher Wes Dodgens started working at Mauldin High School, South Carolina, in 2004, he struck up a friendship with fellow educator Thomas Riddle. The pair bonded over their shared love of Star Wars and Indiana Jones movies, and hit upon the idea of using their favorite fiction in the classroom. “I was teaching Taoism and drew the yin-yang symbol on the board,” says Thomas. “The students didn’t get it at first, but then I described it in terms of the Force and its balance: Vader as dark, Luke as light; Vader as mostly machine with a touch of man, Luke as mostly man with a touch of machine. And suddenly, they began to understand. “When I told them that a dagoba is a type of Buddhist shrine that pilgrims travel to, their minds were truly blown! Now the pair run a website, Star Wars in the Classroom, which shares lesson plans and resources with a network of almost 900 teachers from more than 30 countries. Site members call themselves ‘The Rogues’ and describe themselves as “an elite group of educators who seek to make learning more fun and exciting.” “It’s easy to get students interested in their learning when Star Wars is used as a hook,” says
Wes. “I use the prequel trilogy to compare the rise of Adolf Hitler to the rise of Emperor Palpatine, and the reforming of the Republic into the Empire. Every year, students laugh and seem skeptical, but at the end of the unit they do get it. “Star Wars helps students see how corruption, ruthlessness, and the failure of democracy can really impact the world.” Thomas adds: “We also teach the archetypes of ancient mythology using the original trilogy. All the stages of Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey can be found in the films, and seeing them in a familiar context really helps the students see how their values are universal— transcending time and culture.” The approach helps children to go on their own journeys, too. “We discussed the students’ own trials: the dragons they have slayed, labyrinths they have been lost in, how wise and helpful guides have helped them make sense of their chaotic lives. And at the end of the unit, this student wrote a very powerful essay about her childhood and all of the difficulties she had faced. “Star Wars provides great lessons in character building. The stories of Luke, Anakin, and Rey are filled with inspiring tales of overcoming adversity, working
toward goals, defeating inner demons, and more. These are themes that resonate with everyone, no matter their age and background.” Thomas and Wes themselves are now being inspired in turn, thanks to the ever-growing number of Rogues connecting through the website. “We’ve seen math teachers explain and coordinate geometry using Star Wars Battleship, and science teachers explore physics in terms of Star Wars technology,” says Thomas. “We now have art, music, and physical education teachers all using Star Wars to varying degrees. “It’s quite humbling to see how Star Wars is helping students on other continents that we’ll almost certainly never meet in person.” And now the pair have even launched a community service program: Serve Like a Jedi. “It’s based on the teaching that ‘Jedi serve others rather than rule over them,’” says Thomas. The students then learn greater empathy for others, as they explore the needs of those around them and create a plan of action to meet those needs. “So far, we’ve had middle school students collecting backpacks full of school supplies for children in Haiti; kindergartners raising money for earthquake relief in Nepal; and an entire school collecting donations for a children’s homeless shelter. It has been beautiful to see this initiative grow.” To find out more about Star Wars in the Classroom visit starwarsintheclassroom.com
Thomas Riddle and Wes Dodgens use Star Wars to help sucessfully engage children in the classroom. Good job!
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The Star Wars Archive Lights! Camera! Action! Rare images from the Star Wars photo archives.
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Mark Hamill and Harrison Ford share a brief moment of downtime on the set of A New Hope.
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