There are popular film franchises, and then there's Star Wars. Generations were brought up on the galaxy far, far away thanks to decades of movies and TV content (which are streaming with a Disney+ subscription). This level of fandom makes the Star Wars movies hugely successful, but there is sometimes a dark side to this devotion. Actress Kelly Marie Tran faced racist online while portraying Rose Tico, but she recently explained how that helped her grow as a person.

Tran made her debut in the franchise in Rian Johnson's subversive entry The Last Jedi. That project was polarizing, and the Raya and the Last Dragon star got a ton of racist and sexist hate. Tran eventually left social media as a result, while also getting into therapy. While promoting her new movie The Wedding Banquet, she spoke to Business Insider about how that experience has influenced her personal development. In her words:

That's certainly a healthy perspective on a difficult time in the actress' life. While it would be understandable if she looked back with disdain or hurt about the way she was treated online, it sounds like Tran appreciates the way she grew as a person as a result. And one can only imagine how that work on herself affected her performance in projects like The Wedding Banquet.

Despite the hate online, Tran would reprise her role as Rose in The Rise of Skywalker, although she had way less screen time than the previous film. Tran's reduced screen time didn't seem to sour her memories of working on George Lucas' beloved galaxy. In the same interview she shared:

Points were made. While Kelly Marie Tran had a difficult time during her tenure as Rose Tico, the wild popularity of Star Wars made her a household name. And that type of notoriety allowed her to get her foot in the door for a number of future projects, including voicing a new Disney princess.

As Kelly Marie Tran mentioned, she's been able to create art post-Star Wars that celebrated her heritage-- one of the main targets of the online hate she received. That includes both Raya and the Last Dragon and The Wedding Banquet, which was a hit at Sundance before getting its wide release in theaters. She also recently came out as queer, so the latter project is also no doubt a moment of authenticity in that way as well.

The Wedding Banquet is in theaters now as part of the 2025 movie release list, and Tran's time in Star Wars can be re-watched on Disney+. We'll just have to see if/when she returns to the role in an upcoming Star Wars movie or TV show.

One of the best new LGBTQ+ movies is Andrew Ahn’s The Wedding Banquet, which stars Lily Gladstone, Kelly Marie Tran and Bowen Yang as a group of queer friends who try to pull off a straight wedding in order to keep their Korean friend in the America and pay for an IVF procedure. After I was floored by one particularly emotional scene between Minari Oscar winner Youn Yuh-Jung and newcomer Gi-Chan Han, I was even more amazed by what the director told me about the making of it. SPOILERS are ahead!

My favorite scene in the movie, which I gave four out of five stars in my The Wedding Banquet review, was when Min and his grandmother have a sweet moment of acceptance with one another where she realizes why staying in America among his friends is so important to him through his artwork. I literally cried watching the pair of family members talk about why found family is so important – especially to the queer community. When I asked Andrew Ahn about it, here’s what he said:

As Ahn shared, when they were bringing Youn Yuh-Jung on, she liked the script, but just didn’t think this key scene was “good enough.” Sure, she could have outright turned it down, but the 77-year-old believed it could be better. The writer/director said that his cinematographer and the artist behind the patchwork also really helped flesh out the scene as well, but it sounds like the Minari Oscar winner really helped it reach new heights. As Ahn continued:

It sounds like Andrew Ahn offered a collaborative set, which mostly consisted of queer people, too. For example, Lily Gladstone also asked for her character to be from a Dwamish background in order to honor the indigenous community that lives in the movie’s setting of Washington, and she told us she hopes there’s a sequel to delve deeper into the culture.

During our interview with Youn Yuh-Jung, she also spoke to another change to the film she asked for. In her words:

I absolutely love how Youn Yuh-Jung brought her input into The Wedding Banquet, because those two details definitely made it even better. This only makes me more excited for the actress to next be part of the Beef Season 2 cast, which is coming to those with a Netflix subscription either later this year or 2026.

SPOILERS are ahead for The Wedding Banquet, now playing in theaters.

The Wedding Banquet is one of those new LGBTQ+ movies I'm just so happy exists because of how it depicts queer people. While there’s been a huge chunk of movies by, for and about the LGBTQ+ community discussing the problems and pain facing them, Andrew Ahn’s remake to the 1993 movie from Ang Lee takes a more complex approach than we’re used to seeing on the big screen.

Its characters are absolutely going through it, but it’s dealt with in such a beautifully human way that also leaves room for their joy and happiness (and laughs from the audience). So when CinemaBlend spoke to the cast, we had to discuss the movie’s finale with them.

Lily Gladstone Reacts To The Wedding Banquet's Adorable Ending

After the basic premise of The Wedding Banquet has one couple (Gladstone’s Lee and Kelly Marie Tran’s Angela) dealing with the expenses that come with doing IVF, their prayers are weirdly answered when their friend Min (Han Gi-Chan) needs to have a green card marriage in order to stay in America. Angela agrees to marry him while Min’s boyfriend Chris (Bowen Yang) contemplates why he’s not ready to say “I do” to him.

In a hilarious turn of events, Angela actually becomes pregnant with Chris’ baby during a drunken night out, all the while Lee’s IVF procedure is successful. Oh, and Chris crashes Min and Angela’s legal wedding to marry him instead (after having a traditional ceremony where a Star Wars joke totally made its way in). When we spoke to Gladstone, Tran and Han, the Oscar nominee said this about her thoughts on the end:

The Wedding Banquet premiered at Sundance to rave reactions earlier this year (and we also loved it in our The Wedding Banquet review) before it became one of the latest of 2025 movies to hit theaters. Gladstone shared she especially loves the “cascade of surprise” that happens when it's revealed that Angela and Lee have had both babies and they are raising them with Min and Chris. As Gladstone continued:

It’s actually the perfect ending for it considering the whole movie is about embracing found family and imperfection. While Lee is initially heartbroken by Angela cheating on her with their common friend, she finds understanding in her heart for the mistake, and they get to have a unique community around not one, but their two kids. It’s the sweetest ending.

The Sweet Reason Why Lily Gladstone Wants A Sequel To The Wedding Banquet

As I told the cast, I would absolutely love to see the four queer characters of The Wedding Banquet go through some hijinks together while raising their kids in a sequel. Gladstone shared that she was also interested in that for one particular reason. In her words:

The Duwamish is an indigenous tribe who live in Washington, where the movie is set. Ahead of filming, Lily Gladstone asked if her character could specifically be Duwamish to reflect the land they were depicting. While this movie doesn’t delve deep into the character’s indigenous roots, she points out that a sequel could, especially when it comes to the raising of their kids and wanting to reflect some of her cultural traditions.

Gladstone is definitely continuing to bring great characters from indigenous communities to the movies she is part of, and The Wedding Banquet was made up of tons of queer castmates and crew members, too. We need more movies about LGBTQ+ people like this, especially when it comes to an ending as sweet as this one.

Remember what romantic comedies used to be? I love a cozy, sit-on-the-couch Netflix rom-com as much as anyone, but then a movie like The Wedding Banquet comes around and reminds one that the genre can feel big, funny and cinematic yet incredibly intimate and small. This new release is by no means a big studio title, given it came out of the Sundance Film Festival at the beginning of the year, but it has the kind of warm and fun quality that is instantly both a crowd-pleaser and ready to embrace you as a brand new comfort movie.

A few years ago, director Andrew Ahn made us feel all fluttery over Hulu’s Fire Island, as he brought a fresh spin on Pride & Prejudice with the backdrop of Long Island’s famously queer friendly vacation paradise from a script by Joel Kim Booster. For The Wedding Banquet, Ahn has co-written and directed his own update on Ang Lee’s 1993 comedy of the same name. Not only is this The Wedding Banquet a great and expansive remake that builds upon the spirit of the original, but it’s also its own achievement in the celebration of queer joy for the LGBTQ+ community and simply an entertaining flick.

I didn’t expect to see Lily Gladstone and Kelly Marie Tran in a romantic comedy, but here we are… and their dramatic backgrounds help ground The Wedding Banquet.

When it comes to romantic comedies, there’s usually a list of usual suspects of whom one might expect to see in the genre. Among them wasn’t necessarily Lily Gladstone coming off of her Killers Of The Flower Moon Oscar nomination or The Last Jedi’s Kelly Marie Tran. And yet, these two absolutely create something special in The Wedding Banquet by infusing their dramatic chops with their abilities to hit the right comedic beats. The actresses play a lived-in couple, Lee and Angela who’ve gone through all the first-time fireworks and such long prior to where the movie starts things off for them. They have been trying to use IVF to have their first child, but it’s proven not only to be unsuccessful but put them in significant debt.

Their doctor has suggested that Lee (Gladstone) only try once more, but at this point, they are so tired and stressed from their past attempts that they find themselves at a stand still. That is until their friend Min (South Korea’s Han Gi-Chan) becomes desperate for his green card and his longtime partner Chris (Bowen Yang) isn’t quite ready to say “I do.” There is, however, a proposal anyway: Min asks Angela to marry him so that he can stay in America and in exchange he will help them pay for their next IVF procedure. It's oddly the perfect plan for each of the main characters to get what they want... that is, until Min’s grandmother (played by Minari Oscar winner Youn Yuh-jung) flies from South Korea to see the happy couple.

Not only are Tran and Gladstone the sweetest pair, but The Wedding Banquet also spends energy on giving Min and Chris a mix of hilarity and deep moments along with putting in time forwarding the relationship dynamics between Angela’s relationship with her very involved mother (Joan Chen) along with Min and his grandmother. It’s a given that Saturday Night Live’s Bowen Yang knows how to hit a mark when it comes to a joke, but Han especially shines when it comes to laugh count in his first English-language feature, too.

The Wedding Banquet balances a storyline about queer acceptance and joy with grace.

Considering The Wedding Banquet’s aim to be both a wedding comedy and a family drama that resonates with the LGBTQ+ community, things could have easily taken an awkward turn, but the movie’s beautiful balance of tone is part of what makes it so gratifying. While you definitely want to see those fun hijinks between the cast (and you do) where they are scrambling to pull off a straight and traditional Korean wedding in order for the stars to align for both couples, the fantastic script – written by Ahn and original The Wedding Banquet co-writer James Schamus – is just as interested in why these characters are going through with it in the first place, and it only heightens the narrative.

On Angela’s side, there’s a gorgeously memorable arc between Tran’s character and Chen’s May as they deal with an imperfect and bruised mother/daughter relationship that is only more exacerbated by Angela getting ready to make the decision to be a mother herself. And on Min’s side, there’s a real palpability to the emotion as the plotline moves forward. When it comes to storylines about LGBTQ+ acceptance, oftentimes movies can lean too far into the camp or seriousness, but The Wedding Banquet feels truly genuine and human.

Fire Island writer/director Andrew Ahn delivers another refreshing twist on a classic with this movie.

Andrew Ahn’s direction often finds the unique angles to portray his characters, and doesn’t have the ability to reduce the movie into any kind of cliché throughout its runtime. It feels nearly impossible not to feel with these characters and root for them as the pair of couples go through the motions of wedding traditions like photos, bachelor parties and family meet-and-greets. Jay Wadley’s score adds a gentle touch to the film as well.

As the movie floats its audience through its runtime, it’s clear statement about the importance of chosen family and imperfection is spoken to so beautifully that one wants to cry sad tears – but there’s a celebratory quality to how each of the characters come out of the plotline that turn its stingy emotion right around to happy tears and easy smiles. It’s the kind of feeling that reminds one why romantic comedies remain to be such a powerful genre when handled with care.

Kelly Marie Tran may not be set to appear in any upcoming Star Wars movies or TV shows, but there’s a little something for Star Wars fans in her latest movie, The Wedding Banquet. When CinemaBlend spoke to the actress who grew famous for playing Rose Tico in Star Wars: The Last Jedi (alongside her castmates Lily Gladstone and Han Gi-Chan), she had the perfect reaction to the franchise following her to her queer romantic comedy.

In The Wedding Banquet, Kelly Marie Tran plays Angela, a gay woman in a relationship with Lily Gladstone’s Lee, who agrees to marry her male gay friend Min (Han Gi-Chan) to help him get his green card after he offers to pay for her partner’s IVF procedure in exchange. In the movie, which earned tons of buzz when it premiered at Sundance, while Min and Angela are getting married, Min hilariously quips that she looks like Queen Amidala from the Star Wars prequels.

When I asked Tran about the moment, here’s what she said:

I don’t know about you, but I love a meta moment like this. Even though the decision to have the Star Wars reference ultimately had nothing to do with Tran’s role in the franchise, it kind of turns out to be a sweet little poke at her famed role.

And I mean… she looks just like Padmé, too!

The line is said in the movie by Angela’s husband-to-be, however, the actor playing him was not even aware he was quoting Star Wars when he read the line. In Han Gi-Chan’s words from the interview:

Aside from the Star Wars of it all, The Wedding Banquet is most definitely one of the upcoming LGBTQ+ movies worth checking out, especially in theaters. It’s a remake of the 1993 movie from Ang Lee of the same name that updates the story with a refreshing twist. Writer/director Andrew Ahn, who previously warmed our hearts with a clever queer spin on Pride & Prejudice with Fire Island back in 2022, also notably helms the film.

While Kelly Marie Tran was working onThe Wedding Banquet, the actress was inspired to come out as queer to Vanity Fair after being on set with a primarily queer cast, including her love interest in the film, Oscar nominee Lily Gladstone and SNL cast member, Bowen Yang. Tran’s Disney Princess character in Raya And The Last Dragon also previously sparked LGBTQ+ conversations.

While we’re not sure if Kelly Marie Tran will ever play Rose Tico in live action again, especially after harassment from the fandom, it’s so nice to see the actress find her stride in films that are important to her, and even see this little wink to her time in the beloved series.

One of the biggest shows to come out on the 2023 TV schedule so far has been Poker Face, which follows Natasha Lyonne’s Charlie Cale, a lie-detecting cocktail waitress who continually finds herself solving homicides across the country. Created by Rian Johnson, this show quickly earned critical acclaim following its debut Ian January, and it was renewed for Season 2 midway through Season 1’s run. However, Johnson has explained why it will be a while until this next batch of episodes will arrive to Peacock subscribers, while also sharing which Star Wars: The Last Jedi alum he’d like to bring in as a guest star.

A month ahead of Poker Face’s release, Rian Johnson’s latest movie, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Story, was delivered to Netflix subscribers following its brief run in theaters. Like the TV show, the newest movie starring Daniel Craig’s Benoit Blanc was met with a lot of positive reviews, including our own Mike Reyes giving Glass Onion a perfect 5 out of 5 stars in his review. By the beginning of January, the filmmaker confirmed he’d started writing Knives Out 3, and he informed Deadline that the threequel is his current priority when asked what about Poker Face Season 2’s timetable:

Knives Out 3 has been in the cards ever since Netflix snatched up the rights to both it and what would become Glass Onion back in March 2021, and now that Rian Johnson is busy crafting the threequel, he’d rather focus on completing it before turning his attention to Poker Face Season 2. It’s unclear where Johnson stands with the Knives Out 3 script right now, but assuming he’d also like to shoot the movie as soon as possible, and factoring in the current writers strike, then it seems like Charlie Cale won’t return to the small screen at least a few years. It certainly wouldn’t be the first show to have years pass in between seasons, but it’s understandable for Poker Face fans to be saddened by such a long wait ahead of them.

Still, it’s not like Rian Johnson hasn’t given any thought to the next Poker Face season. One of the big ways the show stands out is with its impressive lineup of guest stars, including people Johnson has worked with before, such as Adrien Brody and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. With that in mind, the writer/director is already interested in reuniting with Kelly Marie Tran, who played Rose Tico in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, for Season 2, saying this when the topic of more faces from Johnson’s movies showing up on the series was mentioned:

At the end of Poker Face Season 1, Charlie Cale was forced to go back on the run after Rhea Perlman’s Beatrix Hasp, who’d been Sterling Frost Sr.’s rival in the casino game before paying Cliff LeGrand to kill his employer, threatened to kill her if she didn’t agree to come work for her. So now Natasha Lyonne’s character once again finds herself traveling across the United States and using her lie-detecting abilities to shed light on mysteries. When asked if he had an “endpoint” in mind for Poker Face, Rian Johnson responded:

As soon as any concrete details about Poker Face Season 2 are announced, CinemaBlend will pass them along. For now, take a look at how we ranked the Poker Face Season 1 episodes, or head to Netflix to watch Glass Onion: A Knives Out Story and/or Natasha Lyonne’s other recent TV hit, Russian Doll.

There are popular movie franchises, and then there’s Star Wars. Generations have been brought up on the galaxy far, far away, and landing a role in a Star Wars movie is a dream for countless actors out there. That includes Kelly Marie Tran aka Rose Tico, who recently recalled not thinking she’d get her Star Wars gig because she’s an Asian actress. 

Kelly Marie Tran made her Star Wars debut in Rian Johnson’s The Last Jedi, playing Resistance worker Rose Tico. She’d go on to reprise her character in The Rise of Skywalker, albeit in a much smaller role. In honor of AANHPI Heritage Month, Tran was interviewed for the Star Wars website, where she explained why she didn’t originally think she’d be welcomed into the space opera. As she put it,

There’s been a ton of conversation over the last years about the power of representation, and Hollywood’s need to tell diverse stories. Kelly Marie Tran’s comments definitely highlight the disparity in the business, as she didn’t even think that she had a chance to land a Star Wars role. Because it was previously a cosmic story that largely focused on white protagonists.

But we all know how this story ended, as Kelly Marie Tran would end up getting a dream job as Rose Tico in Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Unfortunately, this gig also opened up the young actress to a ton of online hate. Later in that same interview, Tran described what it felt like getting her signature role, and why it felt so significant for the industry as a whole. In her words,

Indeed, the Star Wars sequel trilogy was a much more diverse place, with other major franchises following suit in the years that followed The Force Awakens. The most recent movies followed a female protagonist, and featured actors of color like John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Naomi Ackie, Kelly Marie Tran in major roles.

As previously mentioned, Kelly Marie Tran faced some backlash after debuting as Rose in Star Wars: The Last Jedi. She’d eventually leave social media as a result, while also starting therapy. In recent years the fans have come to her defense, but it was obviously a long road for The Raya and the Last Dragon star. 

Kelly Marie Tran has a number of upcoming movies coming down the line, titled The Young Wife and Me, Myself & The Void. In the meantime, check out the 2022 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

Star Wars: The Last Jedi’s Kelly Marie Tran has been open about her experiences being a part of the Star Wars universe. In the past, Tran has explained her love for the Canto Bight sequence from The Last Jedi and why she might not want to play Rose Tico ever again, plus she even recently remarked about the lessons she learned playing Rose Tico and voicing a Disney Princess in Raya and the Last Dragon. In her latest House of Mouse-related interview, Kelly Marie Tran told a hilarious story about pulling an A+ prank on The Last Jedi director Rian Johnson, and it involved Pokémon.

Pokémon Go, the mobile Pokémon game in which you can walk around in real life and catch Pokémon, came out during the making of The Last Jedi. So, of course, the cast and crew had some fun with it. In fact, Kelly Marie Tran told Looper.com a story about a prank she pulled on Rian Johnson involving the massively popular game, saying:

It's no secret that Star Wars sets are basically trying to keep movie-related details under lockdown and phone use is at a minimum, so it's actually a little bit surprising that Kelly Marie Tran and co. were able to use their cell phones for Pokemon Go. Eventually, one day this also led to the perfect opportunity to prank Rian Johnson related to the game. She went on to explain the prank she pulled, saying:

Yes, Rian Johnson was and still is a Pokémon Go fan and Kelly Marie Tran thought it would be funny to bait him with a Pikachu. Yet, there were no hard feelings between Johnson and Tran and she says they even ended up helping each other with the game as friends. In fact, despite some trolling from the fanbase, in general it seems Kelly Marie Tran has fond feelings about her Star Wars experiences, also telling the outlet she had an "otherworldly, magical" experience while filming Star Wars: The Last Jedi.

Kelly Marie Tran isn't the only person who has shared some fun details from set. The Last Jedi director Rian Johnson has also shared some cool details and interesting facts about the film since its release. Johnson shared some of the practical effects the film used to create some of its sequences, and he has explained the ‘open for interpretation’ nature of Rey’s mirror scene. Rian Johnson is also responsible for the great Star Wars milk debate, so his impact on the series isn’t debatable.

Kelly Marie Tran has moved on from Star Wars, but it is cool to hear such fun stories from her, like her Pokémon Go prank on Rian Johnson. Hopefully, we see Kelly Marie Tran in another big franchise, maybe in the MCU. Nothing is ever off the table, and Star Wars fans may get to see the return of Rose in some form or fashion.

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Following her very strong and heartfelt performance in Star Wars: The Last Jedi as ambitious resistance fighter Rose Tico and lending her voice to the title role of Raya and the Last Dragon (she played Raya, not the dragon, to be clear), Kelly Marie Tran has officially earned her place among the Disney family. Thus, it seems only natural that a part in the Marvel movies should be the next big career venture for the 32-year-old Vietnamese-American actress. In fact, I have six characters ripped from the comics whom Tran would be the perfect candidate to bring to life on the big screen, starting with one who knows her way around a tangled web.

Silk

When Booksmart director Olivia Wilde was tapped to helm a Sony Marvel movie, fans immediately began to speculate that Spider-Woman was coming to the big screen finally. What would soon follow after that speculation over which female webslinger would be the specific focus of this new story. While there are many who want to see Daisy Ridley play fan favorite Jessica Drew, I have another idea in mind for her Star Wars movies co-star.

Introduced in 2014, Cindy Moon was just a normal, Korean-American young woman (save her eidetic memory) until she was bitten by the same spider that turned her classmate Peter Parker into a superhero. She would take the same route, under the alias Silk, after breaking free from Ezekiel Sims, who took her away from her parents to train her to properly use her powers. Hers is a story that is as dark and inspiring as the heroic personas Kelly Marie Tran has previously played in the Star Wars movies and in the animated Raya and the Last Dragon in the title role.

Jolt

There is another Marvel hero whose origin makes that of Silk, Rose, and Raya combined seem as light as a Dora the Explorer episode. Robert and Jane Takahama’s dream to provide their daughter, Helen, with a better life was cut short on the day of her 15th birthday when the couple was murdered by Onslaught (an evil split personality living within X-Men’s Professor Charles Xavier), who then destroyed her home and surrounding neighborhood attempting to take over Earth. Soon after, Helen was captured by mad Nazi scientist Arnim Zola, who began to conduct experiments on her that her made faster, stronger, and filled with energy.

That energy was, quite literally, a natural bioelectric field that allows Helen to shock enemies with a touch and endow her with agility strong enough to move at superhuman speeds and distances. Taking on the name Jolt, the hero became a member of Thunderbolts (how fitting, right?), among other notable superhero teams. Perhaps if Kelly Marie Tran is cast as her for the big screen, we could see her join the Avengers.

Black Lotus

On the other hand, maybe this darkness Kelly Marie Tran has portrayed (which I am still interested to see in upcoming superhero movies) is a sign that heroism is not for her in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (or even in Sony’s mouthful of a cinematic universe, perhaps). In fact, a role to help further awaken her dark side may be opening up in the MCU very soon.

One of the most notorious enemies of the Black Widow is known as the Black Lotus (since her actual name still remains a mystery to the public). She is an extremely qualified and typically reliable assassin noted for possessing martial arts skill so advance that she rarely, if not ever, requires the assistance of using any weaponry on missions. The chance of Kelly Marie Tran taking on Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanoff is likely a lost cause, but if the rumors that Florence Pugh will assume her role in the MCU after Black Widow is true, I say sign her up for the sequel.

Lady Deathstrike

Actually, there may be another Marvel villain whom Kelly Marie Tran would be ideal to play who has an even better chance of appearing in future MCU installments. Not to mention, if the goal here is to bring out the actress’ bad side, few ladies in the Marvel Comics universe match up with this mutant in that particular respect. It also helps that she is part-cyborg.

Now, (with the exception of that last detail) some may think of Yuriko Oyama (better known as Lady Deathstrike) as the female equivalent of Wolverine due to her regenerative healing, Adamantium skeleton, and retractable, razor sharp fingernails. It may also be because their only exposure to the character is Kelly Hu’s portrayal in X2: X-Men United from 2003. Perhaps it is time to give her backstory a proper explanation on the big screen (or small screen, as the Disney+ Marvel TV shows have done well), which is possible now that the X-Men property is set to be rebooted by Marvel Studios soon enough.

Jubilee

However, if there is one female character of Asian descent who is most deserving of a second chance in the X-Men movies, it is Jubliation Lee. Jubilee for short, this Chinese-American mutant likes to refer to her powers as “fireworks,” - more accurately described as globes of colorful energy bright enough to blind her enemies. Yet, even if she were to do this on accident to a friend, they could never be mad at her, due to her irresistibly bubbly personality.

Fans were really excited when Lana Candor was cast as Jubilee in 2016’s X-Men: Apocalypse, only to discover that her role was limited to, basically, not much more than a cameo. The To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before star has said that she would love to reprise the character for a more fleshed out portrayal, but I would not be surprised if Marvel Studios were to go another route. Besides, Kelly Marie Tran is already a full fledged member of the Disney family and would surely be great fit to do Jubilee justice for the reboot.

Do you think that Kelly Marie Tran is the right person to give Jubilee the justice she deserves on the big screen? If not, is there a Marvel character you would rather see the actress bring to life?

This poll is no longer available.

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Ask any fantasy or sci-fi fan: world-building is important. Would the Lord of the Rings have shined so brightly on-screen if not for the finely detailed sets and costumes? Would Star Wars have shot into hyperspeed if not for the zany cast of alien background characters? I think not. And neither does Kelly Marie Tran, who played Rose Tico in Star Wars: The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker. And Tran recently explained why she likes Last Jedi's infamous Canto Bight scenes.

In an episode of Collider Ladies Night, Kelly Marie Tran described why she loved the infamous Canto Bight scenes in Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Fans are divided: some feel that the scene’s message added to the overall arc of the film, while others thought the subplot was contrived and unnecessary. Kelly Marie Tran said:

In the interest of world-building, I have to agree with Kelly Marie Tran. While the Canto Bight storyline didn’t add much to the general plot of the movie, it did serve a purpose. The scene further fleshed out the Star Wars universe, adding another layer of texture and color to a fantasy world. One of my favorite scenes in the original trilogy was the cantina scene: it was fairly short, and not a huge plot mover, but one look at that seedy alien dive bar and I knew exactly what sort of universe the story took place in. The cantina was a microcosm of the larger Star Wars world, a small look at the varied and wondrous creatures who called it home.

Star Wars fan can re-watch the Skywalker Saga on Disney+. You can use this link to sign up for the streaming service.

As Kelly Marie Tran, the Canto Bight scene reminded her that she was a part of the larger Star Wars universe, and that’s what it did for me as a viewer. The scene also illustrated another issue: that of the privileged few who were able to avoid the war. Kelly Marie Tran elaborated:

Like the Capitol citizens in The Hunger Games, the people of Canto Bight were so wealthy they barely knew a war was going on. It painted a stark contrast between the societal elite and the rag-tag rebels. And it reminded Rose Tico and John Boyega’s Finn why the battle they were fighting was so important.

If you’ve been missing Kelly Marie Tran since The Rise of Skywalker and her subsequent departure from social media, don’t fret. You can catch the Star Wars actress voicing Raya in the latest Disney animated feature Raya and the Last Dragon, now available on Disney+.

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Fame is a tricky thing. Because while landing a dream gig like starring in Star Wars comes with massive opportunities, it’ll also expose you to some online hate. Actress Kelly Marie Tran knows this all too well, and she’s recently revealed the big lesson she learned from playing Rose Tico, as well as the title character of Raya and the Last Dragon.

Kelly Marie Tran burst onto the scene in a major way by debuting as Rose Tico in Rian Johnson’s Star Wars: The Last Jedi. But she also faced a ton of online hate, and left social media as a result. Tran most recently became a Disney Princess as Raya, and she’s taken some lessons from her whirlwind career thus far. The 32 year-old actress recently spoke to her experience, saying:

She’s got a point. Kelly Marie Tran went from being an unknown actress to starring in major Disney blockbusters pretty much overnight. And while it hasn’t always been easy, she’s proud of herself for putting her mental health first while balancing a uniquely demanding work life.

Kelly Marie Tran’s comments to Collider show how the actress is currently is currently feeling about her career. Expectations can be killer, especially when related to one’s career. So she tries to have a positive outlook while filming, along with taking care of her mental health off set.

Movie fans can re-watch both Raya and Star Wars on Disney+. You can use this link to sign up for the streaming service.

After facing intense and often racist backlash in the wake of Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Kelly Marie Tran stepped away from social media and invested in herself through therapy. The actress has been open about his process, and that’s no doubt what she was referencing in showing up for herself. And in the end Star Wars fans rallied behind Tran, and she was given another great opportunity with the studio thanks to Raya and the Last Dragon.

In the same interview, Kelly Marie Tran went on to explain how wild her career has been thus far. Plus how Raya provided something special for the actress. As she put it,

There are times when art meets life, and Kelly Marie Tran seems to understand that dynamic all too well. While she’s already had a career full of peaks and valleys, Tran has made it to the other side with a unique perspective. And there’s no telling what might come next.

Now that she’s become a leading lady and Disney Princess, it should be interesting to see what comes next for Kelly Marie Tran. Her schedule is now freed up to take on new projects, especially as the film industry comes to normal. First she’ll once again collaborate with the House of Mouse by joining the voice cast of Monsters at Work.

Star Wars will continue on the big screen with Patty Jenkins developing the Rogue Squadron movie. In the meantime, check out the 2021 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience

Kelly Marie Tran has been making a name for herself over the past several years, with her turn as the titular heroine in Disney’s Raya and the Last Dragon earning her acclaim from critics and love from fans. Of course, it was the Star Wars franchise that originally put the actress on Hollywood’s radar, as she played Resistance member Rose Tico in 2017’s Star Wars: The Last Jedi. While the role unfortunately garnered toxic responses from some across the internet, many people fell in love with the character. And just recently, a fan and poet penned a sweet tribute to Rose that has me a little emotional.

Kelly Marie Tran has been a significant source of positivity within the Star Wars community since joining the franchise, and she’s inspired a number of fans as a result. Her impact was especially evident on this past May the Fourth. Tran, who boarded the upcoming film Summertime as an executive producer, used the day to surprise the poets featured in the film.

During the virtual meet-and-greet (via an exclusive clip from EW), young poet MJ Park recited a poem she wrote about Star Wars’ Rose Tico, which expresses the character’s impact on her. Park’s beautiful poem sentimentally captures the essence of Rose and describes how “we are all but left to watch a small Asian girl tear apart the First Order with nothing but a heart made of scrap metal and a passion for rebellion.” Park goes even further, sharing thoughts on how some have found a connection with Rose:

Some of us may not get in our feels that often, but MJ Park’s words are enough to get to you. And as you can imagine, Kelly Marie Tran was also moved by the poem and responded by speaking on the power of poetry:

The poem is powerful on its own, but it hits even harder when one remembers the sexist and racist backlash Kelly Marie Tran experienced after starring in Star Wars: The Last Jedi. The actress took it all in stride, though, issuing a statement and choosing to leave social media. And since leaving the web, Tran doesn’t seem to regret the decision.

While Kelly Marie Tran is currently unsure whether she’d play Rose again, it’s clear there’s still plenty of love for the character. One can only hope the actress gets to suit up again and return to the galaxy far, far away.

It’s safe to say that Disney is pretty much killing it right now across the board, even without the box office. With major spinoff-heavy franchises under its umbrella like Marvel and Star Wars, Disney+ is putting out content like crazy, all while the OG brand also continues to expand. For instance, the company has been revamping its classic Disney princesses line, as well as creating new princesses for younger generations to share in the magic with. One such classic princess actress, Mulan’s Ming-Na Wen, noticed and acknowledged her Star Wars and Disney connections with Raya and the Last Dragon star Kelly Marie Tran, and explained how the two have “traded places.”

Years before joining the recent animated hit Raya and the Last Dragon, Kelly Marie Tran made her big (and unfortunately problematic) break in the Star Wars franchise as The Last Jedi's Rose Tico. Similarly, it was years after Ming-Na Wen portrayed Chinese princess Mulan that she landed the role of Fennec Shand in The Mandalorian, as well as other upcoming Star Wars spinoff series. The two actresses appeared together on The Drew Barrymore Show, and Wen explained how their careers have essentially mirrored each other. In her words:

The shared experience of going from one major Disney franchise to another has clearly bonded the actresses in a pretty specific way, and Ming-Na Wen’s words were full of love for Kelly Marie Tran. While neither woman's career officially began with Star Wars or Disney films or TV shows, Wen and Tran's involvement in their respective projects seemed to have set their careers in hyperdrive.

While Kelly Marie Trans seems to be diving more into voice acting, and is already part of Disney+'s Monsters Inc. TV spinoff Monsters at Work, Ming-Na Wen has appearances in a number of Star Wars spinoff series in the works. But guess what? One of those roles will indeed involve voice-acting, with Wen's Mandalorian character shifting to 2D form for the animated series The Bad Batch. The similarities continue!

With Disney slowly but surely collecting and building its franchise base, it makes sense to see so many actors taking part in more than one major fictional universe. Getting in good with Disney has always been a coveted position in Hollywood, and that placement has only gained potential in recent years. You don’t have to look far to see what I mean: Yes, Kelly Marie Tran and Ming-Na Wen are examples, but they're not the only actors who have appeared in both Star Wars and Disney films, and that world opens up even more once you throw the MCU into it. while Tran has yet to appear in a major Marvel project, Wen herself starred for years as Melinda May in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and we're hoping she returns to that role at some point.

With Disney connections and roles in multiple major franchises, Kelly Marie Tran and Ming-Na Wen have already made great strides with their careers. I wouldn’t be surprised if we see Tran step into the Marvel franchise next, or for both actresses to appear together in the same project. It doesn’t seem like Wen would be opposed in the slightest, having nothing but positive remarks about Tran and their shared Disney experiences.

Last summer, Walt Disney Studios announced a Disney+ $30 add-on called Premier Access for the release of Mulan in place of the big-budget live action film coming to theaters amidst closures. Although specific metrics were not released for Mulan, outside data seemed to suggest success for the company. Disney then decided to make Raya and the Last Dragon available to view at home for an extra $30 with a Disney+ subscription, as well alongside a theatrical release. So, how’d it do?

New data found Raya and the Last Dragon had 20% less purchases on Disney+ during its early March opening weekend that Mulan had last fall, per Antenna. The analytics startup additionally found there to be a 30% decline in signups for the streaming service between March 5 and 7 in comparison to the first four weekends Mulan was available on Premier Access (via Business Insider).

In other words, Raya and the Last Dragon reportedly did not attract a ton of new subscribers to Disney+ during its debut weekend, nor did it match early Mulan purchases. When Niki Caro’s live-action remake came out, data suggested that the movie drove up Disney+ install rates by 68% and consumer spending on the app grew nearly 200% for the September release. Evidently Raya’s impression is much milder.

All this being said, Antenna’s data should not be taken at face value, because it presents neither the entire picture nor the raw data from Disney+. The startup reportedly pulled its data from opt-in panels on platforms, such as budgeting apps. But since Disney does not disclose its numbers, it’s the closest idea we have of how Raya and the Last Dragon did on Disney+ Premier Access.

Another factor here is the fact that Raya and the Last Dragon went to theaters and streaming at the same time, while Mulan was exclusive to Disney+ and some international markets. But Raya has underwhelmed at the box office too, scoring just $68.4 million worldwide after three weekends in theaters. It initially opened to $8.5 million, below Tom & Jerry’s $14 million debut the weekend prior.

Still, Raya and the Last Dragon was released during COVID times and is technically the 2nd highest grossing domestic release of 2021 thus far. The Premier Access model must be working for Disney in some capacity considering the company just announced this week that two of its summer flicks, Cruella and Black Widow, will come to theaters and be available to stream for the $30 Disney+ price tag as well.

Warner Bros is using a similar concept for all of its 2021 movies by releasing them both to theaters and offering them to HBO Max subscribers. In that instance, they are offered without an additional fee, but only for a 30-day window. Did you purchase Raya and the Last Dragon on Disney+ for $30 since its release? Vote in the poll below.

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Spoilers are ahead for Disney's Raya and the Last Dragon.

Disney Princesses have been the animation studio’s crowning trademark from the very beginning. It all started with 1937’s Snow White, a fair young lady who greatly reflected traditional female roles in the household of the era. 1991’s Belle progressed its values as a free spirit and bookworm much more concerned with a prince’s mind and soul than outer charms, and 2016’s Moana traded a romance storyline for an apt story about finding yourself and empowering others. But, Disney’s latest movie, Raya and the Last Dragon, feels different. Kelly Marie Tran’s princess is more of a Marvel heroine than a modern progression of the Disney princess, and it sadly feels like a missed opportunity for the studio.

