The Live-Action panel at D23 provided enough teases and surprises to keep fans talking for the next two years, but one behind the scenes look teased more than the rest. Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi dropped a sizzle reel that, quite frankly, sizzled. We've already broken down some the biggest reveals from the reel, but here's what the footage - and the panel itself - revealed about The Last Jedi. While still shrouding the film in mystery, the panel was an enlightening look at the upcoming film, while still teasing a huge amount of new and exciting information. Not to mention, it managed to confirm several exciting leaks, which only increase the hype levels for the film. Here are the biggest reveals, teases, and leaks to come out of the panel.

A Unique Take On the Universe

The biggest thing emphasized by the cast and crew both during the panel and in the behind the scenes reel was the film's unexpected plot. This is not to say the film was getting bad reviews from it's stars, but they all focused on the fact the film would go against what audiences were expecting. But as Mark Hamill said, "unexpected is good" in a Star Wars film. And even with the amount of information we have about the film — which is more than we had about The Force Awakens — the characters' journeys will no doubt be surprising to both die-hard devotees and casual fans alike. It remains to be seen what exactly those surprises will center on. After all, we still don't know who Rey's (Daisy Ridley)  parents are, or what the ultimate fate of Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) will be, or whether or not Finn (John Boyega) is as Force sensitive as the marketing for the first film made him seem to be. Rian Johnson has mastered the art of teasing audiences with just enough information.

Creative Critters

Another element highlighted in the behind- the-scenes reel were the new aliens and creatures in the film. We got our first glimpse at the space horse first spotted in set photos from 2016's shoot in Dubrovnik, as well as a white fox-like creature. But the cutest and most exciting creature spotted were the porgs, little Ewok-esque bird creatures that leaks have said will be on Luke's island of Ahch-To. These birds will no doubt be fan favorites, given their adorably big eyes and generally cute disposition. What remains to be seen is whether they are the only other inhabitants of Luke's island. Maybe they're not alone? After all, some rumors have pointed to there being a sea monster than resides in Ahch-To's oceans, and we do see shots of Rey diving into the water in the BTS reel. That one, however, we will probably have to wait until December to see.

Lego Leaks Somewhat Confirmed and a Shippy Reunion Promised

One of the biggest potential leak dumps was a Lego set of Rey and Poe (Oscar Isaac) battling a First Order Walker on Crait. Rey was dressed in a new costume with her hair down, and Poe was wearing a new jacket. The costume changes and locations were both confirmed by the behind the scenes reel as well as photos shown at D23 during the panel. Rey and Chewie will eventually leave Ahch-To, later in the film judging by Rey's costume, and since Crait is looking to be the location of the third act's huge battle, it's likely that that is where she is heading.

Fans of the Finn/Rey ship can celebrate — the two heroes will reunite in the film as evidenced by the behind the scenes reel. We see a glimpse of Boyega and Ridley behind the scenes on Crait in costume — Finn is wearing the pants from his First Order infiltration — which means that Finn and Rey fans won't have to wait until Episode IX for the pair to come back together. What this means for their potential romance remains to be seen. Johnson's comments about how he didn't feel like he could fit a central romance into the film could be tied to the fact that Finn and Rey couldn't reunite until late in the game. However,  it's anyone's guess whether Finn will romance Rey or Rose; after all,  they're the most likely pairings for the film.

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Rey's New Look...and New Journey

We know Rey will come home to the resistance at some point in the film, but the behind the scenes reel also teases her journey before she leaves Ahch-To. We see Rey handing Luke back his lightsaber and training, as well as a few shots of her in a hooded robe with her saber. Behind-the-scenes footage showed Ridley training against multiple opponents. Will Rey square off against the Knights of Ren in an epic battle? Or are there new and unknown enemies she'll be facing? Either way, she looks to see a lot of action in the film, using both her lightsaber and her staff. Her new outfit looks suitably Jedi-esque. Her hair being down also points to a major emotional step forward; she finally abandons the hairstyle she's been wearing ever since she was left on Jakku.

