Though Star Wars: The Last Jedi writer/director Rian Johnson admits his film has some parallels to The Empire Strikes Back, what we've learned about the story of the saga's eighth chapter seemingly illustrates it will not be a beat-for-beat remake of that aforementioned classic. One of the most common criticisms lobbied against The Force Awakens - even by those who love it - is that the movie "borrowed" a little too liberally from A New Hope and was a soft reboot. While the new characters became instant fan-favorites and an exciting future was set up, some of the similarities between Episode VII and the seminal original Star Wars were hard to ignore. Whether it was a cute droid carrying top secret information on a desert planet or villains with a planet killing weapon, history was definitely repeating itself in some respects.Since many wrote Force Awakens off as an original trilogy retread, the fear going into Episode VIII is that it would replicate the plot points and structure of The Empire Strikes Back - especially since a large chunk of the film involves the young protagonist training on a remote planet with an old Jedi, while being separated from her friends. Johnson has assured the fan base these concerns are hardly warranted. Up until recently, it was difficult for some to gauge how truthful those comments are, but thanks to all that's come out about The Last Jedi over the summer, it's safe to say a few months away from release that this is no Empire remake.
The Empire Strikes Back Story
To start, it's good to quickly recap the narrative of The Empire Strikes Back. Opening with the Imperial assault on the Rebel base on Hoth, the main characters are split up at the end of the first act. Luke Skywalker flies off with R2-D2 to find Yoda on Dagobah and continue his Jedi training; Han Solo, Princess Leia, Chewbacca, and C-3PO are in a Millennium Falcon in desperate need of repairs, doing their best to outrun the fleet. Luke's friends are the prey of one Darth Vader, who is hoping to bring his son out so he can make an offer to complete Luke's training in the ways of the Force. Once Han and Leia are captured (betrayed by Han's old buddy Lando Calrissian), Luke makes the rash (but admirable) decision to try to rescue them, confronts Vader, and learns the horrifying truth about his family. Those are the broad strokes of the story.
Even though Star Wars is known for its great scale and large canvas, Empire is truly an intimate character-driven film. The war between the Rebels and Empire, which was the driving force of A New Hope, is pushed to the side so the sequel can be more about Luke vs. Vader. The entire movie is about the Sith Lord's hunt for Luke, building up to their duel at Cloud City. By the time the credits roll, the Battle of Hoth is little more than an afterthought. Its primary purpose is to be a set piece that symbolizes the strength of the Empire before the "real" story kicks into gear. This isn't to say those action sequences are nothing but empty eye candy, but for most of the Empire runtime, the Rebellion's fight against tyranny takes a back seat. When Vader is ironing out strategies with his officers, they're not planning a strike on a Rebel command ship. All that matters to Vader is Skywalker.
Of course, there are notable subplots as well. Chief among them is the budding romance between Han and Leia, the seeds of which were planted (perhaps unknowingly at the time) in A New Hope. There's a palpable tension during their scenes together, giving Empire another emotional through-line to follow. Luke's time with Yoda delivered some of the most memorable moments in the franchise, broadening the audience's understanding of the Force and what it truly meant to be a Jedi Knight. Yoda's words of wisdom are endlessly quotable, and at times appropriate for real-life situations. In many ways, Empire set a new standard for Hollywood sequels, building on what came before to further develop the characters and universe in ways that surprised moviegoers. There's a reason why it remains the popular pick for the title of "best Star Wars film."
As stated above, The Last Jedi is going to bear some semblance to the earlier iconic middle chapter, but most of them are surface level. The details of the plot sound different from Episode V, with Johnson creating all-new planets and alien species that have no original trilogy counterpart. Even the Star Wars 8 cast was impressed with the direction he took. John Boyega praised the director for making the property fresh, while Mark Hamill infamously fundamentally disagreed with the portrayal of an older Luke. Obviously, nobody is going to come out and say Last Jedi is a blatant Empire remake four months out from release, but comments made about the film's story indicate the innovative adventure fans are craving.
What We Know About Last Jedi
Whereas the Rebels against the Empire was not a big focus of Empire, the escalating war with the Resistance and First Order is a key aspect of Last Jedi. For the entirety of the original trilogy (until Endor, of course), the Imperials were the governing body of the galaxy, spreading their iron will across the universe. The sequel trilogy has introduced the intriguing concept of a galaxy in chaos. The Republic was destroyed in Force Awakens, putting the Resistance in an extremely vulnerable position as they try to push back against the well-resourced First Order. And while the villains look to have an upper hand, they have not established control yet. The attitude surrounding them has changed, with Supreme Leader Snoke earning the reputation of a zealot. Before Starkiller base, he was seen as an empty threat.
