Disney has unveiled the final trailer for the upcoming Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise Of Skywalker, marking the highly-anticipated end of a saga for the four-decade-old franchise.

The Resistance (Rebellion?) Strikes Back

The early scenes of the final Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise Of Skywalker reminds me of the forest moon of Yavin IV or Endor, though it’s much likely the latter or even a new planet entirely. The likelihood is strong considering we already saw the remnants of the second Death Star (as seen in the first Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise Of Skywalker trailer).

We also see a new ice planet, which may or may not be Hoth (probably not). This is where the secret fleet of Imperial Star Destroyers was possibly kept hidden all these years, which still remains a theory at this point.

Massive Space Battle And The Appearance Of A Fan-Favourite Ship

It looks like director J.J. Abrams is going to try and cram every ship in the history of the franchise into a massive space battle, the likes of which have not been witnessed in Star Wars since 2005’s Star Wars Episode III: Revenge Of The Sith.

One notable ship that can be glimpsed during a brief few seconds of that scene in the trailer is what seems to be the Ghost, the ship of the crew from the animated series Star Wars Rebels (which ran from 2014 to 2018). It was last seen during the Battle of Scarif in 2016’s Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, and who knows where it’s been since then.

Rey And Kylo Ren Joining Forces Against Emperor Palpatine?

In the trailer, we also see Rey and Kylo Ren seemingly working together to destroy an effigy of some kind that looks similar to Supreme Leader Snoke or Darth Vader, though we can’t see enough to clearly ascertain what it is.

However, the most exciting shot in the trailer comes at the very end, as we see Rey facing what might very well be Emperor Palpatine, though it is purposely left vague since we only see the person from the back. It could also easily be Supreme Leader Snoke, or someone else, even the Dark Rey we saw in the previous Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise Of Skywalker D23 trailer.

Besides all that, the final trailer doesn’t really reveal much about the movie’s plot, which was also the same case for the trailers of the previous two movies. The D23 trailer was personally more exciting in terms of reveals, as it hinted at possible time travel being involved.

Time Travel In Star Wars

My working theory is that an earlier version of Emperor Palpatine / Darth Sidious (not the one that died in Star Wars Episode VI: Return Of The Jedi) could have somehow survived all these decades and years by transporting himself to the future. Time travel is a relatively new concept in the franchise, as it was introduced in the final season of the Star Wars Rebels animated series.

In the thirteenth episode of the final season, protagonist Ezra Bridger saved Ahsoka Tano from dying at Darth Vader’s hand by pulling her into the World Between Worlds, a dimension that exists outside of time and space but linking all moments in time together at the same time.

This act proved that time could be manipulated and altered in the Star Wars universe. In the same episode, Emperor Palpatine himself could project an astral form into the World Between Worlds but he needed Ezra’s help to physically enter. His plans were foiled when Ezra retaliated against him and destroyed the portal.

It could be possible that Darth Sidious managed to find another way into the World Between Worlds, and used it to transport himself into the future. If he had access to it, he could have amassed a secret Imperial army and stayed alive all this time without anyone knowing.

Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker is slated to release on 20 December 2019. In the meantime, check out the final trailer below.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Qn_spdM5Zg&w=560&h=315]