Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker's latest marketing banners feature the Knights of Ren and Rose Tico (Kelly Marie Tran). Capping off the ongoing sequel trilogy that started in 2015's Star Wars: The Force Awakens and followed by 2017's Star Wars: The Last Jedi, the upcoming film will be the final installment of the Skywalker saga. And aside from the main cast who will be front and center in the J.J. Abrams' film, there are a couple more key players in the narrative for both sides which will make it more exciting.
Plot details for The Rise of Skywalker are still tightly under wraps with Lucasfilm and Disney running a measured promotional campaign for the movie. But based on what's revealed thus far, it picks up a year after The Last Jedi. Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) is now the Supreme Leader of the First Order after his secret betrayal of Snoke (Andy Serkis), and after being totally ignored in Star Wars 8, his group of henchmen are confirmed to return. Meanwhile, following her debut in the Rian Johnson-directed flick, Rose's loyal Resistance fighter is expected to be back on her feet after recuperating from the injury she suffered at the end of The Last Jedi.
Two new banners for The Rise of Skywalker were shared on Reddit by users zcure and villette. The first one features two panels for Rey (Daisy Ridley) and Kylo Ren split in the middle. They are with their respective allies - Rey with Finn (John Boyega) and Poe (Oscar Isaac), while Kylo Ren with the mysterious Knights of Ren. The other marketing poster focuses solely on the good guys with Rey, Finn and Poe joined with new character Jannah (Naomi Ackie) and Rose. Check out the images below:
In the handful of marketing materials released for The Rise of Skywalker, it seems like Lucasfilm is highlighting the contrast between Kylo Ren and Rey and with the side of the Force they supposedly represent - dark and light, respectively. That said, there are some who remain convinced that one of them will eventually change sides at the very end. If anything, the trailer for the movie reveals Rey in an ominous look, as if she switched alliance. Kylo Ren's tweaked helmet, on the other hand, may make him look more menacing with the additional red streaks, but it's difficult to count out the possibility that he may eventually come back to the light. And if the film may be bold, it's possible that their supposed allies are the ones to jump fences toward the end of the narrative. Considering how The Last Jedi left things for everyone involved, things can go in countless number of ways.
Using the Knights of Ren sporadically in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker marketing is understandable. After all, one of the bigger questions the the film will hopefully answer is their origins and identity. Putting them in a few posters alongside Kylo Ren effectively reminds people that they exist despite not showing up in The Last Jedi. Things are quite different with Rose, however. Following an online movement that asks where she is in most of the promotional materials and merchandise for the flick, it's nice to see her alongside the faces of the current Resistance.
Source: Lucasfilm (via zcure and villette)