If the "A" story of Episode VIII revolves around Rey trying to convince a grumpy Luke to rejoin the fight, the "B" plot is the much-publicized mission Finn goes on for the Resistance, alongside newcomer Rose Tico. This is another vital difference between Empire and Last Jedi. In the former, Han and Leia's objectives were all about their own survival. They were not sent out by Alliance leaders on a top assignment. During Episode VIII, Johnson has Finn and Rose going undercover within the First Order (for reasons that have yet to be revealed), which obviously is related to the overarching war. In their travels, the two will be headed to the casino at Canto Bight, pitched as a playground for the galaxy's rich and elite - something that's never been depicted onscreen before. Additionally, Poe's relationship with General Leia will continue to evolve. This is another story beat that's directly tied to the Resistance, since Leia is hoping Poe can transform into a seasoned leader for the group. When one also considers Laura Dern's Vice Admiral Holdo, the Resistance vs. the First Order is a very important part of the film.
Villain Kylo Ren starts The Last Jedi in a "rehabilitation state," setting up some key differences between him and his famous grandfather. When asked earlier in the year if the former Ben Solo lives to see Episode IX, Adam Driver had the fascinating response of, "Depends on what your idea of living is," suggesting Kylo's crippling addiction to the dark side could worsen as he completes his training under Supreme Leader Snoke. Kylo is said to be on a personal mission to prove himself to Snoke following what happened at Starkiller base, which sounds like a dangerous proposition. He's already shown he has no qualms about killing family members, so there's no telling how far he'll go to make up for his embarrassing mistakes. It's interesting that Luke felt he could bring Anakin back when he learned who Darth Vader really was, but ran away after Ben's turn. Maybe Skywalker knows his nephew is beyond saving, but couldn't bring himself to end Kylo's life. It's a stretch to say Kylo will end Episode VIII as more machine than man, but he reads as the inverse of Vader. Empire showed Vader's human side for the first time; Last Jedi sees Kylo being further corrupted.
Speaking of Luke, his time with Rey is where Last Jedi is arguably most likely to resemble Empire, but even here, Johnson has thrown the audience some curveballs. Skywalker's shocking proclamation that it was time for the Jedi to end reverberated through the fan base, indicating that while Luke does train Rey, he's probably following a different playbook. As he says in the trailer, the Force is "so much bigger" than the light and dark sides, so he isn't simply going to repeat the teachings of Obi-Wan and Yoda to Rey. The audience, along with the sequel trilogy protagonist, could learn a new path that deconstructs decades of prior Star Wars mythology and makes the Force about something more than just becoming a Jedi. Plus, Rey did not travel to Ahch-To specifically to be trained. She went to convince Luke - a broken man filled with regret - to rejoin the fight. Skywalker's rejection of Rey in Last Jedi calls to mind Yoda's reluctance to teach a younger Luke, but the context is very different. The proposed master doesn't doubt the student - he doubts himself.
Conclusion
While these are the broad strokes, there are other details that have been revealed over time to illustrate Last Jedi is going to be something of a different beast. Those looking for the next Han and Leia couple were dealt a bad hand when Johnson said a love story isn't a primary part of his movie's core. There could, of course, be inklings of one, but it won't be a driving force. The mystery of Rey's parents is also a much bigger deal on Earth than it is in the galaxy far, far away, with Daisy Ridley remarking the scavenger's family history is "less important" than she thinks. Those questions will finally be answered, but it doesn't sound like a massive "I am your father" twist is in store. That has to be refreshing for some who want Star Wars to move away from "everyone's related to everyone" as a trope.
With Episode VIII positioned as a darker (while still fun) middle chapter that pushes its characters to the limit, it's easy to see why some thought it would be Empire 2.0. It's encouraging to hear the cast and crew talk about the film and what's in store, since it helps clear the air and sell Last Jedi as something very new. This was probably an area Lucasfilm wanted to hit hard in their marketing campaign, and it's smart. Fans know there should be surprises in store when they settle into theaters, adding to the already high levels of anticipation. The narrative sounds like a departure from the Empire structure. Now it just has to prove it.
