Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is under pressure to deliver following Disney’s Box Office failings on The Last Jedi and Solo: A Star Wars Story. In a bid to get fans back on track, JJ Abrams is expected to go down the nostalgia route and find a way to reel in those who have been deterred ever since George Lucas sold the franchise back in 2013.
With that in mind, we now look at six planets from previous Star Wars movies we’d love to see again. But there also four that we don’t want to see, either because they have no relevance to the story or they were quite forgettable in the first place.
Want: Tatooine
We’re starting with the obvious one. Star Wars started with Tattooine and, what with this being the final chapter of the Skywalker saga, it would be fitting to end it back where it all begun. Whether this is in the form of flashbacks, or even having our heroes and villains all travel there, it would definitely go down a storm with fans of the franchise.
There has been speculation that flash-fights may be used in the movies, meaning the prospect of Rey and Kylo Ren facing off (or even battling a greater foe such as Empreror Palpatine) on the desert planet would be great. Especially with that gorgeous binary sunset. Star Wars 9 is also meant to be the most visually-stunning blockbuster yet and, with today’s technology, can make the location even more iconic.
Don’t Want: Crait
While Crait was aesthetically pleasing and played a key role in The Last Jedi, it would be unnecessary to head back there. The planet was actually a bit of a letdown in that there was very little there. An old rebel base was a useful hub for the Resistance as they came under fire from the First Order and the Crystal Creatures were interesting too but, that aside, it had very little impact.
It’s not expected to be back for the Rise of Skywalker and that’s probably for the best. It’s the scene of Kylo Ren’s greatest humiliation and Ben Solo would no doubt want to stay as clear away from there as possible.
Want: Jakku
“Why does everybody want to go back to Jakku?” Finn asks midway through The Force Awakens. Well, for audiences, it’s because they need answers. They need to know things that both the first movie of the sequel trilogy and its successor, The Last Jedi, failed to address the first time around.
For Rey, it’s feasible she would go back there. It’s where her parents left her behind all those years ago and, with more twists in her story to come, it would be obvious to return there in hunt of the truth. What if her parents, who were supposedly from there, never really left? The expanded universe has delved deep into the planet, revealing that it was identified as an ancient Sith site thousands of years before the battle that ended the Empire’s reign. There could be something sinister amid all that sunshine...
Don't Want: D’Qar
Another planet it would be illogical to return to is D’Qar, the planet where the Resistance based themselves before they came under attack from the First Order in the opening stages of The Last Jedi. But the fact we saw it attacked isn’t the main reason we want to go back there.
One of the biggest complaints of Disney is their attempts to copy things from the original trilogy. And D’Qar seemed to be a copycat of Yavin IV, what with it’s its greenery, ancient temples, and even inhabitants. If we’re to return to an old base we’d much rather it be Yavin, purely for nostalgia purposes. And going back would take away from that dramatic Last Jedi opening scene.
Want: Coruscant
Coruscant was certainly a gorgeous planet, the New York City of the Star Wars universe bustling with an assortment of different people and creatures alike. It was also base to the Jedi for thousands of years prior to Order 66, where Palpatine used chips installed into troopers to ensure they carry out mass murder and eliminate all the Jedi around the galaxy.
However, it also hides a sinister secret. The Jedi built the temple on top of an ancient Sith shrine, something Palpatine knew all about. With the Emperor set to return for The Rise of Skywalker, he may head there in search of power. Additionally, the very shrine itself could hold the answer as to how exactly he’ll return, either through full-blown resurrection or even essence transfer. It would be good to back there one last time.
Don't Want: Ahch-To
After Kylo Ren turns to the dark side and snubs Luke Skywalker to work alongside Supreme Leader Snoke, we learn that the Jedi legend has gone into exile on the planet of Ahch-To. Before the Last Jedi released, fans were unable to stop theorizing about what the planet may be hiding.
But the truth was, very little. There’s the Jedi texts - but then Luke gives up on them anyway. There’s an ancient force tree, but the force ghost of Yoda sets it on fire. And then there’s that weird patch on the island where Rey gets tempted by the dark side, only to end up seeing thousands of herself in the mirror - leaving audiences scratching their heads in bewilderment as a result. Given it failed to live up to expectations, it’s best not to return.
Want: Mustafar
One of the biggest burning questions after The Last Jedi is where does Kylo Ren go from here? Not just literally - the thought of him ruling the First Order given his short temper and petulant attitude is intriguing - but physically too. There’s no Death Star remaining, Starkiller Base was obliterated in The Force Awakens and Snoke’s Star Destroyer wasn’t looking too good last time we saw it.
Which is why it makes sense for Ben Solo to be on Mustafar, inside the same castle his grandfather, Darth Vader, used to live. The Force Awakens showed Kylo wanting to ‘finish what Vader started’ - so what better way to go about that than locate yourself at the very place Anakin Skywalker used to live? The planet is also where Vader turned to the dark side and has such an aura about it it may even help his grandchild turn even more away from the light.
Don't Want: Canto Bight
Ah, Canto Bight. Another planet from The Last Jedi that did more bad than good, with fans detesting the decision to have Rose and Finn travel there in search of fuel at the same time where Rey, Kylo Ren, and Snoke are involved in a three-way showdown.
If that wasn’t bad enough, Finn and Rose’s little trip to the gambler’s haven ends up yielding no answers. They meet DJ rather than the master code-breaker and he leads them into a trap, meaning it all counts for nothing. The suggestions involving the broom boy at the end also irked some of the franchise’s die-hard fans and just about everybody wants to forget the planet was ever in the movie to begin with.
Want: Endor
One of the final scenes of The Rise of Skywalker trailer certainly got us speculating. It shows Rey, Finn, C3PO, Poe Dameron Chewbacca, BB8 and iNSERT on a planet surrounded by greenery, looking out at what seems to be the remains of the second Death Star.
And that’s led to talk it could be Endor, which would be a brilliant nod to the original trilogy. If a chunk of the giant space station ended up there then it would shed new light on the celebrations at the end of Return of the Jedi, with the older heroes none the wiser that a piece, perhaps a vital piece, was so close. Palpatine’s spirit may reside inside the ruins which could be why Rey and the rest of the protagonists look so wary when approaching. That would definitely make sense.
Want: Takodana
Another mystery we need solving is just how was Maz Kanata able to get hold of Luke Skywalker’s old, original lightsaber. When Han Solo quizzes her on the matter, she says ‘it’s a story for another time.’ But that time is now. It really is now. After two movies, it’s something we really need an answer to.
The last time we had seen that lightsaber was when Luke had his arm chopped off by Darth Vader on Cloud City. How did it end up in Maz’s possession from there? Some have even speculated the hand actually led to the creation of Rey, which may explain why it called out to her in The Force Awakens. If the sequel trilogy ends without this being answered then there’s going to be some seriously annoyed fans out there.