New images fromStar Wars: The Rise of Skywalkerfocusing on Rey (Daisy Ridley), Kylo Ren (Adam Driver), and the Knights of Ren have emerged courtesy ofEmpire magazine. Ridley and Driver lead a tip-top cast in theJ.J. Abrams-directedRise of Skywalker,the ninth and final installment in theStar WarsSkywalker saga.
Before we can even break down the photos, we have to take a second to admire the gorgeous covers from Empire magazine’s exclusiveRise of Skywalkerissue. Rey and Kylo Ren each get their own cover. In a clever twist, the separate covers form one cohesive image because the lightsabers they’re holding appear crossed when pushed together. A third cover shows Kylo Ren with his mask on, back to Rey, hinting at the final, epic face-off they will have inRise of Skywalker.
Let’s turn to some of the new images featured in Empire’s exclusive coverage, in addition toa photo of Kylo Renand some Stormtroopers getting blasted away by something emitting blue light (Rey’s lightsaber?). The images focus on Rey and Kylo Ren once more as well as the Knights of Ren. It’s tough to tell where in the film’s events the Force-fight for control of a lightsaber between Rey and Kylo Ren will happen, but it’s a reminder that a lot has transpired since they teamed up for an epic duel against Snoke inStar Wars: The Last Jedi. Now, they’re in firm opposition of each other. We also get a closer look at the Knights of Ren uniforms, which we can see are even more imposing and ominous up close.
In addition to Ridley and Driver,The Rise of Skywalker’s cast includesOscar Isaac,John Boyega,Kelly Marie Tran,Mark Hamill,Billy Dee Williams,Naomi Ackie,Keri Russell,Richard E. Grant,Domhnall Gleeson, andIan McDiarmid. Specifics about the plot have been kept under wraps but we do know Rey and Kylo Ren’s battle for the galaxy will figure heavily into the plot as the Resistance makes its final stand against the First Order.
Keep reading if you’re interested to know world ofStar Warsandwhat to expect inThe Rise of Skywalker.Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalkerarrives in theaters on December 20.
