J.J. Abrams & The Cast Of ‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’ Talk Landing the Final Skywalker Saga Vehicle

After 40 years and nine films— J.J. Abrams is putting the final bookend on Star Wars’ Skywalker Saga with Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Back in 1977— George Lucas gave the world, A New Hope. Astonished fans across generations watched Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) leave the Tatooine desert to fulfill his destiny of becoming a Jedi master.

Now, more than four decades later — the Resistance, Rey (Daisy Ridley), Finn (John Boyega), and Poe (Oscar Issac) will face the First Order for the final time as the conflict between the Jedi and the Sith collides.

Ahead of The Rise of Skywalker’s debut, blackfilm.com sat in on a press conference moderated by Ava DuVernay — where writer/director J.J. Abrams, producer Kathleen Kennedy, and the entire cast reflected on a franchise that has transcended generations and changed filmmaking forever.

“The difference between my first day on The Force Awakens and The Rise of Skywalker was that the pressure shifted,” Abrams told DuVernay. “We didn’t know at the beginning of Force Awakens what it would look like to have Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Oscar Issac, and John Boyega. We had to figure it out. By the time we got to our first day on Rise of Skywalker, we knew those things were working; what we didn’t know what everything else. This is wrapping up not one film, not three films but nine. The responsibility was significant and the scale of this movie is pretty enormous. We knew that none of this would matter if you didn’t care deeply.”

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EXCLUSIVE: Naomi Ackie Gets Candid About Her Mysterious Character In ‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’

Four years after it was first introduced — Stars Wars’ Skywalker Saga is coming to an end. Helmed by J.J. Abrams — Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker will chronicle the year after the events of The Last Jedi. The remaining members of The Resistance — Rey (Daisy Ridley), Finn (John Boyega), Rose (Kelly Marie Tran), and Poe (Oscar Issac) team up once again for a final battle against the First Order. The conflict between the Jedi and the Sith is also set to explode in this epic conclusion.

The Skywalker Saga won’t be going out quietly. As things come to a head, new members of the Resistance are introduced, including an old friend of Poe’s —Zorii Bliss (Keri Russell) and a mysterious new character, Jannah, played by relative newcomer Naomi Ackie who plays a pivotal role in the fight to the end.

Ahead of The Rise of Skywalker’s premiere, blackfilm.com talked to Ackie about stepping into the Star Wars franchise, embodying Jannah, and why she’s not concerned about any potential backlash.

“It’s something that doesn’t even click in now,” Ackie said wistfully of becoming a part of the epic space opera. “It’s weird. You take it day by day, and sometimes forget on purpose that you’re in it because otherwise your mind gets a bit blown. When I think about the scale of this film — how far-reaching it is, how many people it touches; it sometimes messes with my head. But, I really do try my best to celebrate it. Thankfully you’re part of an ensemble cast. They’re all bearing the brunt of it together.”

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EXCLUSIVE: Billy Dee Williams Talks Returning To Lando Calrissian 40 Years Later & What He Really Thought Of Donald Glover’s Performance

Legendary actor Billy Dee Williams‘ history in the Star Wars franchise is unlike any other actor’s journey in the epic space opera. When Williams slide on Lando Calrissian‘s cape in 1980’s The Empire Strikes Back — he became the embodiment of charisma and cool — proving that style and swag could also be otherworldly.

More than just defining the surface level attributes of his character — Williams also kicked open the door for Black actors in Stars Wars. With his turn as Lando, he became the first Black actor with a major role in the franchise. It’s something we did not see again until Sameul L. Jackson’s Mace Windu in the ‘90s and again in 2015’s The Force Awakens when John Boyega put on Finn’s Stormtrooper armor. 

Now, nearly 40 years after he first brought Lando Calrissian to life — The Lady Sings the Blues actor has returned to the Star Wars franchise. His return marks one of the most prolonged intervals between portrayals of a character by the same actor in American cinema history.

Closing out the nine-part Skywalker Saga — Williams has the chance to bring his own brand of suave and wit to Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Ahead of the film’s premiere — blackfilm.com got an opportunity to sit down and chat with the Mahogany actor about reprising his role after all of these years and what he really thought of Donald Glover’s take on Lando.

“I didn’t watch any of the old stuff to get back to Lando,” Williams revealed when asked about doing a character refresh with The Empire Strikes Back or 1983’s Return of the Jedi. “I just jumped right in.”

For the Batman actor, it was getting the opportunity to work with director/writer/producer J.J. Abrams again that convinced him to return to space. “I just have a lot of admiration for the young man,” he explained. “When I worked with George [Lucas], there was an opportunity to work with somebody extraordinary, and here again, I have the chance to work with somebody who is remarkable. We worked together on Lost — I played myself playing a killer — which I thought was a very interesting idea. I thought, ‘This guy is crazy — famously crazy.’ This has been a great pleasure for me coming back to do Lando. I didn’t believe that it would happen, I just wrote it off. I said, ‘I did what I had to do, and that was it.’ But, when I got the call from J.J. and even when we met, I just sat there, and I just chuckled because I thought this was a gift, so I’m a very happy human being right now.” 

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Image: Disney