At long last, we finally got a good look at J.J. Abrams’ Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker last night when the trailer dropped during Monday Night Football and then on YouTube for millions of fans to see. The trailer naturally inspired plenty of reactions, speculation and more than a few tears as the final chapter in the Skywalker Saga. Perhaps the best response to Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’s final trailer came from the director of the not-at-all controversial Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Rian Johnson. Take a look:
Simple and concise, Rian Johnson’s Twitter reaction to the Rise of Skywalker trailer was one of pure glee and appreciation for the Star Wars franchise. He clearly was a big fan of what he saw from the follow-up to his own Star Wars film. Watching the Rise of Skywalker trailer, the thing that came to Rian Johnson’s mind that he felt he had to express was just how much he loves Star Wars.
Although there are undoubtedly dissenters who disliked the trailer (this is the internet after all), Rian Johnson’s reaction is one many of us felt watching the Rise of Skywalker trailer. I mean, how could you not just feel full of love for Star Wars watching that trailer? It has lightsaber fights, Palpatine and battles on a scale we’ve never seen before.
The stirring music (seriously, give me that on streaming or vinyl now) and all the emotional moments conjured up all kinds of feelings for Star Wars fans. It was especially powerful because it is the final trailer for the final Skywalker Saga film, so it packs an extra punch. We are seeing characters we love for the final time knowing that “The saga will end” even though “The story lives forever.”
Amid all the dissention the Star Wars fandom has had in recent years, in no small part thanks to Rian Johnson’s own film, the trailer for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker was just a huge reminder of why we love this franchise. Episode IX will give us things old and new to love as well. We don’t want this Saga to end because we love it, and Rian Johnson does too.
Rian Johnson is a Star Wars fan even if his take isn’t for everyone (I’m kind of in the middle). Those who completely hate what he did in The Last Jedi (minus the bad faith trolls) do so because they too love Star Wars and care about the story. So Rian Johnson’s reaction to The Rise of Skywalker trailer is one that all Star Wars fans can (but won’t) agree with, regardless of individual tastes.
Tickets are now on sale, and breaking records, for Episode IX, which will clock in as the franchise’s longest film at 155 minutes.
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker opens in theaters on December 20. Check out our 2019 Release Schedule to keep track of all of the movies still to come this year.