Raya and the Last Dragon seems destined to go down in history alongside Brave’s Merida, a Disney princess we respect for her movie's story and exploration of the culture it is depicting, but didn’t garner the impact of movies like Mulan or The Little Mermaid. If Raya spoke to you, that’s great. But, if it seemed to be missing something or lacked the magic of her princess sisters in your eyes, I’ve pinpointed why. Let’s get into it:

Raya And The Last Dragon Is More About The Action Than Its Princess

As a former Disney Princess obsessive, I never miss a new inductee to Disney. As much as I see characters like Aladdin’s Jasmine or Sleeping Beauty’s Aurora differently as an adult, they stand as important figures in my childhood at a time when female-driven stories were not as big of a deal as they most certainly are now in Hollywood. These days, my all-time favorite princess is Moana because she redefined the formula while also implementing it. Like every great Disney Princess, Moana has big dreams and flaws, but following an epic journey, she finds her power and learns a universal lesson we can all grab on in our own ways.

But Raya’s only mission in life speaks to action/fantasy films we’ve seen again and again. Her entire arc is to find a solution to bring her loved ones back and restore her homeland of Kumandra – nothing about her journey is personal to her specifically, other than having a friend betray her when she was a child, which directly led to the problem of the movie. The central message learned in Raya and the Last Dragon is the importance of trust to saving the world after she has been burned by her and her family’s initial trust in her childhood. While “trust” is a great message for a movie to spend its time on, Raya’s journey is so tied to the plot of the story and its other characters that some emotional depth is left to be desired.

Raya Was Inspired By Guardians Of The Galaxy’s Star-Lord

When the credits rolled for Raya and the Last Dragon, my main takeaway was how Marvel it felt. Even from a visual point of view, Raya borrows a lot of ideas from Guardians of the Galaxy. I’m talking about the way new locations are introduced to viewers with large font names and sweeping wide-shot backdrops, as well as the gradual meeting of various characters throughout the film as they look for Gem pieces and save their land. Even that third act sequence where Raya takes Naamari’s hand is reminiscent of the “dance off”-turned finale battle at the end of the 2014 movie starring Chris Pratt. Raya’s co-writer Qui Nguyen even said this to Bleeding Cool:

So here’s the thing, I love Marvel movies and Star-Lord is great, but why does Disney need to turn to the MCU to create its latest princesses? Especially since we're talking about an established male character in that universe! It feels like the lazy way to go; we have 23 Marvel films to look to, and a Disney Princess movie only comes every few years. These stories should speak to inspiring scenarios young people can look up to, so a distant echo of something we've already seen in the MCU just pushes Raya into the background.

Raya’s Marvel Roots Doesn’t Make Her A Better Disney Princess

I will say this: I like that Raya and the Last Dragon is challenging our own beliefs on who a Disney princess can be. Raya doesn’t have time to sing a “want” song, or wear a pretty dress or get swept off her feet by a romantic interest. She is fighting for the survival of her homeland and trying to keep her culture and people alive. But the way the studio decided to deliver this new type of Disney princess did not hit the right notes. It felt very much like it was catering to what people like… which, as the big numbers put it, are Marvel films. Raya was is littered with funny catchphrases, unnecessary characters, choreographed fight sequences and a quest to string us along, and all that’s fun, but Raya deserved more thought put into her.

At the end of the day, Raya being a badass heroine does not make her any better or more exciting of a Disney Princess because her identity is stammered in its action plotline when I wanted Raya to be our next favorite princess. She’s not given much depth and her roots in MCU superheroes did not strengthen her emotional arc. Now, if it was a musical and/or given the LGBTQ+ community its first Disney love story, I might feel a bit differently. But, sadly Raya and the Last Dragon is forgettable aside from its lovely induction of representation of Southeast Asian culture into the framework of Disney Princesses.

What do you think? Was Raya and the Last Dragon too Marvel for you too? Vote in the poll below.

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Disney is known for its stunning animated blockbusters, and the studio has not shied away from new releases over the past few years. The most recent is

Don Hall and Carlos López Estrada's Raya and the Last Dragon, which arrived both in theaters and on Disney+. The film stars Kelly Marie Tran as the title character, and she recently encouraged theories about Raya's possible romantic connection to Gemma Chan's Namaari. And as that debate rages on, it turns out that Raya already made LGBTQIA history thanks to the casting of actress Patti Harrison.

Patti Harrison doesn't play a major character in Raya and the Last Dragon, appearing as the Chieftess of the Tail Land early in the protagonist's journey. And while conversations continue about whether or not the movie's lead characters are actually queer, Harrison's role makes history as she's the first openly transgender performer to appear in a Disney animated movie.

This news was brought to us by Out, which put a spotlight on Raya and the Last Dragon making history by casting Patti Harrison. The Chieftess of Tail might only appear in one scene, but it's still a historic first for the queer audiences, particularly the transgender community. And as calls for onscreen representation continue, it's great to see these steps forward in a major studio like Disney.

Raya and the Last Dragon is currently available on Disney+ for an additional charge. You can use this link to sign up for the streaming service.

Audiences will know Patti Harrison from her scene-stealing role in Hulu's Shrill, as well as roles in A Simple Favor and Search Party. Harrison is also an accomplished writer, most notable in Netflix's adult animated series Big Mouth. And now she's appeared in a Disney animated blockbuster, making history for the studio in the process.

The talk about Raya and the Last Dragon will only continue as more people watch it, and form their own opinions about the protagonist and her unique relationship with Namaari. Upon the movie's release some fans thought the two characters might have a romantic connection, and eventually Kelly Marie Tran was asked about this while doing press. While she admitted she might get in trouble for saying it, Tran definitely encouraged those theories. We'll just have to see if the House of Mouse ever given an official answer.

Disney has been making some major steps forward regarding inclusion in a variety of their properties, including animated movies and the MCU. Last year the studio released Onward, which featured Lena Waithe as a lesbian character. As for Marvel, Chloe Zhao's Eternals will feature the most diverse cast in the studio's history, including a Black gay superhero, as well as the first hearing impaired hero.

Raya and the Last Dragon is currently available on Disney+ for premiere access, as well as in theaters. In the meantime, check out our 2021 release list to plan your next movie experience.

SPOILERS are ahead for Disney's Raya and the Last Dragon, so proceed at your own risk.

Move over, Frozen, there’s a new pair of Disney princesses in town, and the internet is absolutely obsessed with them. This past weekend, the studio released its latest animated project, Raya and the Last Dragon, a fantasy action epic starring Kelly Marie Tran as the first Southeast Asian princess in the House of Mouse’s pack. She's a badass, and a whole lot of fans believe she had some major sexual tension with Gemma Chan’s Namaari.

Oh, and Star Wars’ Kelly Marie Tran thinks so too. When speaking about Raya and the Last Dragon, the voice actress said she decided there were “some romantic feelings going on there” between Raya and Namaari in the film. She’s not alone by any stretch. As one Twitter user reacted after seeing the movie on opening day:

As the Raya and the Last Dragon story goes, Raya and Namaari are princesses from different regions of Kumandra who befriend each other as kids briefly while their parents get to business. But Namaari betrays Raya’s trust, and it results in some devastation for our main princess. Years later, Raya and Namaari are long-lost enemies, which is prime backstory for a classic romance trope, as another fan pointed out:

The film has a series of brawls between the women and cheeky quips like, “Hey there, Princess Undercut,” which spoke to the LGBTQ+ community in more ways than one. Disney Princesses have long been characterized by their own journeys to find love, so audiences are pretty much programmed to look for romance in movies like this:

It’s not unlike Elsa’s debut in Frozen, which subtextually spoke to the queer community, especially with the character’s struggle to accept her identity as a power ice queen. “Let It Go” has been embraced as a “coming out” song of sorts, and many audiences were hoping to see Elsa be given a female love interest in the sequel. Raya’s sexuality is never mentioned in her movie, but it does have its own undertones fans believe they are noticing:

Though at the same time, there is a section of the queer community that's tired of Disney catering LGBTQ+ audiences without bluntly recognizing it. A number of animated shows as of late have delivered canonic female relationships, whether that be Nickelodeon’s The Legend of Korra with Korra and Asamior, or Netflix’s She-Ra and the Princesses of Power with Adora and Catra. As Rowan Ellis pointed out:

Have you been shipping Raya and Namaari too? Let us know in the poll below, and check out Raya and the Last Dragon in theaters and Disney+’s premier access now.

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Kelly Marie Tran’s Rose Tico caused a bit of a disturbance in the Force amidst the back-and-forth of Rian Johnson’s The Last Jedi and J.J. Abrams’ The Rise of Skywalker. When it came down to it, the actress’ role was small in the franchise, and many hoped for more from Rose Tico. Over a year after Tran was given just 76 seconds in the final Skywalker Saga film, the 32-year-old isn’t exactly gunning to reprise her Resistance fighter role.

Kelly Marie Tran just earned the ranks of Disney Princess in her new film Raya and the Last Dragon, which has the actress voicing the role of a brave warrior fighting for her land of Kumandra. When reminiscing about her time on Star Wars, the actress explained why returning to a galaxy far, far away may not feel right to her. As she put it:

Following the release of The Rise of Skywalker, which had Rose Tico on screen for less than two minutes in the two hour and 22 minute-long film, fans campaigned for the character to get her own spinoff on Disney+. Crazy Rich Asians’ director Jon M. Chu even shared interest in developing the series too. Whilst speaking about the film to IGN with fellow voice actress Cissy Jones, Kelly Marie Tran continued to candidly address why the Star Wars character isn’t the same to her anymore:

Cissy Jones remarked that the character had a “beautiful, wide-eyed curiosity” about her, and spoke to how she was young enough to not be a “jaded” hero in the series. Kelly Marie Tran jumped in to say that she felt like that exact aspect of her character is something that she specifically misses, comparing herself to an old woman smoking a cigarette in the corner, reminiscing on “those days.”

It’s kind of a bummer that Kelly Marie Tran feels that way about Rose Tico so early in her career, but the role definitely forced her to grow and face both fame and Hollywood in a way that not many young actors are faced with so quickly. The actress famously decided to leave social media and focus on her mental health following some less than desired hate online about her Star Wars role. Her co-star Daisy Ridley did the same thing, recently saying that the communication tool is just “not” for her.

Although Kelly Marie Tran may not feel like Rose Tran is her path forward, she seems to have carved an exciting path for herself as Disney’s star in the critically acclaimed Raya and the Last Dragon, along with joining Disney+’s Monsters Inc spinoff, Monsters at Work. And we’d be 100 percent in for a jaded Rose Tico in a few years if she does change her mind.

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Disney is known for its animated blockbusters, and a new one recently arrived in theaters and homes thanks to Raya and the Last Dragon. Directed by

Don Hall and Carlos López Estrada, the film welcomes a new Disney princess in the form of Kelly Marie Tran's badass title character. Since the movie's release, there's been some conversation about if Raya and Namaari (Gemma Chan) actually have a romantic connection. Luckily, Tran herself recently opened up about that possibility.

Over the past few years, there's been a ton of conversation about inclusion in movies and TV. As film projects become more diverse, there's also been calls for underrepresented folks like the LGBTQIA+ community to have proper representation. Some moviegoers thought this might have occurred with via the title character of Raya and the Last Dragon, and Kelly Marie Tran addressed this theory. In her words,

Touche. While it doesn't look like Disney actually included a queer leading character in the form of Raya, Kelly Marie Tran understands the power of the audience reactions. What's more, she wants people who are empowered by her new Disney character to remain so.

Kelly Marie Tran's comments to Vanity Fair will certainly add fuel to theories about Raya and the Last Dragon. While Disney and its various projects have started dipping their collective toe in the water of queer representation, some fans were hoping that history was made regarding Raya's characterization. We'll just have to see if a sequel gets ordered, and whether or not this theory comes to fruition.

Raya and the Last Dragon is currently available on Disney+ at an additional cost. You can use this link to sign up for the streaming service.

While Disney princesses are historically known for their love stories, the House of Mouse has pivoted away from this trope in recent years. Moana and Frozen were not love stories, and neither is Raya and the Last Dragon. Still, the connection between Kelly Marie Tran's character and her rival/friend Namaari was one that piqued interest.

Of course, this isn't the first time that Disney fans have theorized about a major princess being an LGBTQIA+ character. Frozen's heroine Elsa has yet to have a romantic storyline, although some were hoping that she'd end up queer in Frozen II. Star Wars' Oscar Isaac himself pushed for his character Poe to have a romantic connection with Finn, although he was denied. We'll just have to wait and see what the studio has to say about Raya.

As far as representation goes, Disney is going to be making history with the delayed Marvel blockbuster Eternals. The movie will feature a Black, gay superhero, as well as the first hearing impaired hero. The movie's cast is extremely diverse, and Nomadland filmmaker Chloe Zhao is behind the camera and breaking new ground in the process.

Raya and the Last Dragon is currently available on Disney+, as well as in theaters. Be sure to check out our 2021 release list to plan your next movie experience.

In the era of cancel culture, storytellers are being faced with the decisions of whether to follow the current trends and whether to acknowledge or denounce their previous work that didn’t age well. Disney is one company that has figured out how to navigate this, and one example is the evolution of the Disney princess. Kelly Marie Tran, Disney’s latest princess and star of Raya and the Last Dragon, loves the idea that this film changes the idea of a Disney princess.

We started with Snow White, where our princess slept and had to be awakened by a prince. Fast forward to Tangled, where our princess chose to leave her tower and held the power in the film but still needed a man’s assistance. There’s nothing wrong with either of these films - I’m a huge Disney fan and love practically all of them. I was even a little sad that Moana and Elsa didn’t fall in love in their respective films. That being said, Raya is a brand new kind of princess, and here is what Kelly Marie shared with CinemaBlend about this:

Kelly Marie Tran’s excitement about playing Raya radiates off of her and you can feel it when watching the movie, too. Not only is Raya wearing pants and going on an epic adventure that involves martial arts, but she is also Disney’s first Southeast Asian princess. As Kelly Marie Tran stated, representation is so important because it allows young people of all different shapes, sizes and colors to see themselves as heroes, too.

The excitement goes so far beyond giving us another princess of color. Raya is relatable to people everywhere because of her weaknesses, as well as her strengths. She embodies the human experience in a way the princesses before her didn’t explore. Qui Nguyen, one of the writers of Raya and the Last Dragon, elaborated on this with the following:

Raya and the Last Dragon is not at all a political film or one that’s trying to make some grand statement, though its message still could not be more relevant. It tells the story of a land that’s broken by lack of trust and validates all the things that break trust in relationships. This film illustrates the strength and bravery that one needs to rebuild that trust and delivers the message from a badass princess.

You can feel all the feelings with Raya and the Last Dragon now in theaters or streaming on Disney+ with Premier Access. If you're able, you can even see it in theaters and then go home and watch it repeatedly on Disney+. I’m not crying, you’re crying!

Re-writes are a common part of the filmmaking process. Whether it’s in the very early stages of developing the story or during filming when an actor tweaks a line to feel more natural or a director learns what’s currently on the page doesn’t translate the way they wanted, every scene has the ability to evolve throughout a film’s creation. For Raya and the Last Dragon, one scene, in particular, had to be rewritten many times.

At the heart of Raya and the Last Dragon is a story of a broken land with deep old wounds to heal. One of the relationships with a need for reconciliation is that between our hero Raya (voiced by Kelly Marie Tran) and her friend-turned-enemy Namaari (voiced by Gemma Chan). Namaari betrayed Raya when they were children, and as a result, Raya grew up wary of trust. Producer Osnat Shurer told CinemaBlend why the scene where these two characters meet had to be rewritten so many times:

So one of the most rewritten scenes occurs very early in the film when Raya and Namaari meet and form an instant bond. It makes sense that the team at Walt Disney Animation would need to get this scene just right, as the rift between Namaari and Raya is such a large part of the rest of the film. In order to have hope for reconciliation between the two and to understand how difficult it is for Raya to trust any form of help along the way, the audience first has to experience the betrayal along with Raya. We couldn’t feel the betrayal if not first the authentic friendship.

I can’t rave about Raya and the Last Dragon enough as it’s my favorite Disney movie to date. I’m always blown away by the complexity of these films, and this one surpasses what I’ve come to expect from Disney’s storytelling. The example Osnat Shurer gave of teenagers becoming best friends over liking the same band is exactly how the first scene with Raya and Namaari feels. Raya and the Last Dragon is about trust at its core, which is something everyone can relate to, but it also explores the difficulty of earning that back, and how without hope and the right guidance it can be impossible to achieve.

Raya and the Last Dragon is now playing in theaters and available to stream on Disney+ with Premier Access. If you’re looking for more to stream on Disney+, check out the best Disney Channel original movies. I’d love to hear what you thought of Raya and the Last Dragon and what your favorite Disney movie is. Find CinemaBlend on social media and let us know!

This weekend, Disney will introduce their latest princess with Raya and the Last Dragon, a CG-animated fantasy film featuring the voice talents of Kelly Marie Tran, Awkwafina, Gemma Chan, Daniel Dae Kim, Sandra Oh, Benedict Wong, and more. Early reviews have certainly been glowing for the company's newest animated adventure, and families will have the option of watching the movie in theaters or at home on Disney+ (with a premium fee) in the weeks ahead. If you recognize the voices behind this new movie and you're wondering why, we're here to help. Here are the actors behind Disney's Raya and the Last Dragon.

Kelly Marie Tran (Raya)

As our title character, Raya, a warrior princess on a quest to find the last dragon and save her world from an evil force, Kelly Marie Tran plays the protagonist in Disney's latest animated feature, Raya and the Last Dragon. Most notably, Tran played Rose Tico in Star Wars: The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker. She also voiced Rose in Star Wars Forces of Destiny and Disney+'s The LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special. Additionally, the actress appeared in XOXO and lent her voice to last year's The Croods: A New Age.

Online, Kelly Marie Tran played a lead role in Facebook Watch's Sorry For Your Loss. The actress also appeared in CollegeHumor. Her TV credits include About A Boy, Adam Ruins Everything, Comedy Bang! Bang!, Monsterland, Ladies Like Us, and Gortimer Gibbon's Life on Normal Street. Next, Tran will be heard in Disney+'s Monsters At Work.

