We’ve been expecting you
Will it be on October 14 or October 21? That has been the question triggering consternation among the Star Wars fanbase over the past two days, as rumours swell regarding which Monday Night Football match broadcast will feature the premiere of the final trailer for December’s The Rise of Skywalker.
Based on the impromptu Instagram post by John Boyega’s manager (above), we might not be able to take Black Series Rebels’ October 21 prediction (even further above) “to the bank” after all. If it means we are treated to the trailer a week earlier than expected, sign me up.
Now that the arrival date is at least narrowed down to two possibilities, we can instead focus our responsible speculation on what the trailer will feature.
And ever since Ian McDiarmid sensationally wandered onto the Star Wars Celebration stage in April to rasp “roll it again” in classic Palpatine croak, the fandom has been intrigued to know the Emperor’s involvement in the Skywalker Saga’s final chapter. The first poster, released during Disney’s D23 weekend, served to show puppet-master Palpatine looming behind a duelling Rey and Kylo Ren, but thus far, we haven’t seen footage of the old Chancellor.
With both the teaser trailer and the D23 ‘special look’ each closing with one big revelation – Palpatine’s cackle and Dark Rey respectively – could the final trailer’s showpiece be the reveal of how Palpatine will look in Episode 9?
It would have the potential to break the internet, much like how Dark Rey dominated the Twitter conversation in the 24 hours after D23’s footage dropped online.
However, the publicity would come at a price. The mystery surrounding Palpatine’s return has been a point of intrigue within the fandom since April’s teaser. Triple Force Friday featured no Palpatine merchandise and even though the poster showed the sith lord, the jury is still out as to whether that is a signpost of how he will appear in the film – his presence could still be abstract.
That is one of the mystery’s I’m most excited about going into the movie. I want to walk into the theatre without any idea of how Palpatine will influence the film. An appearance in the final trailer could derail the mystery.
But it’s time to put a business hat on. To put myself in the Lucasfilm boardroom. The aim of the final trailer is to put bums in seats for the movie. Unlike the teaser trailer and the D23 clip – which were only available online and thus consumed primarily by Star Wars fans whose tickets are effectively already guaranteed, (at least for the most part). This final trailer will go out in cinemas, in front of movies of all shapes and sizes, in the next two months. It will first air during Monday Night Football in the US and will spawn TV spots across the world. It’s Lucasfilm’s shop window for casual fans.
Casual fans who remember Return of the Jedi as the one where that Darth Vader guy – you know, the tall dude with the breathing problem – threw his boss down the shaft to save his son and the universe, will be a critical audience for this trailer. If showing Palpatine in the flesh – an easily identifiable character who they remember as a cool villain from the previous films – is going to sell more tickets, then it’s a no-brainer. It’s a business decision.
A compromise is the most likely outcome. Much like how Darth Vader was subtly included in the Rogue One trailers, my guess is that we do see Palpatine in the final Rise of Skywalker trailer. It will be a glimpse, without any connection to plot and against a backdrop that fails to provide too many clues as to where, when, how or why.
Enough to make casual fans sit up and say, “I remember that guy,” and enough to provide a tantalising taster for invested fans to simply add fuel to the intrigue for the next two months. Yes, that’s one heck of a tightrope to walk and striking that balance will be harder than defeating the Rancor, but as Luke Skywalker demonstrated, not impossible.
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