Star Wars VIII: The Last Jedi

[Amelia Faulkner]

Are people expecting Luke to die because the film is called The Last Jedi, or because it's expected?

Predominantly because the original trilogy was, beat for beat, a direct application of The Hero's Journey by Campbell. It's a recipe that works, and one which Disney have used time and again to multi-billion-dollar effect (check out the litany of Disney Princesses with dead parents).

In The Hero's Journey, the death (or otherwise insurmountable loss) of the mentor is what drives the protagonist into engaging with the story themselves. Otherwise the'd just be like "Hey, you're way more experienced than I am. Why aren't you taking care of this situation?!"

So basically it's expected that Luke will die if he trains Rey because that makes him her mentor, and mentors die.

Now, if Rey chooses to ditch Luke's training and go for a more balanced approach, Luke doesn't need to die at all. That counts as insurmountable loss for story purposes

 

[Judderman]

Trailer! Trailer! Trailer! YEEEEEEEEEE

http://io9.gizmodo.com/the-first-trailer-for-star-wars-the-last-jedi-is-here-1794299927

At first I thought from the trailer that I was wrong about Luke being the last Jedi as Rey is training with him. But then at the end his comment on time for the Jedi to end implies it is time for him to die and therefore Jedis to end. Presuming that killing the Siths (Kylo etc) isn't counted as killing Jedi.

 

[Judderman]

I took that line to mean that Luke recognises that the Jedi system is flawed - that there shouldn't be slavish devotion to light and an exclusion of dark, but rather there needs to be a balance. Therefore, the Jedi have to end, and something else must replace them.

Good point.

 

[Brian G Turner]

Here's an interesting update on some of the stories and developments relating to The Last Jedi that some of you may find interesting - if you don't mind potential spoilers and raised expectations:

What I find especially interesting is that if the above speculation is true, then this Star Wars film will finally start breaking proper new ground, instead of relying on nostalgic throwbacks - as the most recent two have.

Additionally, it looks as though we may see far more exploration of the Force - and the entire issue of midichlorians dismissed.

All in all, an initial promise to deliver more and be more ambitious than the previous two reboot films.

 

[Brian G Turner]

if the above speculation is true, then this Star Wars film will finally start breaking proper new ground, instead of relying on nostalgic throwbacks

Actually, I may have spoken too soon - thinking about it after only a few minutes, there's a real danger that we're simply seeing majors parts of the structure to Empire Strikes Back being followed. Which is what people suggested might happen even before we saw the first teaser trailer.

 

[Amelia Faulkner]

Actually, I may have spoken too soon - thinking about it after only a few minutes, there's a real danger that we're simply seeing majors parts of the structure to Empire Strikes Back being followed. Which is what people suggested might happen even before we saw the first teaser trailer.

I mean, Star Wars is Campbell's The Hero with a Thousand Faces pinned down into screenplay format. Lucas used to admit this, before Star Wars made him richer than Croesus. So for people to say "Oh structurally it'll be similar to Empire Strikes Back" seems rather unfair because, well, it has to be. Because this entire film will be the second act of a three-act story, about the journey a hero undertakes to become that hero. Campbell's structure breaks down perfectly into trilogy format, which is one of the core reasons trilogies are just so damn popular.

3.1
Departure
3.1.1
The Call to Adventure
3.1.2
Refusal of the Call
3.1.3
Supernatural Aid
3.1.4
Crossing the First Threshold
3.1.5
Belly of the Whale
3.2
Initiation
3.2.1
The Road of Trials
3.2.2
The Meeting with the Goddess
3.2.3
Woman as Temptress
3.2.4
Atonement with the Father
3.2.5
Apotheosis
3.2.6
The Ultimate Boon
3.3
Return
3.3.1
Refusal of the Return
3.3.2
The Magic Flight
3.3.3
Rescue from Without
3.3.4
The Crossing of the Return Threshold
3.3.5
Master of Two Worlds
3.3.6
Freedom to Live

3.1 was Star Wars and SW:TFA, 3.2 was ESB and will be TLJ, and 3.3 was RotJ and will be the third in the current trilogy.

 

[Brian G Turner]

Oh, what I meant something simpler for The Last Jedi:

Spoiler

First Act: Attack on a rebel base by Imperial forces - rebels take flight
Second Act: Focus and conclusion of Jedi training
Third Act: Follow other characters through strange city which has been infiltrated by Imperial forces, to finale

 

[Brian G Turner]

Spoiler

I don't know whether it's accidental or on purpose, but Simon Pegg is listed as reprising his character from The Force Awakens in The Last Jedi - though whether that means a return to Jakku, or is simply present in the casino world, remains to be seen:
Simon Pegg - Wikipedia

 

[night_wrtr]

Spoiler

Okay, if the alien creatures that Luke is living with are Yoda's species, that would be amazing, but it seems like a long shot. Lots of interesting tidbits on this movie so far. What really has my interest is "DJ" and who he is.

Hoping this doesn't fall into a repeat of ESB, but as long as they take the story in new directions, I wouldn't mind similar plot points like attacking rebel base, training, new weird city, etc.

 

[Brian G Turner]

What do you reckon - a new trailer for The Last Jedi within the week? IIRC, there's a Star Wars event coming up that could be a great place to preview it before going wide with its release.

 

[Brian G Turner]

Alas, not a trailer, but a short behind the scenes promo that teases in a satisfying manner, without giving too much away - and continues to ramp up expectations:

 

[night_wrtr]

Its almost like this was released to squash the talk about it being a copy of ESB. It makes the film feel like it will be original and explore possibilities that we haven't seen before. I like it.

 

[ctg]

LOL. Is this Han's replacement?

 

[thaddeus6th]

Ham Stolo?

 

[ctg]

Ham Stolo?

Fastest rodent in the galaxy!

 

[night_wrtr]

Looks like a furry penguin.

 

[Dave]

I can see letters to the Daily Mail and the Express already:

This is disgraceful! You cannot make Han Solo's replacement a furry penguin. Chewie needs to have a sidekick who is a real man. I man who shoots first! Next thing they'll have alien Star Trek captains and Doctor Who will be a female from a different planet. I'm never watching Star Wars ever again. I'm cancelling my subscription to The World of George Lucas and going to burn all my original VHS copies of A New Hope.

 

[Cathbad]

all my original VHS copies of A New Hope.

Ummm... can I have one of those?

 

[BAYLOR]

Based on the preview , things pretty grim in the Star Wars Universe.

 

[Gonk the Insane]

Apparently it is indeed a wrap now:
It's official: 'Star Wars: The Last Jedi' is finished