There are now just nine short days until STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER finally drops out of hyperspace and into a multiplex near you. The ninth film in the saga will mark the final word on the Skywalker story, bringing to a conclusion forty-two years of Skywalker lore. Plot details are scarcer than water in the Jakku desert, although we do know that Ian McDiarmid's Emperor Palpatine is returning and that the great mystery of who Rey actually is will finally be revealed.
As we wait for director J.J. Abrams to reveal what's inside his latest "mystery box," fans of the franchise are desperate for even the slightest bit of galaxy gossip. A newcomer to the world George Lucas made famous, Richard E. Grant, may have just what you need. The Oscar nominee has been downright effusive in his love for STAR WARS and beyond excited for the opportunity to play in Disney's sandbox. Grant, who plays First Order Allegiant General Pryde, was recently interviewed about his role in the upcoming THE RISE OF SKYWALKER. When asked what aspect of THE RISE OF SKYWALKER would surprise audiences the most, Grant had this to say:
The big character plot twist that I had no idea would be coming. It made total emotional sense and story sense and I thought that was really smart. And I think that's an incredible thing to take something that began with the first movie in 1977 and nine movies later reach a conclusion/resolution.
Now Grant is obviously vague in his statement and the idea of a STAR WARS plot twist comes as no surprise. It's happened before with the father/son reveal in THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK and later with the surprising death of Snoke in THE LAST JEDI. However, it is interesting to speculate on what character Grant is referring to. Since only main cast members got the full script I doubt he's referring to Rey. However, as a member of the First Order, Grant could be alluding to Palpatine's return, although the Emperor didn't appear in the original 1977 film. He didn't even make a full-fledged appearance until RETURN OF THE JEDI. So many questions! I need THE RISE OF SKYWALKER hooked to my eyeballs now!
Thankfully we won't have to wait much longer as STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER starring Daisy Ridley, Oscar Isaac, John Boyega, Adam Driver, Keri Russell, Lupita Nyong'o, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Richard Grant, Anthony Daniels, Domhnall Gleeson, Dominic Monaghan, and Greg Grunberg blasts its way into theaters December 20.