Ever since the title was first announced, fans have been wondering exactly what to expect with Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Many – including those of us at ComicBook.com – have theorized about the title’s indication of the film’s plot. As it turns out, that level of speculation was very much expected by the film’s creative team.
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Kathleen Kennedy, President of LucasFilm, explained the choice of The Last Jedi during an interview with Vanity Fair.
“That’s actually what’s interesting about the title,” Kennedy explained, “and very intentionally ambiguous.”
Rian Johnson, who wrote and directed The Last Jedi, described his process for choosing the title – as well as his worry that the Internet would guess it too early.
“That was the very first thing, when I had not even written the script. When I was coming up with the story, I had that title. So I’ve had that title in my head now for years. I was so terrified that someone would guess it—it seemed like an obvious title. Every time a fake title would leak, I would hold my breath and click on the link and be like, ‘Oh no, did they get it?’ But luckily, we were able to put it out clean.”
In terms of the title’s ambiguity, Johnson hinted that audiences might be approaching it the wrong way, but that they will have to wait until the movie premieres to find out why.
“I never thought that [whether the title references Luke or Rey] was going to be the question.” Johnson explained. “I guess partially because the answer—and this is going to sound like I’m being coy, but I swear I’m not—is, you do have to see the movie. It’s not as simple as saying, ‘It’s this person—ha-ha!’ It is a little more complicated than that. I guess I can say this, that when—no, I’m not going to say anything.”
Johnson did tease that the title could take on more than one meaning, particularly thanks to its continuation of the ending of Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
“One would think, let’s say this,” Johnson offered, “that at the end of Episode VII it refers to Luke, because of the notion that this religion has died out and he is the last of them.”
(If that answer sounds a little confusing, you can check out our theory as to how The Last Jedi’s singular meaning could apply – but also not apply – to the film.)
Star Wars: The Last Jedi is the second film in the new Star Wars sequel trilogy that began with Star Wars: The Force Awakens in 2015. The film will deal with Luke training Rey to become a, and possibly the last, Jedi. Meanwhile, the Resistance, including Poe Dameron and First Order defector Finn, continues to fight against the First Order, led by General Hux, while Supreme Leader Snoke and his Dark Side follower Kylo Ren continue their mysterious plot.
Star Wars: The Last Jedi is written and directed by Rian Johnson and stars Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, Gwendoline Christie, Andy Serkis, Benicio Del Toro, Laura Dern, and Kelly Marie Tran.
MORE STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI NEWS: New Last Jedi Characters Revealed / Mark Hamill Describes His New Diet / How Mark Hamill Would Have Changed Han Solo’s Death / Rumor: Luke Skywalker’s Last Jedi Gear Could Be Important
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Image Credit: Lucasfilm
