Star Wars actor Richard E. Grant expects backlash from Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. With less than a week until the final installment of the latest trilogy hits, Star Wars fans are experiencing a significant degree of excitement, but also no small amount of apprehension.

As one of the biggest and longest running franchises in the history of cinema, Star Wars is no stranger to highly anticipated releases as well as substantial amounts of backlash. Perhaps one of the biggest sources of controversy and negative opinion was the prequel trilogy, which arrived from 1999-2005. Though the three films came after a period of time where fans felt they would never see another trilogy, let alone a single film in the beloved series again, that excitement soon turned to anger for many. The Phantom Menace offered many new characters, but it was the introduction of Jar Jar Binks that aroused the ire of some fans to no small degree. As derided as the character was, however, it would not mark the last time in which Star Wars fans objected to changes or new additions to the characters and storyline of the iconic franchise.

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The arrival of the latest Star Wars trilogy, which kicked off in 2015 with J.J. Abrams’ (mostly) well-received The Force Awakens, is now set to culminate with the release of the upcoming Rise of Skywalker. There’s certainly no shortage of hype surrounding the film, but as far as Rise of Skywalker having the potential to anger some fans, well, unfortunately that’s always a risk. Exactly how much of a risk for backlash exists in the new film remains to be seen, but at least one of the film’s stars feels that negative reactions are inevitable. In an interview with i09, Richard E. Grant, who plays Allegiant General Pryde in the new film, had the following to say:

“People feel incredibly passionate and possessive about it. I understand that because I have been a Star Wars fan since I was 20 years old in 1977 when I was a drama student. Inevitably there will be a Game of Thrones syndrome to Star Wars because you can’t please everybody all of the time. And the ending, what people want it to be and what it actually is, hopefully, for the majority of people seeing it, they will feel that they’ve had their wishes fulfilled. But inevitably there’s gonna be people that don’t feel that way. And you can’t anticipate that. You have to do what is honest and true to you. And I think that J.J. [Abrams] and Chris [Terrio] have done that to the absolute ends of their ability.”

Star Wars The Rise of Skywalker Rey Kylo Ren poster

Grant is no stranger to passionate fans and their franchises, having worked on Doctor Who, Game of Thrones and now Star Wars. He’s also the star of one of the biggest cult comedies of all time, director Bruce Robinson’s 1987 classic, Withnail and I, which has produced no shortage of downright obsessive fans. Because of this extensive experience, Grant’s insight is worth paying attention to. The idea that every Star Wars film will be everything to all fans just isn’t a reality, regardless of what film or franchise is being considered. Grant isn’t suggesting that Abrams or Terrio have created something that only some fans may be able to enjoy, however. He’s simply being practical when evaluating how things will ultimately end up.

Perhaps then, the best thing about Disney’s near continuous production of Star Wars films is that there will never be a lack of variety. Jar Jar Binks’ inclusion bothered many, but there are definitely still those fans who love the divisive creature. At the same turn, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker may not hit the mark for everyone, but Star Wars' future is such that there will always be new opportunities for the unsatisfied to be satisfied.

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Source: i09

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