Let it be known that on May 23, 2017, the hype train for Star Wars: The Last Jedi officially pulled away from the station. One might have thought said train left when the teaser trailer for The Last Jedi dropped earlier in the month, but no. That was merely the whistle for everyone to get aboard. It is only now, with clear looks at the heroes, villains, and the General herself that we’re officially in motion.
Thanks to Vanity Fair, fans can finally get a long, clear look at Rey (Daisy Ridley), Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), Kylo Ren (Adam Driver), Finn (John Boyega), Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac), Captain Phasma (Gwendoline Christie), General Hux (Domhnall Gleeson), newcomer Rose Tico (Kelly Marie Tran), and General Leia Organa (the late, great Carrie Fisher). Photographed by Annie Leibovitz, the four covers split the cast into the heroes, the Resistance, the First Order, and General Leia and set a tone appropriate director Rian Johnson’s darker film.
The covers give away little in the way of plot detail. Rey and Luke Skywalker are both still clad in the outfits they wore at their first meeting at the end of Star Wars: The Force Awakens. They are also clearly posed on the island where Luke went into self-imposed exile. The photo of Poe, Finn, and Rose shows only that Poe found a new jacket. I’m sure the casual way the X-Wing pilot has his arm draped on Finn’s shoulder will set off a flurry of fan fiction that I double-dog-dare Lucasfilm to make canon. Rose is also clad in “Resistance Brown” instead of the canary-colored jacket from her first look photo at Star Wars Celebration in Orlando.
Meanwhile, the villains seem relatively unscathed. Phasma survived her trip to the garbage chute with her armor intact. Kylo Ren’s scar has healed (if magically moved a bit), and Hux was never in the line of danger so of course he’s fine. And then there’s Leia. The late Carrie Fisher gets her own stunning portrait, a fitting symbol of her unique importance in the world of Star Wars. Without the last Princess of Alderaan, there would be no New Republic. Respect.
Be sure to check out the whole Vanity Fair article and keep your eyes peeled for more news.