A new promotional still from Star Wars: The Last Jedi depicts General Leia Organa deep in a moment of thought. Lucasfilm's marketing campaign for the highly-anticipated sequel has been characteristically brief for the studio, with the Celebration teaser trailer and D23 sizzle reel serving as the primary advertising materials thus far. Soon, however, it's expected that will change. Force Friday II takes place in September, and then things will be in full swing with one massive push in the fall ahead of the film's December release date. Thanks to a variety of leaks, fans have already gotten an idea of what to expect in the next few months.
It wasn't long ago a collection of behind-the-scenes promo images came out early, showcasing most of the principal Last Jedi cast in their new costumes. One key figure that was missing from the gallery was Leia, who is set to have an integral role in the film that sadly marks the late Carrie Fisher's final performance as the iconic character. Now, however, viewers can get a new look at Episode VIII's Leia, as a new photo has made its way online.
Appearing on Tumblr, the picture shows Leia in formal attire - an outfit that has been glimpsed at previously in some of the footage already released (making it seem like this is Fisher's main costume for at least the first act). What's most noteworthy here is the general's facial expression, which appears to be a combination of sorrow and contemplation. Since The Last Jedi picks up just moments after The Force Awakens, the death of Han Solo will still be fresh in Leia's mind, but she also has to lead the Resistance in an increasingly chaotic war against the First Order. She has a lot to deal with, but Leia has never been one to back down before. You can check out the photo by clicking on the link below.
Click for The Last Jedi Leia Promotional Image
Because of Fisher's untimely passing last December, fans have a strong interest in seeing how Leia factors into the Star Wars 8 narrative. Writer/director Rian Johnson promised that the actress' performance will provide moviegoers with catharsis, while John Boyega mentioned the film is a fitting sendoff for the franchise legend. Plot details are under wraps, so it will be fascinating to watch how Leia's story unfolds. Disney CEO Bob Iger revealed the character's role did not change due to real-life circumstances, but General Organa was originally going to be a main character in Episode IX. Alterations presumably were made, and the hope is now whatever decisions were made tastefully honor Fisher's legacy while crafting an engaging chapter in the saga.
Viewers are almost definitely going to have to wait until December to see how it all plays out. Even if the forthcoming second trailer offers more about the themes and story, the preview likely won't reveal too much in an effort the preserve secrets. Star Wars is one of the few properties out there that can break box office records with minimal marketing, as everyone is already very aware Episode VIII is on the way. The good news is that it will be here in four short months, so there isn't much longer.
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Source: Tumblr
