When Star Wars: The Last Jedi hits theaters next month, fans can look forward to reuniting with old faces and meeting new ones. There is a lot of excitement and speculation around the new players and what role they will play in the saga's middle chapter. Director Rian Johnson recently responded to a question asking which new character he was most interested in seeing how the fans will respond. Of the three new main characters, including Laura Dern's Vice Admiral Holdo and Benicio Del Toro's "DJ", Rian Johnson said he is the most enthusiastic about Kelly Marie Tran's character, Rose. In his words:
I'm most excited for people to meet Kelly Marie Tran, who plays this new character Rose. Kelly is an amazing person and she is so good in the movie and I love the character Rose. I can't wait for people to meet her.
In the video posted to the official Star Wars Twitter account, Rian Johnson genuinely seems effusive with praise for Kelly Marie Tran and is thrilled for audiences to meet Rose. We don't know much about the Rose Tico character other than she is a member of the Resistance who will be fighting the good fight with Finn. She hasn't been featured enough in marketing for us to get any idea about her personality, but it sounds like she will play an important role in the film. This has to be incredible for Tran, who was a struggling actress and now is the director's favorite new character in the middle chapter of one of the world's biggest film franchises. Judging by Johnson's comments, this will be Tran's breakout role and well worth having to lie to her family and being transported around set like a visiting head of state.
I'm excited to see how Rose Tico's adventures with Finn play out, and how she might save the day. She seems poised to be that great kind of character who is thrown into something bigger than her and winds up being invaluable. I suspect she will help give Finn purpose and affirmation that he belongs in this fight against the First Order. But while I am sure that she will be a character fans wind up loving, sorry, Rian Johnson, but you can't throw me off the scent, I'm most excited about Benicio Del Toro's DJ. Not because I think he will be my favorite or the most lovable character, but because he is the most enigmatic. If anyone is a secret Sith Lord, it's DJ, not Rose...although that would be a great twist.
You can see if you agree with Rian Johnson about who your favorite new Star Wars character is when Star Wars: The Last Jedi hits theaters on December 15. Pre-order your tickets for opening weekend now.
