LucasFilm Trolls Everyone With Image of Empty Toy Box

LucasFilm has done the impossible and gotten an empty cardboard box to go viral. The pure stroke of marketing genius came earlier this week in the form of a press release announcing a new line of Star Wars toys. Accompanying the release was an image of an empty toy box, which still became newsworthy thanks to an image of the three main characters plastered across the top. Poe Dameron is decked out in his Resistance pilot gear. Finn is still wearing Poe’s jacket, spawning a million fan-fics on tumblr, I’m sure. And Rey has traded in her trademark buns for a new, longer hairdo. Speculation on the significance of the new style has already skyrocketed, with many a fanboy wondering if or how it will factor into her Jedi training under Luke. Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi will force its way into theaters on December 15, 2017.

Star Wars Episode VIII Title Revealed

Read it and weep tears of joy.

This week, Disney/Lucasfilm has revealed the title of the next installment in the Star Wars sequel trilogy. This December, everyone and their momma is going to see Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi. Approximately five microseconds after images of the title hit the internet, the rumor mills were already up and running, speculating on the meaning of the title. Who is this titular “Last Jedi”? Luke Skywalker, or Rey? If it is one of them, does that mean the other will die, or worse, fall to the Dark Side? Will they throw us a curveball and let Finn swing around a lightsaber this time (please, after Mace, I just really want a black Jedi again)? Some astute fans on the internet have already pointed out that Jedi can be singular or plural, in which case this may refer to more than one force-wielder, but the fact remains that this sets an ominous tone for the sequel. The answers to all these burning questions are still a few months off; Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi hyperdrives into theaters December 15, 2017.

Star Wars Brain Trust Meets to Discuss What to Do About Carrie Fisher/Princess Leia

In less awesome movie news, Disney’s Star Wars brain trust has convened to discuss what to do with the character Leia Organa following the sudden death of beloved actress Carrie Fisher. Fisher, who originally played Princess Leia in the 1977 film Star War: A New Hope and its two sequels, had recently reprised the role in the first installment of the sequel trilogy, The Force Awakens. This week, the Hollywood Reporter quotes sources saying that General Organa was originally meant to play a bigger part in Episodes VIII and IX, including an emotional reunion with her brother Luke and a confrontation with her son Ben. Reports immediately following Fisher’s death confirmed that she had already finished filming her scenes for Episode VIII, but her presence in the final film of the trilogy is largely up in the air. Episode IX director Colin Trevorrow is due to arrive in LA next week for talks with Lucasfilm bigwig Kathleen Kennedy, most likely to explore their options. There don’t seem to be many good ones currently. Either Fisher’s role is drastically reduced and/or written out, or they opt to go the controversial route of digitally resurrecting her with CGI effects. Neither makes for a very satisfying solution, but their hands are effectively tied for the moment.