Awkwafina (Sisu)

In the role of Sisu, a self-deprecating water dragon who is the last of her kind, Awkwafina voices a sidekick called upon by our other title character to save humanity in Raya and the Last Dragon. Most notably, the actress is known for her scene-stealing supporting turn in Crazy Rich Asians, as well as her performances in Ocean's 8, Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising, Dude, and Jumanji: The Next Level. Additionally, Awkwafina is recognized for her acclaimed dramatic lead role in The Farewell, for which she won a Golden Globe Award. She is also the star, co-creator, and writer behind Comedy Central's semi-autobiographical series, Awkwafina is Nora from Queens.

As a voice actress, meanwhile, Awkwafina is heard in The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, Tuca & Bertie, The Angry Birds Movie 2, Storks, Animals, and The Simpsons. She can also be heard in The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water. Most recently, the actress was seen in Breaking News in Yuba County. Next, she'll be heard in The Little Mermaid and seen in Swan Song, which premieres at SXSW.

Gemma Chan (Namaari)

Playing the part of Namaari, Raya's nemesis, Gemma Chan voices our main antagonist in Disney's Raya and the Last Dragon. Most notably, Chan is known for Crazy Rich Asians, as well as her supporting turn in Captain Marvel. She can also be seen in Mary Queen of Scots, Transformers: The Last Knight, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit, The Double, London Fields, Shanghai, Submarine, Exam, and HBO Max's Let Them All Talk. On television, Chan can be seen in the lead role of Humans, as well as Sherlock, Doctor Who, The IT Crowd, Secret Diary of a Call Girl, Bedlam, Fresh Meat, and Project Catwalk. Next, she'll star in Marvel's Eternals. She'll also appear in Olivia Wilde's Don't Worry, Darling.

Daniel Dae Kim (Chief Benja)

As Chief Benja, Raya's beloved father and the legendary Guardian of the Dragon Gem, Daniel Dae Kim plays a man known as "the baddest blade in the five lands" in Disney's Raya and the Last Dragon. Most notably, the actor is known for Lost, Hawaii Five-0, and Angel. He also played recurring roles in Beverly Hills, 90210, 24, ER, Star Trek: Enterprise, and The Good Doctor, where he serves as an executive producer. Currently, Kim plays a recurring character in NBC's New Amsterdam. And as a voice actor, he's heard in The Legend of Korra, She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, The Casagrandes, Justice League Unlimited, and Avatar: The Last Airbender. Additionally, Kim lent his voice to the Saints Row series, as well as other video games like Scarface: The World Is Yours and Agents of Mayhem.

Outside of television, Daniel Dae Kim appears in Hellboy (2019), Always Be My Maybe, The Divergent Series: Insurgent and Allegiant, Spider-Man 2, Crash (2004), Hulk, Cradle 2 the Grave, and For the Love of the Game.

Sandra Oh (Virana)

In the role of Virana, the chief of the Fang Land, Sandra Oh voices a main character in Raya and the Last Dragon. Most notably, Oh starred in ABC's Grey's Anatomy and BBC America's Killing Eve and won Golden Globes for both. Likewise, she received Emmy nominations for each show, along with nominations for co-hosting The Golden Globes and hosting Saturday Night Live. Her other TV credits include Arliss, Judging Amy, American Crime, and voice roles in American Dad!, American Dragon: Jake Long, The Proud Family, Mulan II, Phineas and Ferb, and She-Ra and the Princesses of Power.

Away from TV, Sandra Oh appears in Sideways, Double Happiness, The Diary of Evelyn Lau, Big Fat Liar, Full Frontal, Bean, The Princess Diaries, Under the Tuscan Sun, Hard Candy, Rabbit Hole, The Red Violin, and Dancing at the Blue Iguana. Recently, Oh lent her voice to Under the Moon. Next, she will be heard in Invincible and seen in Umma.

Benedict Wong (Tong)

Playing the part of Tong, a formidable giant, Benedict Wong voices a large and looming supporting character in Disney's Raya and the Last Dragon. Most notably, the actor is known for playing Wong in Doctor Strange, as well as Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame. He also appeared in The Martian, Prometheus, Kick-Ass 2, Annihilation, Johnny English Reborn, Gemini Man, Moon, The Lady, Sunshine, Dirty Pretty Things, Shanghai, Spy Game, Hummingbird, and, most recently, The Personal History of David Copperfield. Additionally, Wong was recently heard in Disney+'s Lady and the Tramp.

On television, Benedict Wong played Kublai Khan in Netflix's Marco Polo. He was also seen in Deadly Class, Spirit Warriors, Law & Order: UK, Prey, Black Mirror, State of Play, and What We Do in the Shadows, as well as heard in Netflix's The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance. Next, he'll appear in Nine Days and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, which is now filming. Also, Wong will be heard in The Magician's Elephant.

Izaac Wang (Boun)

As Boun, a savvy entrepreneur and boat restaurant owner, Izaac Wang plays a notable supporting character in Disney's Raya and the Last Dragon. Most notably, Wang is known for his supporting role in Good Boys. He was also recently seen in Think Like a Dog. On TV, the child actor appeared in Teachers. Next, Wang will be seen in Clifford the Big Red Dog and heard in HBO Max's Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai.

Thalia Tran (Little Noi)

In the role of Little Noi, a thieving toddler, Thalia Tran voices an adorable troublemaker in Disney's Raya and the Last Dragon. Most notably, Tran starred in NBC's short-lived Council of Dads. She can also be seen in Little. Her other TV credits include Tiny Feminists, Hotel Du Loone, and Sydney to the Max.

Alan Tudyk (Tuk Tuk)

Playing the part of Tuk Tuk, a bug/armadillo/pug hybrid, Alan Tudyk voices an odd-but-loyal sidekick in Disney's Raya and the Last Dragon. Tudyk is known for his role as Hoban "Wash" Washburne in Fox's short-lived Firefly and its film continuation, Serenity. Also, he appears in Tucker & Dale vs. Evil, Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story, Wonder Boys, A Knight's Tale, Knocked Up, 3:10 to Yuma (2007), Trumbo, Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials, Deadpool 2, 42, Transformers: Dark of the Moon, and Death at a Funeral (2007). Additionally, Tudyk wrote, directed, and starred in the web series, Con Man, for which he was Emmy-nominated. As a voice actor, he's heard in I, Robot, Wreck-It Ralph, Frozen and Frozen II, Ralph Breaks the Internet, Big Hero 6, Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked, Ice Age, Zootopia, Moana, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, and Aladdin (2019).

On television, Alan Tudyk's other credits include Suburgatory, Newsreaders, Powerless, Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency, Dollhouse, and V. Currently, he can be seen in Doom Patrol and heard in Harley Quinn.

Lucille Soong (Dang Hu)

As Dang Hu, the leader of the land of Talon, Lucille Soon plays a sage supporting character in Disney's Raya and the Last Dragon. An actress with nearly 60 years of acting experience, Soong is best known for her main role in ABC's Fresh Off the Boat. She also played a recurring role in Desperate Housewives. Her other television credits include Dharma & Greg, The Troubleshooters, Bones, The King of Queens, Without a Trace, The United States of Tara, According to Jim, and The League, to only name a few credits. In film, meanwhile, Soong can be seen in The Joy Luck Club, Freaky Friday (2003), Nancy Drew, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, Mission: Impossible III, Employee of the Month, The Corrupter, Genghis Khan, One More Time, Sky High, and Just Like Heaven.

Patti Harrison (Tail Chief)

In the role of Tail Chief, Patti Harrison voices a prominent supporting character in Disney's Raya and the Last Dragon. Most notably, Harrison stars in Hulu's Shrill. She can also be seen in Search Party, The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, The Special Without Brett Davis, where she also wrote, Broad City, High Maintenance, The Chris Gethard Show, History of Swear Words, and I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson. Additionally, Harrison can be heard in BoJack Horseman and Magical Girl Friendship Squad. Most recently, the comedienne co-starred in Amazon Prime's Yearly Departed.

Furthermore, Patti Harrison is seen in A Simple Favor. She also stars in Together Together, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. Away from acting, Harrison wrote for Dispatches from Elsewhere and Big Mouth and co-hosts A Woman's Smile.

Ross Butler (Spine Chief)

Playing the part of Spine Chief, Ross Butler voices a notable supporting character in Disney's Raya and the Last Dragon. Butler is known for his main role on Netflix's 13 Reasons Why. He can also be seen in Riverdale, Shazam!, Teen Beach 2, K.C. Undercover, Perfect High, The Internship, Teen Wolf, Chasing Life, and the music videos for Steve Aoki's "Waste It On Me" and Juice Wild's "Graduation." Additionally, Butler played supporting roles in To All the Boys I Loved: P.S. I Still Love You and this year's To All the Boys: Always and Forever. Next, he'll be heard in Netflix's Army of the Dead: Lost Vegas. He was also set to star in Quibi's Swimming with Sharks, though the show's status is unknown after the company folded last year.

Raya and the Last Dragon arrives in theaters and on Disney+ on March 5th.

Fans of the Star Wars franchise are already familiar with Kelly Marie Tran. If you’ve seen The Croods: A New Age you’ll recognize her as the voice of Dawn Betterman. Tran is once again gracing our screens and ears with her talents as Disney’s first Southeast Asian princess (Can I type that five more times?!). The star of Raya and the Last Dragon shared the very sweet story of booking the lead role of Raya.

Over the years, Disney has redefined what it means to be a princess. What started out as wearing a fancy dress and marrying a prince has evolved into so much more that is unique to each character (in Raya’s case, we get pants and martial arts!). Still, there is something glamorous about the word “princess” and not-so-glamorous about “parking lot” and it turns out that’s exactly where Kelly Marie Tran was when she got the call about being the next Disney princess. Here’s what she told CinemaBlend:

Stars, they’re just like us; they get their own groceries! But on a serious note, I am so excited for Kelly Marie Tran. To think that there was a time where she didn’t think she was going to get the part, and now it’s complete and she executed it flawlessly. When I tell you that Raya is my favorite Disney princess, I am not exaggerating, and all credit goes to Kelly Marie Tran’s performance. Raya is fierce yet playful, strong yet cautious, broken-hearted yet able to love, and Tran delivers it all.

Raya and the Last Dragon is a masterpiece that takes viewers on an exciting journey through the fantasy world of Kumandra, a place where humans and dragons once lived in harmony. The dragons sacrificed themselves to save the humans from an evil threat, but this resulted in division among the humans. Raya, along with her friends and adorable sidekick, must find a way to unite everyone before Kumandra is destroyed. Inspired by Southeast Asia, Kumandra is a breathtaking sight and the animation is on a whole new level.

You can experience the world of Kumandra and the magic of Raya and the Last Dragon in theaters and on Disney+ with Premier Access on Friday, March 5. Whether you’re able to head back to the theater or not, CinemaBlend has you covered. Here are all the March 2021 movie releases and how you can watch them.

CinemaBlend participates in affiliate programs with various companies. We may earn a commission when you click on or make purchases via links.

Star Wars is one of the biggest film franchises of all time, with entire generations brought up on the galaxy far, far away. This passion for the franchise is why it keeps breaking records, but like The Force there can also be a dark side to this fandom. The release of Star Wars: Last Jedi saw a ton of backlash come from the fans, who were divided on Rian Johnson's subversive sequel. Rose Tico actress Kelly Marie Tran was the subject of racist and sexist comments online, causing her to leave social media. And now the actress has reflected on this choice, as well as some takeaways from leaning into therapy.

Kelly Marie Tran got the job of a lifetime when she landed the role of Rose Tico in Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Unfortunately, Rian Johnson's take on the property rubbed some the wrong way, and a wave of backlash arrived online. Tran recently spoke about what it was like leaving social media as a result, saying:

Fame is a tricky thing. And considering the giant platform of Star Wars, it has a habit of making household names out of each new addition. Kelly Marie Tran is no exception, which is why the public noticed when she suddenly deleted her otherwise very active social media accounts. But Tran ultimately had to do what was right for her.

Kelly Marie Tran's comments to THR come from her recent interview promoting Disney's Raya and the Last Dragon. Tran is voicing the animated blockbuster's title character, in another awesome gig for her career. Eventually the conversation turned to her time in Star Wars, and the way she coped with the sudden avalanche of online hate.

Star Wars fans can re-watch Kelly Marie Tran's time in the galaxy on Disney+, which will also be the home of Raya. You can use this link to sign up for the streaming service.

Later in the same interview, Kelly Marie Tran went on to speak about what she learned about the online hate she received. She's been open about starting therapy in an attempt to properly care for her mental health. And during those sessions she took away a big revelation. As she put it,

Talk about an "aha" moment. It looks like the time Kelly Marie Tran took caring for her mental health has paid off, and allowed her to approach being a public persona in a different way. Because while the amount of backlash she faced after The Last Jedi was extreme, most actors unfortunately face some form of hate online. We'll just have to wait and see how Raya and the Last Dragon is received upon its release.

Following Kelly Marie Tran's departure from social media, the Star Wars fandom did end up eventually rallying around the actress. She received a standing ovation when appearing at the Star Wars Celebration, and moviegoers also took umbrage over the size of her role in The Rise of Skywalker. Now her talents are going from the galaxy far, far away to becoming a bonafide Disney princess.

Raya and the Last Dragon will hit theaters and Disney+ March 5th. In the meantime, check out our 2021 release list to plan your next movie experience.

Disney's latest blockbuster is finally here, after a year of very few blockbuster films to enjoy, as the 59th feature film from Walt Disney Animation Studios is preparing to hit streaming and the big screen. Kelly Marie Tran stars as Raya in Raya and the Last Dragon, an epic adventure and martial arts movie that features a cast full of star power, with characters voiced by Awkwafina, Gemma Chan, Benedict Wong, and Daniel Dae Kim. Directed by Don Hall (Big Hero 6, Moana) and Carlos López Estrada (Blindspotting), Raya and the Last Dragon follows a lone warrior as she tracks down the legendary last dragon in hopes of restoring the fractured land of Kumandra and its divided people.

Raya and the Last Dragon debuts Friday, March 5 with a limited theatrical release and on Disney+ as a Premiere Access title (meaning it costs extra). Read on to read what critics are saying and to discover if Disney's newest blockbuster is worth a view (Spoiler alert: it certainly seems like it is).

CinemaBlend’s Dirk Libbey, our resident Disney expert, saw Raya and the Last Dragon and rated it five out of five stars! He praised every aspect of the film, from the “stunning” animation; to the casting of Kelly Marie Tran (who, by the way, is understandably stoked to be a Disney princess), Awkwafina; to the narrative pacing – calling it “near perfect.” Libbey continued, saying:

Inkoo Kang of The Hollywood Reporter notes that Raya and the Last Dragon is a film you’ll desperately wish you could see on the big screen (which, incidentally, you can, just in limited theaters). Kang praised the imagery of the movie, the tributes to Southeast Asian cultures, and the character design. Kang writes,

Justin Chang of the Los Angeles Times praised Raya and the Last Dragon for its representative value, noting that the film is “an ambitious, imperfect stew of cultural inspirations, in which sharp new flavors and textures jostle with flat, derivative ones.” Though Chang comments that the narrative skeleton is somewhat generic and perhaps reminiscent of previous fantasy literature, generic is still entertaining. He says,

Kate Erbland of IndieWire was overall very pleased with the film. She called it “a rich story about acceptance, found families, and the power of trust.” Erbland continued, saying:

Hoai-Tran Bui of SlashFilm was certainly impressed with Raya and the Last Dragon, praising the beautiful animation and the characters, specifically calling Kelly Marie Tran “absolutely perfect” as Raya. However, Bui criticized the tone of the film, calling it uneven. She writes,

Though met with minor criticisms, Raya and the Last Dragon seems to be worth a trip to the theater or the cost of premiere access on Disney+, just based off of what critics are reporting so far. But we'll have to wait until March 5 to see if audiences receive the film positively!

While we wait until Raya and The Last Dragon releases, check out all the other new movies coming out in March, and our full 2021 Release Calendar.

CinemaBlend participates in affiliate programs with various companies. We may earn a commission when you click on or make purchases via links.

It has been difficult for some to find positives with the way the world has been this past year, but things may be looking up for Disney fans: we'll be getting a new Disney princess soon! Not only will we have the new world of Kumandra to dive into in the upcoming Raya and the Last Dragon animated film, but our new Disney princess comes from the Star Wars universe! Kelly Marie Tran, who gained recognition for her role as Rose Tico in the Star Wars franchise, is the voice of our new princess, Raya. Tran has now spoken out about what it feels like to live pretty much every little girl’s dream.

It sounds like Kelly Marie Trans was one of those little girls who dreamed of being a Disney princess, because she’s pretty stoked about her new role. During an interview on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Tran talks about how surreal her new reality is. In the actress’ own words:

It’s likely that her part in the Star Wars franchise, which for a lot of people would be another dream come true, paved the way for Kelly Marie Tran's casting in Raya and the Last Dragon seeing as they are both under the House of Mouse. The parts are not dissimilar, as both characters are strong women, fighting for causes they believe in.

It’s pretty wild that not one but two dreams have come to fruition for Kelly Marie Tran. In the same interview, she speaks on what it feels like to be a part of the two worlds. Here it is in her own words:

Actresses who've played beloved Disney princesses in live-action remakes have spoken out about what a big deal it is to take on those roles, but it’s a little different taking on an entirely new Disney princess role. There’s no telling how the new princess will be received but, if history serves, Raya will soon be in the hearts of moviegoers everywhere.

Kelly Marie Tran's awe of position, however well deserved it may be, is not surprising. Her roles as a Star Wars hero and Disney princess are not to be taken lightly, as they mean so much to so many people. Her hard work is done though, as Raya and the Last Dragon is set to release in a little over a week, and all there is left to do is to enjoy the film with the rest of the world.

Raya and the Last Dragon will be released on March 5, in both theaters and through Premier Access on Disney+, which you can sign up for using this link.

After spending decades as a punchline that the Star Wars franchise has done its best to ignore and hide, the legacy of the infamous Star Wars Holiday Special from 1978 is in the midst of a rescue attempt. Fans laughed last year when Life Day was referenced in the first episode of The Mandalorian, and now there is actually a whole new release available, as the LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special dropped on Disney+ earlier this month.

The voice cast of 45-minute feature even includes a handful of stars from the live-action movies, and last week I learned that it was a project that Kelly Marie Tran – known to many as Rose Tico – loved to be a part of.

