Star Wars Celebration Reveals Episode IX Title, Trailer, and More

Star Wars Celebration gave us our first look at the hotly anticipated Episode IX, which we now know is called "Rise of the Skywalker." We obviously don't really know what this means yet -- is Skywalker the term for what this new generation of Jedi will be called? Or does it signal a potential retcon of Rey (or another character's) lineage, suggesting that they come from the Skywalker family after all? This would play into another aspect of the title, which follows the naming convention established by Revenge of the Sith and Return of the Jedi, suggesting that returning director J.J. Abrams is trying to actively win back fans who were turned off by the developments of Episode VIII - The Last Jedi.

We also got our first look at new characters like Jannah (Naomi Ackie) and Klaud, the large banana slug-looking character from the previously leaked promotional poster (check it out below). We also got our first look at Lando Calrissian (Billy Dee Williams), who we haven't seen since Return of the Jedi in 1983, as well as a touching glimpse of the late Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia.

There are also glimpses of a new TIE Fighter, presumably piloted by Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) on the sands of either Jakku or (more likely, given the title) Tattooine. We also see Rey, Finn (John Boyega), Poe (Oscar Isaac), Threepio, BB-8, and Chewbacca finding the wreckage of one of the Death Stars in the teaser's final shot, followed by the familiar cackle of Emperor Palpatine. Is this hinting at connections to not just the original trilogy, but the Prequels as well?

Missing from the teaser are any obvious sightings of Keri Russell and Richard E. Grant, whose characters still remain a mystery. Grant has been rumored to play the heavy, with speculation ranging from a re-animated Snoke to Grand Admiral Thrawn. And Russell's character has been pegged as perhaps having a connection to Rey -- could she be Mara Jade?

Check out the teaser below, along with some screenshots we grabbed for your perusal.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adzYW5DZoWs