Star Wars News: The End of ‘Rise of Skywalker’ Will Melt Your Mind

It came in too late to be included in the last roundup, but everyone has met the Sith Trooper that got revealed in the run-up to Comic-Con International, right? Surely you’ve spent as much time as we have trying to work out just what that name and color scheme means. Are these the next generation of stormtroopers, or the next generation of the Imperial Guard? Are they actually Sith? Or simply choosing the name? What are J.J. Abrams and Kylo Ren up to? So many questions. While we all collectively ponder these queries, let’s catch up on all the other Star Wars news out there.

The End of Rise of Skywalker Will Melt Your Mind

The Source: Kevin Smith, of all people

Probability of Accuracy: How much faith do you put in second- and third-hand accounts of events? That’s the question.

The Real Deal: You might think you’re prepared for this December’s Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, but Kevin Smith wants you to know that you’re probably not. Smith visited the set of the movie and was told by crew that there was one thing in particular he really needed to look at. “They were like, ‘You have to see this. When you see it, it’ll melt your mind.’ I was like, ‘What was it?’ and they were like ‘Ask J.J.'” he told IGN. As it turned out, director J.J. Abrams didn’t agree with his crew. “He goes, ‘Don’t.’ I said ‘Why?’ And he said ‘It’s the last shot of the movie.’ I was like, well, now I really want to see it, and he said ‘You don’t want this spoiled. You want to be in a theater when you see this, trust me.'” So, what’s in the final shot of the movie? It remains a mystery, but anyone who’s not convinced that it’s going to be a big deal after reading that, you’re a liar and I don’t believe you.

Finally, the Origins of the Ren Clan

The Source: Marvel Comics

Probability of Accuracy: We know this one is for real; it’s a proper publishing announcement.

The Real Deal: It’s been a story element that fans have been curious about since The Force Awakens four years ago, and now we have a date for when audiences will get to know a little bit more about the Knights of Ren. This December, Marvel will launch Star Wars: The Rise of Kylo Ren, a four-issue series written by Star Wars: Darth Vader‘s Charles Soule, all about how Ben Solo became everyone’s favorite sad-boy Sith. “You’re not ready,” Soule tweeted, adding “Hell, I barely am.” (No artist was announced when the project was revealed at Comic-Con, but it’s far enough out that the reason for that could be that no artist is attached yet.)

Soon You Too Can Use The Force! (Well, Virtually)

The Source: Lucasfilm’s VR arm, ILMxLab

Probability of Accuracy: As long as you accept that all Force usage will involve the use of virtual reality and be limited to what the programmers want you to be able to do, it’s pretty accurate.

The Real Deal: Lucasfilm’s ILMxLab unveiled the second episode of the VR series Vader Immortal at Comic-Con and further revealed that the experience will feature Darth Vader teaching people how to use the Force. “The way we thought about this was, we wanted to give you the Vader equivalent of Yoda teaching Luke about the Force in Empire Strikes Back,” director Ben Snow told StarWars.com. “So we wanted it to be slightly darker and more twisted. He talks about the power of the dark side as well as the things you can do with the Force.” The new episode will also let the player discover more about the Black Bishop, a character introduced in the first episode, who Snow says “becomes quite important” in the next installment. Lucasfilm hasn’t revealed a release date for the second installment yet, but suffice to say it can’t come soon enough.

Californians and Those in California Will Get Mandalorian Sneak Preview

The Source: Lucasfilm and Disney

Probability of Accuracy: This is an official announcement; it’s as accurate as such things get.

The Real Deal: If missing The Mandalorian panel during April’s Star Wars Celebration made you apoplectic at the exclusive footage that you missed out on, Disney is offering you a second chance, as long as you happen to be attending D23 Expo in Anaheim this August. Turns out, there will be a Mandalorian sneak preview during the Disney+ panel on Friday, August 23 with series creator Jon Favreau, writer/director Dave Filoni, and mysterious “special guests” showing up to talk about the upcoming series. Elsewhere at D23, there will also be a Lucasfilm Pavilion showing off the stormtrooper design exhibit from Comic-Con, and an area for kids showing the Star Wars Galaxy of Adventures shorts. The show runs from August 23 through 25 at the Anaheim Convention Center.

In the Future, It’ll Cost Less Than $120 to Look Like Boba Fett

The Source: Hasbro

Probability of Accuracy: You can even go and check it out on the internet yourself!

The Real Deal: Perhaps The Mandalorian has gotten you in the mood to dress up like a Mandalorian. Perhaps that particular Mandalorian you want to dress up like is the first one that you saw, which is to say, Boba Fett. Hasbro can feel your need, and is ready to help you meet it with a new replica Boba Fett helmet it’ll be releasing next spring. How awesome is this helmet? Well, it includes a movie-authentic paint job, interior padding, and most importantly, an illuminated range finger HUD. No, really, think about that last part again. Really think about it. The helmet will cost $119.99, and is currently available for pre-order. You know you want it.

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