Abrams, Driver on Rise of Skywalker & Force Awakens Connections

Director J.J. Abrams and actor Adam Driver recently shared with Vanity Fair that much of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker was planned “from the very beginning,” as the ending was always designed to close a satisfying arc of the entire Skywalker saga.

“If a kid is watching all nine movies, he or she sees this one path, this inevitability and that’s the challenge of this movie,” Abrams said, citing meetings with Johnson, George Lucas, and The Force Awakens and original trilogy writer Lawrence Kasdan.

Adam Driver, who plays Kylo Ren in the final Skywalker trilogy, adds that even when Rian Johnson took over writing and directing duties for The Last Jedi, following Abrams’ The Force Awakens, there were specific character paths that were established from the beginning that were not altered following Johnson’s ambitious script: “I knew little bits from my first meeting with J.J. An overall arc was very, not vague, the opposite, it was very clear—[there was] an end in sight even from the very beginning. The details obviously hadn’t been worked out, but we had talked about the very thing that we’d been working towards with this last one.”

Abrams also spoke about how he was inspired by the choices Johnson made, saying: “Having seen what Rian did made me approach this from a place of instinct and gut. I was making choices I knew I would not have made on VII, some story-wise, but more in terms of directing. I found myself feeling less like I’m going to try and do something that feels like it’s [only] true to the specifics of this franchise or the story.”

Returning cast members for Rise of Skywalker include Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Domhnall Gleeson, Kelly Marie Tran, Joonas Suotamo and Billie Lourd. Joining the cast are Naomi Ackie (Doctor Who), Richard E. Grant (Logan), Dominic Monaghan (Lord of the Rings), and Keri Russell (The Americans), who will also be joined by veteran Star Wars actors Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels and Billy Dee Williams, who will reprise his role as Lando Calrissian.

The role of Leia Organa will once again be played by Carrie Fisher, using previously unreleased footage shot for Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker has J.J. Abrams (Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Star Trek) returning to direct the ninth and final installment of the Skywalker saga. Abrams co-wrote the screenplay with Chris Terrio (Argo, Justice League). Composer John Williams, who has scored every chapter in the Star Wars saga since 1977’s A New Hope, will return to a galaxy far, far away with Rise of Skywalker.

The film is produced by Kathleen Kennedy, J.J. Abrams and Michelle Rejwan, and executive produced by Callum Greene and Jason McGatlin.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is scheduled for release on December 20.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
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Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
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Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
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Rey (Daisy Ridley) in STAR WARS: EPISODE IX
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Memory of Victory’s Past in STAR WARS: EPISODE IX.
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Finn (John Boyega) and Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) in STAR WARS: EPISODE IX.
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General Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher) and Rey (Daisy Ridley) in STAR WARS: EPISDOE IX
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(Left to right( Chewbacca (Joonas Suotamo), BB-8, D-O, Rey (Daisy Ridley), Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) and Finn (John Boyega) in STAR WARS: EPISODE IX
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Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) in STAR WARS: EPISODE IX
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Rey (Daisy Ridley) n STAR WARS: EPISODE IX
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BB-8 and D-O in STAR WARS: EPISODE IX
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The Millenium Falcon in STAR WARS: EPISODE IX.
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Lando Calrissian (Billy Dee Williams) in STAR WARS: EPISODE IX.
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Kylo Ren’s restored helmet in STAR WARS: EPISODE IX.
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Rey (Daisy Ridley) in STAR WARS: EPISODE IX.
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C3PO (Anthony Daniels), Finn (John Boyega) and Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) in STAR WARS: EPISODE IX.
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Finn (John Boyega), Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) and Rey (Daisy Ridley) in STAR WARS: EPISODE IX.
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker