Star Wars Episode VIII Title 'The Last Jedi' Raises Some Interesting Plot Questions

What was simply known as Episode VIII is now Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Lucasfilm announced the official name for the next Star Wars movie in the ongoing Skywalker saga, though stopped way short of providing any details about the plot or who exactly is being referenced in the title. In other words, Lucasfilm answered one question and raised many others, all just by revealing the title.

Here is what little we do know. The Last Jedi is written and directed by Rian Johnson, who's resume includes directing three episodes of Breaking Bad (Fly, Fifty-One, and Ozymandias), as well as The Brothers Bloom and Looper. He also won the Special Jury Prize for Originality of Vision at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival for his debut feature film, Brick. Kathleen Kennedy and Ram Bergman are the producers, with J.J. Abrams, Jason McGatlin, and Tom Karnowski serving as executive producers.

Rey

None of that tells us anything about the plot for The Last Jedi, leaving us to speculate. If you watched the previous film in the main series, The Force Awakens, then you know there is reason to believe it could be referring to Luke Skywalker. We'll refrain from posting any spoilers as to why for the three of you who have not seen the movie yet, but he is not the only candidate. The title could also be referring to Daisy Ridley's Rey, who in The Force Awakens ends up being pretty handy with a lightsaber.

Wondering where Rogue One plays into all this? Nowhere, really. When Disney purchased Lucasfilm in 2012, it announced plans to release at least three more main Star Wars films, a sequel trilogy. Force Awakens was the first of those. Disney also talked about releasing spinoffs that would be standalone origin flicks separate from the main saga. Rogue One was the first of those.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi is the next film in the main saga. If someone wanted to watch the entire story line in order, it would go like this:

Prequel Trilogy
  • Episode I: The Phantom Menace
  • Episode II: Attack of the Clones
  • Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
Trilogy
  • Episode IV: A New Hope
  • Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
  • Episdoe VI: Return of the Jedi
Sequel Trilogy
  • Episode VII: The Force Awakens
  • Episode VIII: The Last Jedi
  • Episode IX: ???
Star Wars: The Last Jedi

Disney is releasing each of the new episodic films every two years. The same goes for the anthology films, ensuring a new Star Wars movie each year.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi is scheduled for release December 15, 2017.