The actress is a part of the cast of The Croods: A New Age, which is set to hit theaters this week, and when I had the chance to speak with her over the phone about the film I took the opportunity to ask about being a part of the LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special. I asked what it was like learning about the development of the animated feature and if she was surprised given the original’s notorious reputation. She explained with enthusiasm,

For reasons that aren’t immediately clear, there is a nice long history of meta/self-referential humor in LEGO animation, and, as recognized by Kelly Marie Tran, that is a tradition upheld in the LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special. Not only are there some jabs taken at The Travesty From 1978, but also many moments throughout Star Wars history (which comes easy thanks to time travel being a big part of the plot).

Star Wars as a franchise is generally one that takes itself very seriously, but Kelly Marie Tran feels that the new Holiday Special has a certain license to have fun and let its hair down. She also told us,

The LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special is now available to subscribers on Disney+, and if you’re looking for a double dose of Kelly Marie Tran this week, you can check out The Croods: A New Age in theaters starting today.

The world’s favorite prehistoric family (after the Flintstones, at least) is back in the informally titled The Croods 2, a follow-up to the hit animated film that would also spawn a Netflix-exclusive spin-off series. All the main actors who play the titular kooky cave dwellers, including Emma Stone, are returning to their original roles (as well as a few new, but familiar, names) in the The Croods: A New Age voice cast.

In Dreamworks’ sequel to its 2014 Academy Award nominee for Best Animated Feature, the Croods meet another family who call themselves the Bettermans and appear to be one step above them in the evolutionary plane (or as their frequent boasts claim). Some are delighted to be in the presence of such inventive and unique people, but others feel upstaged by the Darwinian challenges these new acquaintances seem to project, to speak broadly of the plot that is.

Are you curious to learn about who the Croods will meet in this new chapter of their lives? Might you need refresher on who’s who from the original film after you watch The Croods: A New Age, which is now in theaters as of Wednesday, November 25, 2020? We can help in both instances with this in-depth look at the following 11 characters from the Croods sequel and the actors playing them, starting with the most patriarchal of patriarchs, at least in the age of neanderthals.

Nicolas Cage (Grug Crood)

It is funny to see an actor like Nicolas Cage, always craving something fresh to add to his performances, voicing a caveman who prefers to keep things the same as much as possible, which puts him at odds with the Bettermans in The Croods: A New Age. Cage has also lent his voice to films like Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and Teen Titans GO! To the Movies, but Grug Crood is the first animated role that the Oscar-winner has reprised in a sequel.

Catherine Keener (Ugga Crood)

Also known for voicing a role in a recent animated superhero movie (Incredibles 2), two-time Academy Award nominee Catherine Keener is even better known for acclaimed, live action films such as Being John Malkovich and Get Out, to name a few. In The Croods: A New Age, she returns to the role of Grug’s wife Ugga, who learned the value of new ideas in the previous film which, hopefully, helps her get along with the Bettermans.

Emma Stone (Eep Crood)

Once again playing Ugga and Grug’s eldest daughter, Eep, in The Croods: A New Age is Emma Stone, the Oscar-winning star of La La Land, Birdman, and Superbad, her feature film debut. Eep is, essentially, the actress’ biggest animated voice acting to date, having previously played Australian Shepherd Mazie in Marmaduke, Lois Lane on Robot Chicken, London Tipton’s dog Ivana on The Suite Life of Zack & Cody.

Clark Duke (Thunk Crood)

Also making his feature film debut in Superbad and lending his voice to several characters on Robot Chicken was Clark Duke, also know for playing Jacob in the Hot Tub Time Machine movies, Marty in the Kick-Ass movies, and the aptly named Clark on the last two seasons of The Office. He provides the voice of Eep’s younger and more naive brother Thunk, who has, probably, the most enjoyable time living in the environment that the Bettermans have created around them The Croods: A New Age.

Cloris Leachman (Gran Crood)

One of Hollywood’s eldest and most celebrated living legends, with 287 credits to her name dating back to 1947, is Academy Award-winner Cloris Leachman, whom some viewers may know best as Frau Blücher from Young Frankenstein, Mel Brooks’ send-up/sequel of the 1931 horror classic. The 94-year-old has played roles in several animated projects (including A Troll in Central Park, The Iron Giant, and Adventure Time) before The Croods: A New Age, which marks her second time playing Ugga’s mother, Gran.

Ryan Reynolds (Guy Crood)

The Croods’ newest adoptive family member is Guy, who was known to annoy Grug with his inventive instincts and romantic connection with Eep in the first film. It is a fitting characteristic for the young man voiced by Ryan Reynolds, who received a Golden Globe nomination for annoying others in the first Deadpool movie and also voiced the title character of Turbo - another Dreamworks animated film from 2013 about a snail who enters the Indy 500.

Peter Dinklage (Phil Betterman)

Joining the cast of this animated franchise is Peter Dinklage, whose previous voice roles include Mighty Eagle in The Angry Birds Movie and its 2019 sequel, Captain Gutt in Ice Age: Continental Drift, and even his Game of Thrones character Tyrion Lannister in the Telltale Games adaptation of the series. He plays Phill Betterman in The Croods: A New Age, the patriarch of a family who claim to be a “better” than the titular cave dwellers.

Leslie Mann (Hope Betterman)

Playing Phil’s wife, Hope Betterman, in The Croods: A New Age is Leslie Mann, which is not much of a stretch for the actress whose real-life husband is filmmaker Judd Apatow. Mann is used to playing the Mrs. to immature men, such as in Knocked Up and This Is 40 (both of which saw her married to Paul Rudd), The Change-Up (in which she was, technically, married to both Ryan Reynolds and Jason Bateman), and George of the Jungle, in which she fell in love with Brendan Fraser as a man raised by apes.

Kelly Marie Tran (Dawn Betterman)

Phil and Hope’s daughter, Dawn Betterman, really hits it off with Eep when the two families meet in The Croods: A New Age. The young lady is voiced by Kelly Marie Tran, who also voices the title role of Disney’s upcoming fantasy film Raya and the Last Dragon, but her best-known role to date is Rose Tico from the previous two films of the Skywalker Saga, but more prominently in Star Wars: The Last Jedi.

Randy Thorn (Sandy Crood)

Despite how much of a scene-stealer Sandy is, you might not recognize the man who plays the youngest member of the Croods, Randy Thorn, by name. That is because, despite lending his voice to several other animated classics (most notably playing Toothless in How to Train Your Dragon 2), he is also the sound designer for both The Croods movies, which is his primary job in Hollywood and has earned him two Oscars (for 1984’s The Right Stuff and The Incredibles).

Chris Sanders (Belt)

You may not also recognize Chris Sanders, the man who plays Guy’s pet sloth, named Belt for how he spends much of his time wrapped around his human companion’s waist. Sanders has also voiced a few memorable animated characters, such as lovable alien from Lilo & Stitch, but his main objective on that Disney film (as well as on How To Train Your Dragon, the first Croods film, and the live action The Call of the Wild, more recently) is directing.

What do you think? Do you find Belt more adorable than ever now that you know he has the same voice as Stitch, or are you a bigger fan of him as a director? Let us know in the comments and be sure to check back for additional information and updates on The Croods: A New Age, as well as even more inside looks into the cast members of your favorite movies and TV shows, here on CinemaBlend.

Blockbuster animated movies frequently employ massive A-lister casts these days – a trend that launched with Robin Williams’ hailed performance in Aladdin – but what you may not realize is that these performers don’t get a lot of opportunities to actually mingle while the film is being made. Recording sessions are usually done independently for scheduling purposes, and dialogue is all synced in post. Group recording sessions do happen, but they’ve become rare.

The Croods: A New Age is a perfect example. The film’s cast is overloaded with talented actors, but it’s now just a few days away from its theatrical release, and Kelly Marie Tran is still “dying” to meet just about everyone in the ensemble – especially Nicolas Cage.

It’s typical that the cast of a blockbuster animated movie may not get together until the press days and/or the premiere, but the pandemic has taken away those opportunities during the run up to the release of The Croods sequel. As such, when I spoke with Kelly Marie Tran on the phone last week and asked about who in the ensemble she has met, the list turned out to be pretty short. Said the actress,

As fans will remember, the first Croods movie featured an awesome group of stars – including not only Nicolas Cage and Emma Stone, but also Ryan Reynolds, Catherine Keener, Cloris Leachman, and Clark Duke – and The Croods: A New Age goes even bigger. Kelly Marie Tran plays a new character named Dawn Betterman, and her parents, Hope and Phil Betterman, are voiced by the great Leslie Mann and Peter Dinkage.

Though she has had the experience of being in not one, but two Star Wars movies, Tran still geeked out about her Croods co-stars, and made it clear that she would love to meet all of them – be it by working together on another project, or just having a post-release cast dinner:

The Croods: A New Age is arriving in theaters just in time for Thanksgiving, and will be available in digital release next month. Stay tuned here on CinemaBlend for more about the film, and more from my interview with Kelly Marie Tran!

Stepping on to a movie set can be an incredible transportive experience. Sure, the reality is broken a little bit by the all of the filmmaking equipment and the people milling around in normal clothes, but special production design can easily whisk away your imagination and let you see yourself in a whole new world. One person who can tell you all about such an experience is Kelly Marie Tran, star of Star Wars: The Last Jedi and Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker, and it was actually something that she was able to implement into her performance in her newest movie, The Croods: A New Age.

With the animated sequel set to arrive in theaters in time for the Thanksgiving holiday, I had the wonderful pleasure of hopping on the phone with Kelly Marie Tran to talk her role and performance. In the movie she plays Dawn Betterman, a teenage girl who has spent her entire life sheltered from the dangers of the world behind a wall built by her parents (Leslie Mann, Peter Dinklage). When Emma Stone’s Eep comes along, she inspires Dawn to live a bit more dangerously, and it was while performing scenes where the character is exposed to the outside world that Tran reflected on her time as Rose Tico in the Star Wars universe. Said the actress,

Obviously that’s not a specific experience that everybody can directly relate to, but it certainly is one that everybody can understand. Prior to being cast by Rian Johnson in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Kelly Marie Tran’s credits primarily consisted of roles on episodes of various television shows and short-lived series, but being cast in Star Wars opened her life up to a whole new world – and that was something she could tap into when bringing Dawn to life for The Croods: A New Age.

Continuing, the actor explained that she really didn’t have to stretch too far in general when it came to playing the character, but that allowed her to feel a particular bond with her and deliver more for her performance. Said Tran,

Directed by Joel Crawford, The Croods: A New Age has a voice cast bursting at the seams with talent, as Kelly Marie Tran, Leslie Mann, Peter Dinklage, and Emma Stone are included on a cast list that also includes Nicolas Cage, Catherine Keener, Ryan Reynolds, Clark Duke, and Cloris Leachman. The film is hitting theaters this week – specifically on Wednesday, November 25 – and will be arriving on VOD in mid-December.

For the longest time, the 1978 Star Wars Holiday Special was seen as one of the strangest and most divisive additions to the franchise. And while the LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special does involve some pretty out there scenarios (Rey traveling back in time, Emperor Palpatine trying to change the future, the Max Rebo Band), the new Disney+ offering is a lot of fun to share with the whole family.

This is thanks in part to the stellar voice cast, which includes some returning Star Wars greats from the main movies as well as voice actors who made their mark on various animated series and video games from the iconic pop culture staple. If you are in the camp that was wondering who was voicing who throughout the LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special and want to be totally sure, you've come to the right place. Here's the voice cast of the latest LEGO Star Wars special and where you've seen, err, heard them before.

Kelly Marie Tran - Rose Tico

Your ears weren't playing tricks on you while watching the LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special, that is Kelly Marie Tran reprising her role of Rose Tico in the Disney+ special. Tran, who first played the Resistance mechanic-turned-hero in Star Wars: The Last Jedi and then again in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, is front and center throughout the animated title as she helps with Life Day celebrations with her old gang. And admittedly, it's great to see the actress back in the role, especially when it seemed like she wouldn't return to the franchise following backlash from fans following her 2017 debut.

Billy Dee Williams - Lando Calrissian

The great Billy Dee Williams is the second of three familiar Star Wars names who returned for the new holiday special. Williams, who became an international (or intergalactic) superstar with his appearance as the dashing and dastardly Lando Calrissian in The Empire Strikes Back and again in Return of the Jedi. Following a 30-year absence from the franchise (but not the public eye), Williams first reprised his famous character in 2014's The Lego Movie, and then again in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.

Anthony Daniels - C-3PO

Anthony Daniels, who returns as C-3PO in the LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special, had some blunt words about the the original holiday special, which was released 42 years ago today, when discussing the latest Disney+ offering with CinemaBlend, but the veteran actor gives it his all as the iconic protocol droid constantly in the middle of the galaxy's fiercest battles. Daniels has appeared in multiple LEGO Star Wars titles over the years, and even appeared alongside Billy Dee Williams in 2014's The Lego Movie.

Helen Sadler - Rey

Even though it sounds like Daisy Ridley once again brought Rey to life in the LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special, it is actually Helen Sadler voicing Emperor Palpatine's granddaughter in the Disney+ title. Sadler, who has appeared in small roles on shows like True Blood and NCIS over the years, is no stranger to the Star Wars universe, as she previously voiced Rey on LEGO Star Wars: The Resistance Rises and Jyn Erso on Star Wars: Forces of Destiny. Sadler has also provided her voice for multiple Star Wars video games over the years, including Star Wars: Battlefront II.

Jake Green - Poe Dameron

If you thought that was Oscar Isaac returning as Poe Dameron in the LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special, I'm afraid to tell you that it is actually long-time voice actor Jake Green as the cocky Resistance fighter. Green, who has provided his voice for a number of games including Spider-Man: Miles Morales and The Last of Us Part II, has also appeared on shows like Veronica Mars, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and Grey's Anatomy over the years.

Omar Miller - Finn

Just like with Rey and Poe, Finn isn't voiced by his original actor, John Boyega, but instead by the talented Omar Miler in the LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special. In addition to being the voice of Raphael, aka Raph, in Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and appearing in the live-action CBS comedy The Unicorn, Miller has spent much of the past 18 years showing up in movies like 8 Mile, Miracle at St. Anna, and The Sorcerer's Apprentice, but he is probably best remembered for his portrayal of Walter Simmons on CSI: Miami or Charles Greene on Ballers.

Trevor Devall - Emperor Palpatine

The strangely humorous, but nonetheless menacing Emperor Palpatine is voiced by veteran voice actor and podcaster Trevor Devall in the LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special, a role he has served multiple times over the years. This is the fourth Star Wars animated title that has included Devall's voice as the one behind the Sith Lord and perennial thorn in the side of the entire galaxy. Other appearances by Devall's Palpatine include Lego Star Wars: Droid Tales, Lego Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures, and Lego Star Wars: The Yoda Chronicles. Devall has also voiced characters like Rocket Raccoon and Steve Rogers over the years as well.

Matthew Wood - Kylo Ren

The list of voice actors reprising some of their most famous roles in the LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special doesn't stop with Trevor Devall's Emperor Palpatine as Matthew Wood once again voiced Kylo Ren in the Disney+ special. Wood previously appeared as the First Order's Supreme Leader on Star Wars Resistance and Lego Star Wars: All-Stars. He has also provided voice work for Star Wars properties going back to 1999's Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace, and has appeared in every theatrical release since then. His biggest role was in 2005's Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith, in which he voiced General Grievous.

Matt Sloan - Darth Vader

James Earl Jones will always be THE voice of Darth Vader, but there is no one who has taken on the role of the fallen Jedi more times than Matt Sloan. Including the LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special, Sloan has voiced Vader no fewer than a dozen times, including Star Wars: The Force Unleashed and its sequel, The Force Unleashed II, Star Wars Battlefront II, and LEGO Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Out and LEGO Star Wars: The Yoda Chronicles.

Matt Lanter - Anakin Skywalker

Matt Lanter is another member of the LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special cast who reprises a role they made famous in the past. In the new Disney+ special, Lanter appears once again as Anakin Skywalker, a character he voiced on Star Wars: The Clone Wars (both the movie and subsequent animated television series) starting in 2008. In addition to The Clone Wars, Lanter has voiced Anakin on Star Wars Rebels and Star Wars Forces of Destiny as well as multiple video games ties to the franchise, including Star Wars Battlefront II.

Tom Kane - Qui-Gon Jinn / Yoda

Tom Kane pulls double-duty in the LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special as Yoda and Qui-Gon Jinn, two roles he's voiced in the past. The new Disney+ title is only the second time Kane has voiced the Jedi knight who found Anakin Skywalker, but the number of times he has appeared as the ancient Jedi master is in the dozens at this point. This includes video games like Star Wars Pinball, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, and Star Wars Episode I: Jedi Power Battles, as well as shows like Lego Star Wars: The Padawan Menace, The Clone Wars, and Star Wars Forces of Destiny. Kane also voiced Admiral Ackbar in the first two Sequel Trilogy movies.

James Arnold Taylor - Obi-Wan Kenobi

James Arnold Tayor is no stranger to Star Wars animated projects, especially as Obi-Wan Kenobi, and so it should come as no surprise that he once again lent his voice talents to the LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special. Taylor's previous appearances include Star Wars Rebels, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, and multiple video game adaptations over the years.

Dee Bradley Baker - Clone Trooper

And then there is Dee Bradley Baker, who once again voices various Clone Troopers in the LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special, something the veteran voice actor has been doing since the 2008 premiere of the Star Wars: The Clone Wars movie. Besides Star Wars, Baker has also voiced Daffy Duck and other characters in Space Jam and other Looney Tunes projects over the years.

That catches us up with the different characters and their voice actors in the LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special. Did you enjoy the new Disney+ title more than the 1978 original? Let us know in the comments below.

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Star Wars is one of the most iconic franchises of all time, with entire generations of moviegoers brought up on the galaxy far, far away. The nine-film Skywalker Saga ended last December with J.J. Abrams' The Rise of Skywalker, which also marked the end of actors' tenure in the MCU. But it turns out that Kelly Marie Tran will actually reprise her role as Rose Tico in another Star Wars project, alongside some beloved icons from the property.

Kelly Marie Tran made her Star Wars debut in The Last Jedi, with Rose Tico going on an adventure with Finn on Canto Bight. The character had far less screen time in The Rise of Skywalker, partly due to deleted scenes featuring Carrie Fisher's Leia. But it turns out that more of Tran's Rose will appear in Disney+'s upcoming LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special.