Where will all this lead emotionally though? We know Luke and Rey's relationship will form the beating heart of the film, according to Johnson, who also said that Luke's reason for being on the island is key to his relationship with Rey. Does this hint at a fatherly connection, or is Luke somehow tied to Rey being left on Jakku? Rey's parents and identity will no doubt be central to the film, even moreso than it was to the first film. But rather than Rey searching for who her family is, this film will most likely center on her discovering who she really is, parents or no parents.

Finn is Definitely a Big Deal

Boyega already confirmed that Finn would be a big deal in the resistance, but new footage showing Finn with a group of smiling kids all but confirms it. The behind the scenes footage showed that Finn would be doing the majority of the adventuring to new and exciting locales, with new character Rose (Kelly Marie Tran) at his side, as well as trusty robot BB-8. He'll be adventuring onto the casino world of Canto Bight, as well as visiting a prison judging by one particular shot. He'll also be breaking into a First Order ship, as shown by footage of him and Rose in officers' uniforms.

He'll also have a debt to settle with Phasma, who is shaping up to be his main nemesis in the film. On stage, Boyega and Gwendoline Christie had a stare down as he hinted at their upcoming fight in The Last Jedi. Phasma and her stormtroopers — who were seen with new pike-like weapons — look to be a major threat, and a photo of Finn on what looks to be Crait showed the former trooper with blood on his face, mirroring the bloodstained helmet he wore during The Force Awakens. We're all rooting for Finn to walk away victorious from this fight, but he might need all the help he can get. Luckily, with Rose, Rey, and Poe on his side, he's got some good people watching his back.

Poe's New Jacket Suits Him

Heads up, Oscar Isaac fans: Poe looks to be just as dashing in this film as he was in The Force Awakens. This time, his costume will include a new jacket as well as a new ride; his X-Wing is destroyed in both the teaser trailer and the behind the scenes footage. Isaac was not at D23 this year, due to performing Hamlet in NYC, but we got several major glimpses of him in a new ride, as well as diving into a trench on Crait. The jacket confirms the Lego set leaks of him at the battle, and it looks like he might be on ground offense rather than in the air.

Eagle eyed fans pointed out that in his character poster, you can see a necklace tucked under his shirt. A photo posted by Carrie Fisher in 2016 of Isaac in costume showed him wearing a ring around his neck. Could this ring be a hint at a fiancée (or fiancé), or could it be a memento from his late mother Shara Bey? Given that the ring has now appeared in multiple photos, it's likely we'll see it in the film itself, which in turn will add some much-needed backstory to the ace pilot.

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Rosie the Riveter

Of all the new characters, Rose Tico is the one who is getting the most hype. She and Finn will be a dynamic duo in the film, traveling together throughout the galaxy and even sneaking on board a First Order ship together. In the sizzle reel, Tran praised the film's creatures and complex characters. It will be interesting to see how she fits into the existing ensemble, and exactly what the nature of her relationship to Finn is. Hopefully, she will be every inch the likable and courageous heroine fans are hoping she will be.

Also glimpsed in the behind the scenes footage was Paige Tico (Veronia Ngo), Rose's sister, who is a gunner for the resistance. We know she and Poe have a scene together, but we know very little about what happens to her after that. There is a shot of a character in a resistance gunner costume falling down a shaft filled with bombs. Another photo shown of Rose sees her looking very distraught. Could Paige's death be the catalyst for Rose going on her adventure with Finn? Hopefully not, this franchise still needs its female characters. Still, it's a likely option, but hopefully Paige won't be fridged for Rose's development.

Admiral Holdo: Friend or Foe?

Star Wars The Last Jedi Laura Dern as Admiral Holdo and Carrie Fisher as General Leia Organa Behind the Scenes

Laura Dern was also there to promote the film, and we got to see two very interesting photos of Holdo during the panel. One photo was of Holdo surrounded by fog and shooting a blaster; Dern confirmed that she kept making "pew pew" noises while filming action scenes. This is our first reveal that Holdo is in action sequences. While we don't see her on Crait yet, she probably plays a large role in the resistance's escape from D'Quar base. Instead of being just a political figure as some speculated, it is likely that her admiral title is more than just ceremony, giving her experience both on and off the field.

The other photo showed her squaring off with Poe; it drew audible gasps from those in the audience. It's been long rumored that she and Poe will have an antagonistic relationship, and this photo provides fans with all the proof needed that they indeed do. How this will affect Poe's relationship to the resistance and to Leia remains to be seen, but just as Kylo is Rey's antagonist and Phasma is Finn's, expect Holdo to be Poe's main antagonist and foil throughout The Last Jedi.

The Mysterious "DJ"

There is very little that can be said about DJ, given that Johnson and del Toro's entire interview segment was just about his excitement to be in a Star Wars film. Both pictures of DJ did not show very much, and instead just teased his role. We do not know where he is, or how he connects to the plot. In fact, it's likely that DJ is just a codename for his character rather than his actual name (which we also know isn't Ezra Bridger).

Where could he be located, though? It's been rumored that he is on Canto Bight, and the BTS footage shows him with BB-8, who we know accompanies Finn and Rose. Perhaps Finn and Rose have to break him out of prison and that explains why his character is being kept a mystery. The film is supposed to operate in shades of gray, and a criminal offering his help to the resistance is definitely in that category. Just as Holdo might be a good guy who is somewhat evil, DJ might be a bad guy who's more than a little good.

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Luke and the Mysteries of the Jedi Temple

The house was brought to its feet when Mark Hamill walked on stage at D23. Johnson didn't even have a question; he simply gushed about getting to work with him. Hamill took the time to respond to those who have written articles saying he disagrees with Johnson's take on the iconic character, saying that unexpected is good when it comes to a Star Wars film. He stopped before revealing any spoilers though, much to fans' dismay. The brief glimpses of Luke in the sizzle reel showed him in a new costume - one similar to the one worn by Count Dooku in the prequels - and possibly on Crait.

The synopsis released by Disney later that day revealed that the lore of the Jedi and age old mysteries of the Force would be important to the plot of The Last Jedi. Luke went into exile to seek the first Jedi temple, and the only new canon comic that features him shows him looking for a branch of a powerful Force tree, which is tied to Jedi lore (fun fact, he goes searching for this branch with Poe's mother Shara). Whatever mysteries are hiding in the temple will most likely be key to not only Luke's journey after Return of the Jedi but possibly to his relationship with Rey or Rey's identity. Master and apprentice or father and daughter? As the next part of our list said, Star Wars and The Last Jedi are about family.

The General: Honoring Carrie and Leia

There wasn't a dry eye in the house when the late Carrie Fisher was discussed. The tragic death of sci-fi's leading lady sent shockwaves through both Lucasfilm and the fandom, and it's clear that everyone still grieves her. But Johnson promised that we would get some catharsis with Leia's story in this film, even though we would not get true closure. That's all we can really ask for from the franchise that introduced us to Fisher's indomitable spirit, and it's clear that Fisher is in the hearts of every person on that crew.

And what of Leia in the film? We only see a few brief glimpses of her in the sizzle reel, but one is definitely speculation worthy. Leia is on Crait, talking to someone who looks like Rey who's back is to the camera. Leia looks devastated. Is Rey bringing her news of her absent son or brother, or is Leia realizing Rey knows something about her past? It shows that Leia makes it until the end of The Last Jedi and that she is reunited with Rey at the very least. Hopefully she'll be reunited with Luke as well, and we'll get to see the Skywalker siblings together again one last time.

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There's still so much more ground to cover with this behind the scenes reel, from the absence of any significant First Order footage to the return of Lupita N'yongo's Maz Kanata. And perhaps the best part of the run-up to any Star Wars film is the frantic speculation. While we know a lot, there's still so much more we don't know, and that's what makes it truly exciting.

What was your favorite reveal or moment from the sizzle reel? Let us know in the comments, and keep following Screen Rant for all the latest Star Wars news.

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