The second instalment of the the third trilogy of Star Wars, the very popular science fiction drama, set to hit the screens come December this year, and the movie has just put out the first set of character posters for the upcoming film. The character posters were unveiled by Disney at the D23 expo in Anaheim, California and are meant to generate buzz about the upcoming instalment of the trilogy that has acquired legendary cult status with a generation of nerds. The five posters for the Episode VIII revealed include the characters Jedi-in-training Rey (Daisy Ridley), the fearless Finn (John Boyega), the villainous Kylo Ren (Adam Driver), the Jedi sage Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), and General Leia (played by the late Carrie Fisher). The posters are done on a red palette, making it look every bit as dramatic as offering a sneak peek into the what is in store for viewers in this chapter. Disney also released some behind-the-scenes clips of the shooting, including some poignant images of the late Carrie Fisher, who played Princess Leia in the original Star Wars trilogy. Director Rian Johnson presented the footage and introduced surprise on-stage appearances by actors Mark Hamill, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Gwendoline Christie, Kelly Marie Tran, Laura Dern and Benicio Del Toro. The behind-the-scenes clip includes a few shots of the cast and a treat of some special effects, but it mostly focusses on Carrie Fisher who passed away last year. She is shown in costume first, briefly and without any sound, but at the end, she says this “It’s about family and that’s what’s so powerful about it.” It ends with her giving a little salute, and that is bound to break the hearts of the old Star Wars fans still grieving for her.
Episode VIII is set to open in theatre on December 15, 2017.