Disney+ has become the home for all things Star Wars, including the The Mandalorian. This trend will continue with LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special, which is set to arrive on the streaming service next month. The new animated short will focus on the sequel characters including Finn, Rose, Poe as they celebrate a holiday within the Star Wars universe. Meanwhile, Rey will departs for a Jedi temple that will reveal the events of the first two trilogies.

Kelly Marie Tran is joined by some iconic Star Wars talent for Disney+'s upcoming holiday special, including Billy Dee Williams and Anthony Daniels who are playing Lando and C-3PO respectively. The rest of the voice cast includes Tom Kane, James Arnold Taylor, and Dee Bradley Baker, all of whom voiced characters in the Clone Wars animated series.

The Skywalker Saga is currently streaming its entirety on Disney+, which will be the eventual home of the LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special. You can use this link to sign up for the streaming service.

Disney+ also shared the poster for LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special along with this announcement. While the cast isn't returning in live-action, it's exciting that the upcoming special will feature so many familiar voices. The poster itself is delightful, because who doesn't love LEGOs?

News of the LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special is sure to be surprising given the franchise's history. Hardcore fans will remember the infamous 1978 live-action event Star Wars Holiday Special, which featured the trio of original heroes alongside Chewbacca in a campy and over the top 98-minutes. The special has been the butt of countless jokes throughout the years, so we'll have to see if the LEGO special pokes fun at the original.

News of Kelly Marie Tran's return to the Star Wars franchise might be surprising, considering how unique her journey through the galaxy far, far away has been. Following Rose Tico's Last Jedi debut, Tran became the subject of intense online bullying, eventually resulting in her departure from social media. Fans eventually came to her support, and took umbrage with Rose's very limited role in The Rise of Skywalker. But now fans will get more of the maintenance worker turned Resistance Leader, this time in LEGO form.

The LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special is expected to arrive on Disney+ on November 17th. In the meantime, check out our 2020 release list to plan your next movie experience.

Following the controversial end of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, the franchise is taking a bit of a hiatus before another feature comes out. Still, one thing fans have been wanting is a return to Rose Tico played by Kelly Marie Tran. Now, she’s responded to the possibility of her making a return as the character.

Rose Tico played a prominent role in Rian Johnson’s Star Wars: The Last Jedi, forming a strong connection with Finn, John Boyega’s character. Her character’s role was noticeably reduced in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, and her experience with the franchise's fans has been rocky. So when asked by Collider if she would return, here’s what Kelly Marie Tran had to say:

There’s obviously a couple of ways Rose Tico could return to Star Wars, including having her appear in a future Star Wars movie. One popular idea, though, is to give her a TV series on Disney+ like The Mandalorian, perhaps following her and her sister’s early days in the Resistance or her career after the events of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.

The Disney+ idea has grabbed the attention of some filmmakers, notably the Crazy Rich Asians director John M. Chu. He went to Twitter last year to announce his interest in taking on that project himself, saying, “Put me in coach. Let me make this series happen.” Though, you’ll want to temper your excitement, as there hasn’t been any other developments on that front.

Regardless, Rose Tico coming back would ultimately fall back on Kelly Marie Tran’s interest, and you get the impression she’s not chomping at the bit to return, which makes a lot of sense. Her character didn’t sit well with some Star Wars fans after The Last Jedi, and they harassed her so much on social media that she quit all the platforms entirely.

On top of that, her role was significantly reduced in The Rise of Skywalker to 1 minute and 16 seconds in the 2 hours and 35-minute runtime. This unfortunate fact was met with considerable ire from other Star Wars fans, hoping to see more of her character, but it likely stung the actress most of all.

Whether or not she decides to return, the prospect of her coming back is always a welcome one. I, for one, would be on board to see where her journey takes her next. For more movie news, be sure to stay tuned to CinemaBlend.

There’s no denying the impact that social media has on our lives. While digital platforms give us a way to communicate with people all around the world, they can also become ground zero for some pretty negative behavior. That’s something Star Wars star Kelly Marie Tran knows all too well -- in fact, the bullying she faced in the months after The Last Jedi was so extreme that she ended up leaving social media altogether. Now she’s reflecting on that decision and offering advice for others on how to navigate the digital world.

In 2017, Kelly Marie Tran made history as the first Asian-American woman to star in a Star Wars movie. However, her character, Rose Tico, proved to be divisive for some fans of the franchise, and they aired their grievances on platforms like Instagram and Twitter -- often engaging with her directly to make their displeasure known.

The harassment took a toll on her mental health and eventually, led the actress to delete all of her social media accounts in 2018. The move prompted some of her Star Wars co-stars to speak up on her behalf and caution fans against toxic behavior.

Though stepping away from social media meant losing a way to interact with fans and promote her career, Kelly Marie Tran told Entertainment Tonight that doesn’t regret her decision at all:

Kelly Marie Tran makes a good point - it's never a bad idea for anyone to take a step back and examine how they’re interacting with the world, either online or IRL. If you find yourself engaging in a way that feels unhealthy, it is possible to limit your time on social media or stop using it entirely. It’s good to know she hasn’t had second thoughts about her own choice.

Despite her own lack of presence on social media, Kelly Marie Tran’s fans still have her back online. When Rose Tico wound up with notably reduced screen time in The Rise of Skywalker, fans online were quick to call it out and demand better for the character. The backlash was enough to warrant a response from one of the film’s writers -- and eventually Kelly Marie Tran herself.

These days, the actress has plenty to keep her busy. She is slated to star in Disney’s Raya And The Last Dragon and will also appear in Hulu’s upcoming anthology TV series, Monsterland.

Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker may have been burdened with wrapping up the storylines of countless characters within George Lucas’ galaxy far, far away, but looking ahead the massive blockbuster also gave way for its newcomer stars to launch exciting careers at lightspeed after Episode IX. For instance, Kelly Marie Tran is now on her way to Disney animation royalty in the studio’s upcoming release Raya and the Last Dragon.

The animated movie announced at last summer’s D23 already features Crazy Rich Asians’ Awkwafina alongside the record-breaking romantic comedy’s co-writer Adele Lim. Disney has now revealed that the Rose Tico actress will play the lead Raya, replacing Degrassi actress Cassie Steele in the voice role. Raya and the Last Dragon is currently conducting its production remotely, with its animation reportedly 50 percent underway ahead of its 2021 release.

31-year-old Kelly Marie Tran is making history as she becomes the first Southeast Asian actress to receive top-billing in a Disney movie. The fantasy epic centers on her Raya, the daughter of the chief of the fictional kingdom Kumandra – she must leave her home behind, alongside her armadillo-bear sidekick Tuk Tuk, to find the last living dragon, played by Awkwafina’s Sisu. Tran spoke about her Disney character to EW with these words:

One of Raya and the Last Dragon’s directors Don Hall called the upcoming release the “most beautiful animated film I’ve ever seen,” following his work on Moana and Big Hero 6. The filmmakers also including Carlos López Estrada, Paul Briggs and Dean Wellins promise high-octane action sequences, comedy and heartfelt moments. Here’s how López Estrada described Kelly Marie Tran’s Raya audition:

The Star Wars actress impressed the Disney filmmakers with her comedic timing, but also her abandon to the film’s emotion, that will somehow reflect the current state of the world, per the directors. López Estrada also hyped up Tran’s role by describing one scene they changed during production thanks to her work on the film with this anecdote:

Although the animated project has been in the works at Disney for years, production really began rolling in March, just as the COVID-19 pandemic was shutting down other projects from the studio. Raya and the Last Dragon has been able to functionally be produced through video calls and remote work. The movie was originally expected for this November, but has since shifted to its current release date on March 12, 2021.

Disney also announced today that the official release date for next summer’s Pixar movie, Luca will hit theaters on June 18, 2021 along with confirming other theatrical dates. Stay tuned here on CinemaBlend for more movie news.

Kelly Marie Tran massively broke onto Hollywood’s radar, originating the role of Rose Tico in Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Three years after that movie premiered in 2017 and months after the controversy surrounding Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Tran has a new TV project lined up, which also stars Kaitlyn Dever.

THR reports that Kelly Marie Tran has signed on for Monsterland, the upcoming horror anthology for Hulu. Tran will star in the episode “Iron River, MI.” Each episode covers a different story from Nathan Ballingrud, so Tran will, unfortunately, not co-star with Kaitlyn Dever in the series. As its title suggests, Monsterland centers around “monsters.”

As the official description explains, not necessarily a monster, but creatures outside of the usual realm. These include mermaids and fallen angels, along with “strange beasts.” It is unclear which of those Kelly Marie Tran will encounter for her episode of Monsterland, though. Does the episode taking place on a river indicate potential mermaid activity?

I am not entirely familiar with mermaids roaming rivers. In popular lore, they can usually be found in the ocean. That is not to say  that Monsterland cannot shake things up. In Kelly Marie Tran’s episode, she will play Lauren, a small-town Michigan native returning to said town for her wedding.

No mermaids yet, but, wait for it. Kelly Marie Tran’s Lauren is said to have built a new life for herself after a pretty traumatic event, which happened when she and her best friend, Elena, were sixteen and Elena disappeared. But, what may sound like a case for Unsolved Mysteries, will see other intrigues manifest.

My current guess is that Elena being sixteen may have triggered her inner mermaid, and she had to take to the river to survive. Perhaps it happened too quickly for her to tell Kelly Marie Tran’s Lauren where she was going and why. Of course, Monsterland will be the best source to figure out whether my theory is true or not.

Kaitlyn Dever’s Monsterland episode finds her playing Toni, a Louisiana waitress and single mother to a troubled young daughter, and will see Toni get tangled up with a suspicious guy. So, clearly, that is an entirely different episode from Kelly Marie Tran’s. For now, it is not the team-up some fans might have hoped for between Tran and Dever.

The role is not Kelly Marie Tran’s first in television. She also had Facebook’s two-season drama, Sorry for Your Loss. This is exciting news for fans of the actress, who were incredibly disappointed with her screen time in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Following the controversy, there was hope that Tran would come to TV in a Star Wars-related capacity.

Crazy Rich Asians’ Jon M. Chu had publicly backed the idea of Kelly Marie Tran headlining a Rose Tico TV show for Disney+. So keep hope alive that such a show can happen. In the meantime, there is also a desire for Tran to join that Knives Out sequel.

Whatever happens with that or a Rose Tico TV show, fans can look forward to catching Kelly Marie Tran in an intriguing-sounding episode of Monsterland. At least, it sounds that way to me. A premiere date for Monsterland is still pending, but when it is released, it will bow on Hulu. For what to watch while you wait for Monsterland to arrive, check out this fall’s premieres.

And just like that the galaxy is far, far away again. It’s been a whirlwind five years for Star Wars fans watching the Skywalker Saga return with 2015’s The Force Awakens and then find an epic conclusion with the recent release of The Rise of Skywalker. Episode IX answered the trilogy’s questions and offered closure to over 40 years of the saga’s storytelling. It’s still a shocker that Rise of Skywalker was really the end, but each of the cast members do have some exciting projects ahead to look forward to.

Curious about what The Rise of Skywalker cast is doing now that the high-profile trilogy is over? It’s time to explore what’s next in their careers following the Star Wars conclusion.

Daisy Ridley (Rey)

When Daisy Ridley’s Rey first donned those iconic buns in The Force Awakens, it was the British actresses’ first movie role ever. Now Ridley’s one of the most sought-after stars in Hollywood and has plenty of new roles for fans to look forward to. She will be paired up with MCU’s Spider-Man Tom Holland for the long-awaited Chaos Walking. The dystopian book adaptation was originally set to be released back in 2019 but it was reportedly “deemed unreleasable”. Due to fan demand it’s now coming in January 2021. Ridley will team up with JJ Abrams once again for the fantasy thriller Kolma, to play World War II spy Virginia Hall in A Woman of No Importance and she will also narrate an IMAX original docu-film called Asteroid Hunters.

Adam Driver (Kylo Ren)

Even with his last appearance as Han Solo and Leia’s Kylo Ren put aside, Adam Driver had a massive 2019. He was in three other movies: The Report, The Dead Don’t Die and his Oscar-nominated role in Marriage Story. You’d think he’d take a break but Driver has two more movies in the works right now. He’ll play a standup comedian alongside Marion Cotillard, who will play his opera singer wife in the musical Annette. The couple finds out that their two-year-old has a unique gift. Also, he’ll be in Ben Affleck and Matt Damon’s latest writing collaboration The Last Duel. The medieval-set drama will be directed by Ridley Scott and star Affleck, Damon and Killing Eve’s Jodie Comer.

John Boyega (Finn)

The new trilogy’s Finn may have had a cryptic ending in Rise of Skywalker, but fans of John Boyega can look forward to some intriguing roles from the actor coming up. His next movie is called Naked Singularity which is a crime drama about the unraveling of a New York public defender after losing his first case. Olivia Cooke, Ed Skrein and Bill Skarsgard will also star. Boyega will also be in 12 Years A Slave director Steve McQueen’s upcoming BBC series Small Axe. The series will be about the real-life experiences of London’s West Indian between 1969 and 1982 and the Star Wars star will have a lead role in the fourth episode. He has also signed on to a Netflix thriller called Rebel Ridge from the director of the underrated horror film, Green Room.

Oscar Isaac (Poe Dameron)

Much of the Star Wars cast is steering away from anything like their most beloved roles after Rise of Skywalker, but the Poe Dameron is piloting toward it. Oscar Isaac is set to be in “Star Wars for adults” book adaptation Dune directed by Arrival and Blade Runner 2049’s Denis Villenueve. He will play Timothée Chalamet’s father Duke Leto Atreides in the star-studded epic. The actor will also be in a dark comedy called Big Gold Brick alongside Andy Garcia, Megan Fox, Lucy Hale. Isaac will also play Willam Tale in a movie called The Card Counter with Willem Dafoe, Tiffany Haddish and Tye Sheridan also on board.

Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker)

Mark Hamill has been the central character to the Skywalker Saga for some time, but between the time he began his journey and returned to Luke with this new trilogy he has also made a name for himself in the world of voiceover. He’s famously been the animated Joker and following Rise of Skywalker the actor will delve deeper into voice work with four new projects. He’s going to play Skeletor in Netflix’s reboot of Master of the Universe, he’s a part of the animated TV show adaptation of the Image Comic Invincible with the likes of Steven Yeun, J.K. Simmons, Sandra Oh, Seth Rogen and he’ll have a voice role in the video game Squadron 42.

Domhnall Gleeson (General Hux)

So in the grand scheme of things Domhnall Gleeson wasn’t a huge player in Rise of Skywalker. He’s almost in the comedic relief of the Dark Side in the new trilogy. But, the actor has riches of talent to share outside of Star Wars and he’ll certainly do so in the near future. Coming up on April 12, he will be starring in the new HBO series Run with Merritt Wever and Phoebe Waller-Bridge. The rom-com thriller is about a pair of college exes who reunite 17 years later to fulfill their pact to disappear together. Gleeson will also reprise his role as Thomas McGregor in Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway… sensing a “runaway” theme here.

Kelly Marie Tran (Rose Tico)

Unfortunately, much of Kelly Marie Tran’s legacy in Star Wars is clouded by controversy – first due to all the internet hate she got for being in The Last Jedi and then more after Skywalker when she was only in it for 1 minute and 16 seconds. Moving forward from Rose Tico, Tran is also following the voiceover route with two high profile roles. The actress will be a character named Val Little in Disney+’s Monsters Inc TV spinoff Monsters At Work. She’s also going to play a character in The Croods 2 coming at the end of the year amongst a cast including Ryan Reynolds, Nicolas Cage, Emma Stone and Peter Dinklage.

Billie Lourd (Lieutenant Connix)

Billie Lourd is the daughter of the late Carrie Fisher and has played the supporting role of Lieutenant Connix in the new Star Wars trilogy. The Force Awakens was her first acting role ever and she’s since become a familiar name in Hollywood. The actress really showed off her chops in Scream Queens and of course as the iconic character of Gigi in Olivia Wilde’s Booksmart. Lourd has also joined Ryan Murphy’s anthology American Horror Story in Cult, Apocalypse and 1984. Billie has been announced to be among the cast of the tenth season of American Horror Story with Kathy Bates, Evan Peters, Finn Wittrock and Home Alone’s Macaulay Culkin.

Lupita Nyong’o (Maz Kanata)

We may never see the above lovable humanoid anytime soon now that the Skywalker Saga is over, but the performance behind her Oscar-winner Lupita Nyong’o certainly isn’t going anywhere. The Black Panther actress is set to be one of the badass female agents in 355 coming next year with Jessica Chastain, Diane Kruger, Penelope Cruz and Sebastian Stan. Nyong’o will also be the lead in an upcoming HBO Max series Americanah which tells the story of a young Nigerian couple who face struggles as American immigrants. We of course also hope to see her reprise her role as Nakia in Black Panther 2.

Naomi Ackie (Jannah)

There wasn’t enough Naomi Ackie in Rise of Skywalker. Her role of Jannah brought some background to Finn’s past. She’s a fairly new actress that hasn’t had a ton of notable roles just yet. Ackie did have a role in Netflix’s The End of the Fucking World. The actress has previously been part of headlines for her involvement in the Game of Thrones prequel series called Bloodmoon. It was set 8000 years before the events of the hit television show and a pilot was shot, but it received negative reception by HBO and was effectively cancelled. Ackie is going to be in a movie called The Score which is about “small time crook” characters played by Will Poulter and Johnny Flynn who drive to a cafe to nab a big score.

Harrison Ford (Han Solo)

Harrison Ford’s role in Rise of Skywalker wasn’t much more than a cameo, but he was in the movie and he’s Han Solo, so of course he’s found a place on this list. The future of Ford’s career after Star Wars is interesting because next he’s going back to another famed role of his: Indiana Jones. The actor is signed on to star in Indiana Jones 5 and continue Lucasfilm’s plan to expand its well-known franchises. It was recently announced that Steven Spielberg is no longer directing and James Mangold will be reportedly helming instead. He’s also set to star in a television show called The Staircase which is an adaptation of the docuseries about a man who claims his wife died by falling down a flight of stairs but he’s suspected to be her murderer.

Who out of the Rise of Skywalker cast are you most excited to follow after the end of the Skywalker Saga? Sound off in the comments below.

Warning: SPOILERS for Knives Out ahead!

Before Knives Out even hit theaters, writer-director Rian Johnson was entertaining the idea of a sequel. The director seemingly had such a great time making the whodunnit and working with Daniel Craig that he envisioned bringing the actor's private investigator character, Benoit Blanc, back for an all-new mystery. After Knives Out released to critical acclaim and a phenomenal box office performance, development began on a sequel. Now it’s official: Knives Out 2 is happening.

But rather than bring back the Thrombey family and continue that story, Rian Johnson is taking a page out of Agatha Christie’s book, and Knives Out 2 will feature an all new mystery, setting and cast, save for Daniel Craig’s Benoit Blanc, the Hercule Poirot of this burgeoning mystery franchise. At the Oscars, Johnson said, “all bets are off” when it comes to casting for the sequel, and that he wants everybody, gesturing to the luminaries walking the red carpet.

With that in mind, it’s worth trying to fancast some possible suspects who Benoit Blanc will have his eye on in Knives Out 2. The first film featured an all-star ensemble of talented actors, established veterans and up-and-comers, and I expect the sequel to do the same. Since we don’t know what the story or mystery will be, I’m casting in a similar way as the first film, with actors of all ages, knowing that what Rian Johnson has planned may call for something entirely different.

Here are 12 possible suspects for Daniel Craig’s next case.

Emma Watson

Any of the Little Women stars would be a fine addition for Knives Out 2, but I’d like to see Emma Watson as a suspect in Rian Johnson’s next mystery. The Harry Potter actress seems to be very choosy with her movie roles following her decade-long stint as Hermione Granger, and as such, there are still various kinds of movies and characters we have yet to see her tackle.

Emma Watson doesn’t usually play the kind of character who would be a murder suspect, and that would make her casting fun, even if her character were ultimately innocent. I can see her playing a rich socialite brat who is an immediate suspect, or a character who finds herself in the wrong place at the wrong time and isn’t guilty, but isn’t entirely innocent either.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Joseph Gordon-Levitt has been in every Rian Johnson movie since the director’s debut with 2005’s Brick, but we haven’t seen him onscreen in a Johnson movie since Looper. In Knives Out, he provided a voiceover cameo at the beginning of the movie as Detective Hardrock. But as far as I’m concerned, that doesn’t count, so Gordon-Levitt can play a brand new character who takes part in Knives Out 2. It’s time for a proper reunion between this actor-director duo.

We’ve seen JGL play all kinds of different characters, and given that range, I could see him as an outwardly upstanding guy, the kind you’d never suspect or a total sleaze-bag, like Chris Evans’ character Ransom in the first film. Either way, hopefully we get to see him onscreen this time around.

Cynthia Erivo

If the Knives Out sequel is looking to add talent, it would get an outsized amount of it by casting Cynthia Erivo. The actress, who will be an EGOT sooner rather than later, is absurdly talented and has shown it in films such as Widows, Bad Times at the El Royale and Harriet, playing very different characters. Right now, she can be seen playing a quirky private investigator of her own in HBO’s immensely creepy The Outsider.

Given her role in The Outsider, Cynthia Erivo may not want to do another mystery, but Knives Out is tonally completely different, so maybe she would feel it’s enough of a contrast to come aboard the sequel. Although I could see her as part of the investigation, it might be more interesting to see her as a suspect. Really, this is just a pick based on the rising star's immense talent. It doesn't even matter who she plays.

Colin Farrell

When it comes to being a supporting player in an ensemble, you won’t find many better than Colin Farrell. The actor, who just starred in Guy Ritchie’s The Gentlemen, excels at playing wild and entertaining characters surrounded by a stellar cast. Knives Out 2 provides just such an opportunity for Colin Farrell to prove how underrated he is once again.

The actor is currently working on The Batman, where he plays The Penguin and there will be no question about his guilt or innocence. In Knives Out 2, I could see him doing what he does so well, playing a quirky character where he gets to chew a massive amount of scenery. Or he could go deadly serious, which he's also quite capable of doing. Either way, watching Daniel Craig chase Colin Farrell is too good an opportunity to pass up.

Thomasin McKenzie

The first Knives Out featured young actor Jaeden Martell, and it would be great if the sequel gave another young up-and-comer some time to shine. Someone who is really making a name for herself is actress Thomasin McKenzie. She has been acting for close to a decade now, but she really broke out recently with 2018’s Leave No Trace and last year’s Jojo Rabbit. She was heartbreaking as a young Jewish girl in hiding in Taika Waititi’s film.

That role had some humor, but a spot in the Knives Out 2 cast should allow for something different from Thomasin McKenzie than what we saw in the two aforementioned films. I wouldn’t expect her to be an alt-right troll like Jaeden Martell was in the first movie, but a part as the troublesome or precocious daughter of one of the more likely suspects sounds about right.

Tom Hanks

Hey, why not go big, right? One of the most delightful performances in Knives Out was that of Chris Evans. Coming off his long stint as quintessential Boy Scout Steve Rogers in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Chris Evans played the sweater-wearing scumbag Ransom Thrombey in Rian Johnson’s whodunit. And spoiler alert, he dunnit. Knives Out 2 could feature a similar bit of casting where an actor plays against type to entertaining effect.

Tom Hanks is the Hollywood everyman, the ultimate good guy. I mean, he just got done playing Mister Rogers for goodness’ sake! So he would be a great addition to Knives Out 2 as the polar opposite of that. Let’s see him play a total dick here. He doesn’t have to be the villain, just a despicable character.

Kelly Marie Tran

While he was doing press for Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Rian Johnson could not stop singing the praises of actress Kelly Marie Tran and how much he loved the character of Rose Tico in the film. Rose’s outing in a galaxy far, far away may not have been as memorable as Johnson's enthusiasm indicated, but that is in no way reflective of Kelly Marie Tran’s acting chops.

The actress deserves another film without the baggage of Star Wars, and given the great experience they had working together on The Last Jedi, one imagines Johnson would love to have her in Knives Out 2. She would be a great addition, perhaps as a character like Ana de Armas’ Marta, caught up in something she never intended and looking mighty guilty.

Pedro Pascal

Pedro Pascal will play the villainous Maxwell Lord in this summer’s Wonder Woman 1984, and it would be fun to see him as another nefarious character in Rian Johnson’s next whodunnit. When he played the Red Viper on Game of Thrones, every scene he was in, no matter his scene partner, crackled with intensity and magnetism. Pedro Pascal excelled in that ensemble environment and could do so again in Knives Out 2.

Pedro Pascal has ‘mysterious character’ down pat, and he’d surely be an immediate suspect for whatever crime Benoit Blanc has to investigate in the Knives Out sequel. Watching The Mandalorian actor in a chess match with Daniel Craig would be an absolute blast.

Sigourney Weaver

Despite her character’s death in the first movie, Sigourney Weaver looks like she will be spending a lot of her time in Pandora for the Avatar sequels in the coming years. But presuming that she can secret away for a vacation from that lush alien paradise, she would make a great addition to Knives Out 2.

The three-time Oscar nominee’s credits and talents are well known, so there’s no need to rehash them here. But simply put, who wouldn’t want to see Sigourney Weaver as a murder suspect, confidently throwing barbs at her would-be accusers? I can see the actress filling a similar role as Jamie Lee Curtis did in Knives Out, depending on the story, of course.

Pierce Brosnan

I’ve seen this idea bandied about, so I can’t take credit for it, but Pierce Brosnan would be a really fun addition to Knives Out 2. The selling point, beyond simply adding talent in the form of the Irish actor, would be the opportunity of having two James Bond actors onscreen together. Timothy Dalton would also work in this capacity, but I think Brosnan is better known for the role given that he passed the 007 mantle to Daniel Craig.

Seeing these two onscreen together would be a delight, with Daniel Craig chewing scenery and Pierce Brosnan matching him, or going in the opposite direction and playing things incredibly serious. And given the playfulness of the first film, a Bond reference isn’t out of the question. I can definitely see Brosnan as a wealthy and powerful character who has a hand in the investigation and a vested interest in its outcome.

Helen Mirren

Helen Mirren is an acclaimed, Oscar-winning actress with plenty of roles in prestigious films to her name. But far from stuffy, she’s also an actress that clearly likes to have a lot of fun, as evidenced by her presence in the Fast & Furious franchise. And I have to think she would have a lot of fun opposite an ensemble of talented actors in Knives Out 2.

Helen Mirren could play a matriarch in a role similar to Christopher Plummer’s patriarch Harlan Thrombey. I could also see her being the person who hires Benoit Blanc to solve a mystery for her; one where her own role may be more than she lets on. Watching her spar with Daniel Craig and the other talented actors sure to fill out this cast would be a real treat.

John David Washington

This summer, John David Washington will take on his biggest role yet in Chrisopher Nolan’s hugely expensive blockbuster Tenet. But for now, most audiences probably know him for his role in BlacKkKlansman. That Spike Lee film mixed the serious with the hilarious to wonderful effect, and John David Washington excelled with his deadpan delivery. I think the talents he showed in that film would make him a great addition to Knives Out 2.

Rian Johnson’s Knives Out was a whodunit with humor and mystery in equal abundance and as we’ve seen, John David Washington can deliver in a movie with that kind of tone. I can see the actor playing the good guy, i.e. someone trying to help the investigation, but I would also love to see what he could do playing against type as a less likable character.

Frankly, these are just some ideas, and since we don’t know what the mystery of Knives Out 2 will be, there is a very good chance that this particular list of names wouldn’t fit together. Will the sequel be another family story or more like Murder on the Orient Express with a bunch of strangers on a train? Either way, the hope is that like the first film, Knives Out 2 brings together a great ensemble of actors from multiple generations and with different levels of fame, from young up-and-comers to established award-winners.

It sounds like Rian Johnson has grand ambitions for the cast of his sequel and there aren’t really any names that wouldn’t be exciting. Lily James? Yup. Joaquin Phoenix? Totally. Lena Headey? Yes please. Jeff Goldblum and Nicolas Cage? Absolutely. We can probably expect Rian Johnson’s collaborator Noah Segan to return, possibly as a different character, but other than that, the possibilities are endless.

Knives Out 2 does not have a release date yet, but things seem to be moving forward on it fast, so we’ll keep you updated. In the meantime, check out our 2020 Release Schedule to see what movies are coming this year, and let us know who you want to see in Knives Out 2 in the comments below.

It’s been a few months, do those Rise of Skywalker wounds still sting? The final Star Wars movie in the Skywalker Saga seemed to deepen the divide between fans of the franchise. One gripe some audiences have taken with J.J. Abrams’ conclusion is the lack of Kelly Marie Tran’s Rose Tico after making a stunning debut in Rian Johnson’s The Last Jedi. Tran’s role spanned just 1 minute and 16 seconds.

During the 92nd Academy Awards, Kelly Marie Tran was in attendance to present and sing all the words to Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” during his surprise appearance. As fans pointed out, she actually had more to do during the award show than in the Star Wars conclusion. (Oops!) While she was on the red carpet, the Rose Tico actress was also asked about the “Where’s Rose?” controversy that sweeped the internet back in December. Check out her thoughts:

How classy is this answer? Kelly Marie Tran has a level head on her shoulders about the whole thing and it really showed during this red carpet interview with MTV’s Josh Horowitz. Back when Rise of Skywalker hit theaters a couple months ago, there was a viral response to Rose Tico’s shortened role in the movie. After having one of the most quotable lines in The Last Jedi, she was reduced to a glorified extra, staying back on the rebel base while Rey, Poe, Finn and C3PO adventured across the galaxy.

Some fans took to Twitter to say Rose Tico’s role in Rise of Skywalker had them “livid”. Kelly Marie Tran was the first woman of color to star in a live-action Star Wars film and a lot of people latched on to her character’s story and wanted to see more. However, Episode IX did seek to wrap up an over 40-year franchise. Tran continued with:

Since the role of Rose Tico initially caused social media harassment for the actress that led to the actress leaving the platforms once and for all, it burned a bit more for fans of the character to not get to see her relevance in the franchise continue. Tran went to therapy after the online backlash for The Last Jedi that was also directed at Rian Johnson as well.

After fans spoke out about Rose Tico’s small role in Rise of Skywalker, the film’s co-writer Chris Terrio explained that her role ended up being smaller than they intended due to the difficulty with placing unused footage from Carrie Fisher in the movie.

Fan response aside, it sounds like Kelly Marie Tran is just happy she is part of Star Wars, no matter how small the role was!

When we last left the saga of how Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker arguably sidelined actor Kelly Marie Tran, fans were livid about how little her character Rose Tico had to do in the ninth and final episode of the Skywalker Saga. However, it didn’t take that long for this mistake to find a kind of redemption, as a lot people have noticed that in her appearance as an Oscar presenter during the Academy Awards last night, Tran actually got more screen time than she did in the final big blockbuster of 2019.

It wasn’t too long after Kelly Marie Tran had appeared as a presenter for the 2020 Oscars that social media started to pick up on the fact that in that singular capacity, the Star Wars actor had more to do than she did in the entirety of director J.J. Abrams’ recent holiday blockbuster.

You might think that this claim is an exaggeration, but considering how Rose Tico was only featured in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker for a total of one minute and 16 seconds, it’s confirmed to be accurate.

Even members of the film critic community couldn’t help but get in on ribbing the experience that lead to Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker becoming what could potentially be named the most controversial entry in the canon thus far. Commenting on Kelly Marie Tran's appearance at the Oscars, IndieWire's David Ehrlich wrote,

Kelly Marie Tran not only got some prime airtime for presenting at the Oscars, but she actually made it into other random moments during the show’s telecast, with absolutely radiant reactions to the proceedings of the night.

Check out this tweet highlighting Tran absolutely loving one of director Bong Joon-ho’s several wins for Parasite at last night’s ceremony:

It’s a story that almost redeems the internet, as one can’t help but experience this moment while contrasting it to the events that led Kelly Marie Tran to temporarily leave social media because of the intense trolling she had experienced.

Her post Star Wars: The Last Jedi harassment ended up sending her to therapy as well, but eventually she returned, and The Oscars provided the better angels on Twitter to to be excited about her presence.

The actress even brightened the night's most surprising musical moment, which saw Eminem singing his Oscar winning song “Lose Yourself” 17 years after he was a no-show to accept his for 8 Mile. Sure enough, the cameras cut to Kelly Marie Tran, bopping along to the classic rap hit, and it was Twitter gold:

It should be noted that the reduced presence of Kelly Marie Tran in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker wasn’t always planned, as there were more scenes with her filmed, but they were eventually cut. Even running up to the film’s release the actress teased Rose Tico as a more integral part of The Resistance in the most recent entry to this multi-billion dollar series.

If you still don’t believe us about how little screen time Kelly Marie Tran had in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, you can still catch the film in theaters now – though it might be a bit difficult as the screen count for the film has been dropping as of late.

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Spoilers ahead for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.

It's almost hard to believe, but the Skywalker Saga has finally come to an end. J.J. Abrams' The Rise of Skywalker wrapped up the current trilogy, as well as the nine-film narrative that began with A New Hope. One of the challenges came with the handling of Carrie Fisher's General Leia, who was included through unused footage of the late actress in The Force Awakens. Many of Leia's scenes included Resistance leader Rose Tico, and now Kelly Marie Tran explained the complicated nature of filming those sequences.

While the trio of new heroes went on an adventure across the galaxy, Rose Tico stayed behind with Leia. That's where General Leia's life ultimately ended, with Rose with her throughout all of her final battle in the galaxy far, far away. Kelly Marie Tran recently spoke to what it was like filming those scenes without Carrie Fisher, saying:

Well, this makes a great deal of sense. Not only did J.J. Abrams and co-writer Chris Terrio have to craft The Rise of Skywalker's script around the spare footage of Carrie Fisher, but there was also the task of filming around it. And that meant plenty of more takes for the actors involved.

It was obviously a great challenge giving Leia and Carrie Fisher an appropriate sendoff, since the late actress died back in 2016. And in order to try and make the scenes/lighting/blocking as realistic as possible, J.J. Abrams shot a ton of footage for each scene featuring Leia. And through this hard work, the franchise's heroine was able to appear in one more installment in the beloved space opera.

Star Wars fans can re-watch the Skywalker Saga on Disney+. You can use this link for a free 7-day trial to the streaming service.

Later in her conversation with THR, Kelly Marie Tran went on to explain what a puzzle Leia's role in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker was. As she put it,

This concerted effort was ultimately successful, as Leia was able to have the same heart and wit in The Rise of Skywalker as she always did. And with the character's backstory expanded through flashbacks with Luke, Leia' story was very much at the heart of Episode IX. After all, the blockbuster was originally planned as her movie, as Mark Hamill and Harrison Ford each had one of their own. While there's one scene were Leia's coloring is off, the majority of these scenes with Leia are seamless.

Related: Star Wars Has More Unused Carrie Fisher Footage We Might See In Deleted Scenes

There were also quite a few Leia scenes that ultimately didn't make it into the theatrical cut of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. This resulted in a reduced role for Kelly Marie Tran's Rose Tico. Many fans have taken umbrage with Rose's lack of screen time, especially considering the backlash Tran received following the release of The Last Jedi.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is in theaters now. Be sure to check out our 2020 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

There’s been plenty for fans to debate where Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is concerned. And one of the most prevalent topics of discussion surrounding Episode 9 has been around the presence - or lack thereof - of Rose Tico. Now, one of the film’s writers has attempted to offer an explanation for why she had such limited screen time.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker was co-written by J.J. Abrams and Chris Terrio. The latter sat down for a conversation with Awards Daily, where he addressed how he got involved with Star Wars and the challenges he faced as a screenwriter. When asked about the buzz surrounding Kelly Marie Tran’s reduced role in the final installment of the Skywalker Saga, Chris Terrio was ready to offer an explanation connected to the late Carrie Fisher and the unused General Leia footage brought back for Episode IX:

It’s a plausible explanation, but one that fans could definitely still find fault in. And it is unlikely to quiet the uproar surrounding one of the most divisive characters in the Star Wars’ franchise. When fans realized that Rose Tico’s role had been reduced to almost nothing in The Rise of Skywalker, they took to Twitter to air their grievances. And some couldn’t help but argue that both Kelly Marie Tran and Rose Tico deserved better following the backlash they faced following The Last Jedi.

Kelly Marie Tran, thus far, hasn’t responded to the new fervor over her character. But last year, she did open up about the harassment she faced on social media after The Last Jedi and how it affected her mental health. And there could still be a chance for her to revisit the Star Wars universe once more, if she’s up for it. Some Star Wars fans are already looking ahead -- and calling for Rose Tico to have her own spinoff TV series.

The director of the smash-hit romantic comedy, Crazy Rich Asians, is ready to give Rose Tico a Disney+ series. Jon M. Chu is joining fans that are upset over Rose’s bleak amount of screen time in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Out of the movie’s 2 hour and 35 minute runtime, Rose was only allotted around 1 minute and 16 seconds.

You can see where the frustration lies. Expectations for Rose Tico’s journey in the movie were far from quenched. Since the release of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Crazy Rich Asians’ Jon M. Chu has taken to Twitter to share his desire for a Rose Tico series on Disney+. In more exciting news, Chu wants to make it happen! Yes! Check out his tweet below!

Considering the popularity of Kelly Marie Tran’s Rose Tico and the success of The Mandalorian, you have to think Disney+ may consider this! Despite a new role in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Rose did not get much to do on-screen. Hence, there is a lot to explore about Rose that a Disney+ series could definitely delve into with Jon M. Chu’s help.

The Disney streamer has not been shy about planning new TV shows. Why not one about the mega-popular Star Wars character? Rose was introduced in the second film in the recent trilogy, and there is undoubtedly an existing fanbase to support a series about her. Would Kelly Marie Tran be willing to reprise the role for a full-blown TV series? Maybe!

It is unclear what part Crazy Rich Asians’ Jon M. Chu would like to have in the proposed Rose Tico series. Would he want to direct, write, or act as showrunner on the TV show? Maybe all of the above? The bottom line is that Chu is motivated for there to be a Rose Tico show on Disney+, and he wants to help make it happen. Maybe it could be a prequel that shows Rose with her sister after they first joined the Resistance? I'm already on board!

This is a pretty significant development. Jon M. Chu underlined his reason for wanting a Rose Tico series with a hashtag stating that Rose deserved better. A hashtag seemingly referring to her screen time in The Rise of Skywalker. Many Star Wars fans clearly agree with Chu’s sentiment. His tweet has garnered nearly a thousand retweets and 5.5 thousand likes!

Jon M. Chu has two sequels to Crazy Rich Asians coming up and it may be a while before fans get to see them. Nevertheless, Chu is clearly pretty busy. He also has a film adaptation of In the Heights currently set to be released in 2020. Could Chu fit a Rose Tico series in? He sounds ready to make room in his schedule to get one to happen.

Time will tell if a Rose Tico TV series ever materializes on Disney+. For now, Star Wars fans have The Mandalorian to watch as one of this winter’s premieres. All episodes of Season 1 for the live-action Star Wars series are now available on Disney+.

In the fallout caused by the release of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, a couple recurring threads have developed among pockets of the fandom. One of them pertains to the fact that actor Kelly Marie Tran’s character, Rose Tico, seemed to have disappeared from the Star Wars galaxy in the course of one film.

And now, you can totally see why that’s the case, as a report has clocked the estimated time that Rose shows up on screen in director J.J. Abrams’ final film of the Skywalker Saga. Brace yourselves, as Tran apparently was only on screen for roughly 1 minute and 16 seconds of screen time, out of the total 2 hours and 35 minutes that make up Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.

The immediate comparison that begs to be drawn in the light of this news is just how much screen time Kelly Marie Tran had in the film that marked her character’s debut, writer/director Rian Johnson’s Star Wars: The Last Jedi. And, sure enough, the results in that particular case are proven to be more plentiful, as Rose Tico featured in an estimated 10 minutes and 53 seconds of the film’s 2 hours and 32 minute running time. With only three minutes separating the two films total run times, the comparison makes it all the more shocking to see just how Rose’s fortunes changed between both films.

Obviously, while some may take the report from Slate as a signal that her character was, indeed, intentionally sidelined, there are a host of factors that could have played into Rose’s reduced role in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. The usual suspect in this sort of situation is that some of her scenes may have been cut for pacing, with the editing process of this Star Wars entry possibly leaving Kelly Marie Tran’s performance as one of reduced capacity.

Then again, there could have been changes made from the script originally written for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, as initial writers Colin Trevorrow and Derek Connolly may have used her character in a different context. However, once their draft was then redefined by J.J. Abrams and Chris Terrio in their re-writes, as a result of Trevorrow being removed from the project, things could have changed drastically from that point forward.

Whatever changes may or may not have been made to Rose Tico’s fate, or Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’s overall message for that matter, they certainly don’t seem to have hurt the film’s prospects all that much. Recent numbers have seen the film comfortably steamrolling the competition, though the film did miss out on conquering the Christmas Day record for box office grosses, despite such dominance.

It will be interesting to see if any sort of follow-up comes out of the official Star Wars press machine, as the absence of Rose Tico will more than likely remain a talking point in audience’s enjoyment, or disappointment, with Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’s concluding entry to the episodic epic that’s been running since 1977.

But, at this point, merely from the perspective of the data on hand, this looks like a case of a character definitely being sidelined, especially when seeing how many new characters and plot threads Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker introduced into the fray. Consider us interested in seeing where this goes, as well as sending out best wishes to Kelly Marie Tran with our hopes that she can appear as a prominent character in Benoit Blanc’s next adventure after Knives Out.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is in theaters now. Although, if you’ve already seen the film as many times as you could ever want, there’s always the 2020 release schedule to help you plan the future, and the 2019 release schedule to show you what you’re still missing from this year’s box office calendar.

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SPOILER ALERT: Mild spoilers ahead from Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.

When the Star Wars franchise began, there were just a few characters to keep track of. But since the Skywalker Saga has continued to grow for the past 40 years, you could fill an encyclopedia full of characters from the film (and they do!) In 2017’s The Last Jedi, Rian Johnson introduced a new character in Kelly Marie Tran’s Rose Tico. Yet, since the recent release of J.J. Abrams’ The Rise of Skywalker, fans have been asking, "Where’s Rose?"

Since the movie came out this weekend, fans are taking to Twitter to express their feelings on how the Resistance fighter was handled in the concluding chapter of the film. Check out this response:

After the previous film took some time to introduce her tragic backstory and had her and John Boyega’s Finn going on an important side mission, the character is reduced to the sidelines in Rise of Skywalker. It’s a choice members of the fandom are becoming critical of. Here’s what Laura Sirikul from The Nerds of Color had to say:

Star Wars as a whole has had predominantly white characters, but the newer trilogy has definitely made a solid effort to change this and give fans more characters to see themselves in. That Twitter user points out how Rose Tico was the first woman of color to have a leading role in a Star Wars film, yet she’s completely in the background in Rise of Skywalker. Why didn’t she join Rey, Finn and Poe on their journey across the galaxy?

Jimmy Wong, who will actually play Ling in Disney’s upcoming live-action Mulan, also spoke out on social media about how "livid" he is about the lack of Rose Tico. In his words:

Dominic Monaghan’s new character was introduced in Rise of Skywalker and often next to Rose Tico in shots, yet he was often the one to have something to say. It’s a massive downgrade after Kelly Marie Tran gave out quite a few memorable lines in The Last Jedi, including, “That's how we're gonna win, not fighting what we hate, but saving what we love.” ICONIC.

Another fan brought up how Rose Tico being sidelined is especially infuriating because she received a ton of harassment on social media that caused her to delete her accounts. The actress recently opened up about going to therapy following the backlash as well. Check it out:

Another fan made a case as to why Rose Tico should have had a greater stake in the franchise with this tweet:

Perhaps she’ll get a second chance on Disney+ show or spin-off movies one day? Amidst the Rose Tico talk, The Last Jedi’s writer/director Rian Johnson tweeted this, perhaps as a way to quietly support fans speaking out about Rose Tico. Check it:

Check out our five Star Wars moments that prove J.J. Abrams and Rian Johnson were not on the same page during the making of the new trilogy. Leave a comment below about how you’d like to see Rose Tico continue her story in the Star Wars universe!

Star Wars has one of the most passionate fanbases in the galaxy. Unfortunately, as social media has become a place for fans to discuss the mythology at length, it has driven away those who are part of the franchise. When The Last Jedi hit theaters in 2017, Rian Johnson’s installment was met with an overwhelming amount of internet hate. It led to the series’ Rose Tico, Kelly Marie Tran, to quit social media for good. It turns out she also confided in therapy too.

Ahead of the release of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Kelly Marie Tran was once again asked about her leave from social media following her debut in The Last Jedi. Here’s what she recently told Good Morning America:

Good for her, we love a positive mental health journey! Kelly Marie Tran turned to therapy after the social media backlash to The Last Jedi, but not only because of some unkind words she received online. Becoming a Star Wars star was a massive emotional upheaval for her. She’d been living her life as a struggling actor with a part time job for quite some time before nabbing the role of Rose Tico. Once all was said and done, it was important for her to take a step back and recognize what happens when you become an overnight star.

Last year, Kelly Marie Tran opened up about her disappearance from social media. She said she started taking the comments to heart and believed the hate was pointed toward her. Tran explained that she was blaming herself and putting their words above her own self worth. It’s great that she shut them down, took control and focused on herself. Goodbye, haters! (Though, one study claimed that 51% of attacks were Russian bots.)

Rian Johnson has dealt with a ton of hate after The Last Jedi too! In his case, he said he won’t leave social media until "it stops being fun". He also recently told CinemaBlend’s podcast ReelBlend that he’s strangely grateful for the negative comments. Johnson said that getting exposed to it allowed him to reevaluate what determines his own self-worth. He learned to care less about their words and find happiness in his work without the need to please others.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker will see Kelly Marie Tran’s Rose Tico moving up from being in maintenance to having a bigger role in the Resistance! Catch her when the movie comes to theaters next week on December 20.

The Star Wars franchise is on the edge of a precipice, with only a few months left before the release of The Rise of Skywalker. Pressure and anticipation around J.J. Abrams' blockbuster is at a fever pitch, as the upcoming movie will wrap up the entire nine-film Skywalker Saga, which began back with A New Hope. But the franchise is known for its tight security, so the movie's plot is largely a mystery. But we got an idea about Rose Tico's journey, thanks to actress Kelly Marie Tran.

Kelly Marie Tran made her debut as Rose in Rian Johnson's The Last Jedi. She was an underdog character, highlighting the lesser known members of The Resistance. She also developed a strong relationship with John Boyega's Finn, starting a love triangle in the process. Tran recently spoke to how her character has changed since we last saw her on Crait, saying:

It looks like Rose won't be monitoring escape pods when we see her return to the screen in Episode IX. She's become a major player in The Resistance, although Kelly Marie Tran was careful not to reveal too much. Still, it'll be interesting to see this new, confident Rose in the next installment in the franchise.

Kelly Marie Tran's comments to Digital Spy further tease the time jump that's been teased about Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Rian Johnson's The Last Jedi picked up shortly after the events of The Force Awakens, and told a story over just a few days. But J.J. Abrams will move the story forward, and allow the upcoming blockbuster to have a grander scale.

Not much is known about the events of The Rise of Skywalker, but it looks like the aforementioned time jump will change the dynamic of the ongoing galactic war. It was previously reported that the years of fighting The First Order has not been kind to The Resistance, and Leia's troops don't have the money to continue fighting the good fight.

Related: Star Wars: Rise Of Skywalker Is Tracking For A Huge Opening, But Lowest Of New Trilogy?

I'm eager to see to see what rank Rose Tico has risen to in her time spent serving. The Resistance took heavy losses during The Last Jedi, with much of the leadership (including Admiral Ackbar) perishing during the movie's opening sequence. There were plenty of slots to fill, and Rose clearly proved herself both on Canto Bight and in the final battle on Crait. Add on the time jump, and she could be very high ranking at this point.

Luckily, we won't have to wait long for answers to arrive. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker will hit theaters on December 20th, finally answering all our questions in the process. In the meantime check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

When we met her in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Kelly Marie Tran’s Rose Tico was serving as a mechanic within The Resistance. However, not only did a lot happen in that movie that resulted in nearly all of The Resistance being destroyed, but a year will have passed between The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker, and when we reunite with her in the latter movie, she’ll be much higher up within The Resistance hierarchy.

In addition to the Triple Force Friday preview event showing off the many toys and merchandise for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker that will be available for purchase soon, some of the characters’ costumes were also showcased, which came with new details about what we can expect from said characters. Here’s what was said about Rose Tico (via SFX Magazine):

Although Rose Tico was worse for wear at the end of Star Wars: The Last Jedi due to risking her life to save Finn, she was back up on her feet soon after, and in the year since then, she’s now one of The Resistance’s most important leaders. The Resistance is still fighting the good fight against The First Order, but their numbers still aren’t anywhere near what they used to be, requiring them to change their battle tactics. That also means more important than ever to ensure that their equipment is functioning properly, and Rose certainly has the skills and expertise to oversee that.

We also saw how Rose Tico was willing to put her life on the line out in the field several times over, so even though her primary job is working not technology, perhaps like in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, she’ll be thrust back into action in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Either way, there hasn’t been any glimpse of Rose in the Rise of Skywalker footage released so far, so it’s good to get an update on her status in the movie, and ideally she’ll appear in the next trailer.

Frankly, even with over two months to go until Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’s release, there’s still a lot we don’t know about the plot. There have been plenty of teases, from seeing Dark Rey to the late Emperor Palpatine somehow being involved in the proceedings, but Lucasfilm is keeping up its tradition of keeping story details close to the chest.

What we do know for a fact is however things play out in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, it’ll result in both the end of the war between The Resistance and The First Order, and the conflict between The Jedi and The Sith. New Star Wars movies will continue to be released, but The Rise of Skywalker unquestionably marks the end of an era.

Along with Rose Tico being joined by plenty of familiar faces, from Rey, Finn and Poe to Leia Organa and Lando Calrissian, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is also introducing new characters like Naomi Ackie’s Jannah, Richard E. Grant’s Allegiant General Pryde and Keri Russell’s Zorri Bliss. J.J. Abrams returned to direct The Rise of Skywalker following Colin Trevorrow’s exit, and he worked on the script with Chris Terrio.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker arrives in theaters on December 20, so keep checking back with CinemaBlend for more updates on the Skywalker Saga’s final installment. You can also look through our 2019 release schedule to learn what other movies are coming out before the year is over.

We're coming up on a very exciting time for the Star Wars franchise, with J.J. Abrams' The Rise of Skywalker hitting theaters in a matter of months. In addition to wrapping up the current trilogy, Episode IX will also complete the Skywalker Saga, and the nine-film narrative that moviegoers have been following for decades. The trailer revealed that Palpatine would somehow factor into the story, and now Kelly Marie Tran is teasing the blockbuster's use of original characters.

Kelly Marie Tran made her Star Wars debut in Rian Johnson's The Last Jedi, playing Resistance maintenance worker Rose Tico. Rose got involved in the main conflict of the movie, while also sharing a romantic connection with Finn. Tran will reprise her role in The Rise of Skywalker, recently opening up about the project with:

Is it December yet? The Rise of Skywalker will be the final chapter in the war against The First Order, but the blockbuster will also be deeply connected to the original trilogy. But how exactly J.J. Abrams will connect all these stories and characters should remain a mystery until the movie finally arrives in theaters.

Kelly Marie Tran's comments to Yahoo are sure to excite the longtime fans of the Star Wars movies. Entire generations were brought up on George Lucas' galaxy far, far away, but those who saw the OG trilogy in theaters have been following the story for decades. And since The Rise of Skywalker will complete that story, the pressure is on to deliver a satisfying so many years in the making.

The Star Wars franchise is methodical about its marketing, in an attempt to keep the secrets of each new release until they arrive in theaters. As such, there's only been a few brief trailers for The Rise of Skywalker, mostly debuting at events like D23 Expo or Star Wars Celebration. But the short clips have teased the return of beloved characters from the original trilogy.

Early into its process, we learned that The Rise of Skywalker will bring back Leia through unused footage of Carrie Fisher from her previous two appearances. It's an ambitious method of filmmaking, but should allow the beloved character to get a more fitting ending. What's more, Mark Hamill will appear as Luke Skywalker, this time as a Force Ghost.

Related: Emperor Palpatine's 'Instrumental' Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker Role Is Tied To 'Redemption'

But those original heroes aren't the characters that fans are most eager to see in Episode IX. Instead, cinephiles are eager to catch up with characters that had been noticeably absent throughout the last two installments. Billy Dee Williams will be back as Lando Calrissian, after the scoundrel wasn't seen or referred to at all in the previous movies. But more shocking than this is the inclusion of Palpatine, as his menacing laugh was heard during The Rise of Skywalker's first trailer.

All will be revealed when Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker hits theaters on December 20th. In the meantime, check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

Ever since Lucasfilm revealed that Emperor Palpatine would appear in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, fans have been clamoring for more details regarding his role. Is it a big role? A small one? No one really knew. Until now. The film's lead just dropped a sweet bombshell about Palpatine's place in the story going forward, and it is guaranteed to please fans of the character.

Rey actress Daisy Ridley recently revealed to IGN that Palpatine will return in a big way and that he's super important to the film's overall plot. This is still surprising given the fact that last we saw Darth Sidious, he was plummeting, screaming, down a Death Star shaft. I guess Luke was right when he spoke during the film's teaser. “No one's ever really gone.”

Hopefully, Daisy Ridley's comments on the story are accurate and Palpatine's return is not only explained, but justified.

Rose actress Kelly Marie Tran added that the Emperor's storyline has a tie to her favorite Star Wars theme, "redemption." It's certainly interesting to associate Emperor Palpatine, the most dangerous Sith Lord we've seen, with redemption. Redeeming himself to (or for) whom? Or is someone else around him getting redemption? Guess we will just have to wait and see.

It's difficult to take stories seriously when they backpedal on previous creative decisions. Nothing feels final or impact. And, in this case, the villain's return completely undercuts Vader's sacrifice during the conclusion of Return of the Jedi. So yeah, his reappearance needs to make a ton of sense for fans to truly be onboard. Luckily, there will be other “new” villains in the conclusion to the sequel trilogy, so even if Palpatine isn't done very well, we will have other baddies to look forward to seeing. Oh yeah, and let's not forget Kylo Ren, who still stands as one of the best Star Wars villains ever conceived. He will be back, too (obviously) and he will have an epic confrontation with Rey at some point in the movie.

Supreme Leader Snoke had so much potential as a new big bad of the sequel trilogy, but apparently The Last Jedi director Rian Johnson had other plans. Now, we've got a narrative that's bringing back villains and kind of undoing the original trilogy.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is scheduled to hit theaters on December 20, 2019. What do you think? Are you excited for the film or are you more amped for the other big films coming in 2019? Let us know in the comments section below and keep your eyes on our newsfeed for any/all updates on the film!