Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise Of Skywalker will feature newcomer Naomi Ackie in the role of 'really cool' Jannah: 'She packs a punch'
Naomi Ackie is one of the new faces for Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise Of Skywalker.
On Friday during the Star Wars Celebration in Chicago it was announced the actress would be playing the role of Jannah.
The 27-year-old British star spoke to USA Today about her character: 'On a scale of 1 to 10, she’s like 25,' said the beauty. 'I felt pretty cool playing Jannah, I'm not going to lie. I'm not a very cool person personally, but she's really cool. She packs a punch.'
New! Naomi Ackie is one of the new faces for Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise Of Skywalker
Good addition: On Friday during the Star Wars Celebration in Chicago it was announced the actress would be playing the role of Jannah
Unfortunately, Jannah was not seen in the new teaser trailer which dropped on Friday at the Celebration.
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Ackie studied at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, on the Collaborative and Devised Theatre Course.
She has appeared in a 2015 episode of Doctor Who and won a British Independent Film Award in 2017 for the film Lady Macbeth.
With pals: Here she is seen with (L-R) producers Kathleen Kennedy, Michelle Rejwan, Daisy Ridley (Rey), and Kelly Marie Tran (Rose Tico) at The Rise of Skywalker panel at the Star Wars Celebration at McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago, Illinois
Now she is facing massive fame from being in the Star Wars franchise.
'It felt very real when I was getting fitted for my costume, the final one,' Ackie said.
'I looked at myself in a giant mirror and it was very surreal. I was like, "OK, there's no going back on this now. This is happening. You can't deny this anymore, Naomi."That's when it felt real and amazing.'
Friday offered up plenty of new images and information for loyal fans. Not only was the teaser released for December's Star Wars IX but so was the title: The Rise Of Skywalker.
And several cast members hit the stage alongside director JJ Abrams and Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy. Daisy Ridley, who plays Rey, was lovely in black as the audience sang happy birthday to her; she turned 27-years-old on Wednesday.
Also seen was Oscar Isaac (Poe), John Boyega (Finn), Kelly Marie Tran (Rose), Anthony Daniels (C-3PO) and Joonas Suotamo (Chewbacca).
All here: (from left) Stephen Colbert, JJ Abrams, Kennedy, Anthony Daniels, Billy Dee Williams, Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Tran, Joonas Suotamo and Naomi
And Billy Dee Williams, who reprises his role as Lando Calrissian, was a happy addition.
'How did I find Lando again?' Williams said. 'Lando never left me.'
Mark Hamill, who voices Luke Skywalker in the film, and Adam Driver, who plays Kylo Ren, were no shows at the packed event.
JJ is currently in the process of editing and adding visual effects to the film. Episode IX opens nationwide December 20, 2019.
She made it: Star Wars Episode IX will feature a live Princess Leia, played by Carrie Fisher, even though she died in 2016, director Abrams shared on Friday; seen with Kennedy
IX will feature a live Princess Leia played by Carrie Fisher, even though she died in 2016, director Abrams confirmed on Friday.
He already told fans this in 2018.
What's new here is that Leia is very much alive in IX and not seen in mere flashbacks, which fans thought she might be.
'Princess Leia lives in this film in way that is mind-blowing to me,' Abrams said.
Also revealed is that IX doesn't pick up immediately after the events of The Last Jedi.
All good with her: Daisy seen here smiling at John and Oscar during the sit down in Illinois
He added that some time has gone by. JJ teased that it will be an adventure that the group goes on together.
'This movie is about this new generation and what they've inherited, the light and the dark,' Abrams added. 'As they face this greatest evil, are they prepared?'
Lucasfilm president Kennedy also reiterated that Episode IX will close out the newest trilogy and the 9-film Skywalker saga that began in 1977.
In a great mood: This is Ridley's third Star Wars film; here she is seen in a strapless dress
Stephen Colbert, who is a superfan of Star Wars, moderated the panel.
Fitting he wore black: Ian McDiarmid, who plays bad guy Emperor Palpatine, also spoke
Star Wars was created by George Lucas. The franchise began with the eponymous 1977 movie.
The first film, later subtitled Episode IV – A New Hope, was followed by two successful sequels, Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Episode VI – Return of the Jedi (1983).
A subsequent prequel trilogy, consisting of Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999), Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002) and Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005), was completed by Lucas.
He called it the 'tragedy of Darth Vader.'
Sitting pretty: Billy Dee Williams held onto his cane and wore a sharp suit, nice scarf and sunglasses
On screen: In trailer he is seen laughing as he rides through space in the Millennium Falcon
A sequel trilogy began with Episode VII – The Force Awakens (2015), continued with Episode VIII – The Last Jedi (2017), and will end with Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker this year.
One wheeled: Described as a friend of BB-8, D-0 was created by Neal Scanlan and the creature and robotics team
The teaser was action packed and full of cast members.
The trailer begins with Rey alone in the desert. She is breathing heavily as she gets information from the late Luke Skywalker.
Luke may have died at the end of the most recent installment but his voice dominates the teaser trailer.
'We passed on all we know,' says Luke from the heavens. 'A thousand generations live in you now.'
Rey holds onto a lightsaber as she has a stern look on her face while surveying the desert. A spaceship is off in the distance and coming towards her fast. She then pulls out her lightsaber which has a long white light.
The teaser is here! The trailer begins with Rey alone in the desert. She is breathing heavily as she gets information from the late Luke Skywalker. Luke may have died at the end of the most recent installment but his voice dominates the teaser trailer
Bad guy doing evil: Next viewers are taken to another planet. Kylo is seen without his mask as he fights soldiers in a forest; the light around him is red
'But this is your fight,' Luke adds. On the screen it reads, 'Ever generation has a legend.'
Next the desert is panned as music builds; something awful is clearly about to take place.
A ship that hovers over the sand is nearly near her.
The pilot's hands in black leather gloves hint this could be her longtime nemesis Kylo Ren - played by Adam Driver - who is the son of Han Solo and Princess Leia.
Rey runs into the ship and does a flip.
Dynamic duo: Then Finn is seen for the first time in the desert in a beige jacket with Poe behind him
Next viewers are taken to another planet. Kylo is seen without his mask as he fights soldiers in a forest; the light around him is red.
A big, heavy black and silver mask is welded with red light; it might belong to Kylo.
Then Finn is seen for the first time in the desert in a beige jacket with Poe behind him and BB-8 is also flashed on the screen.
The Millennium Falcon is seen cruising through the air with Chewbacca at the front. They are traveling through space at what appears to be lightspeed.
Battle ready: Rey is seen walking down a grassy hill with Chewbacca, BB-8, C-3PO, Poe and Finn. They all look ready for battle as they look out at the ocean
Lando, played by Williams is along for the ride and is laughing heartily.
'The saga comes to an end,' it is flashed on the screen.
Then the battle scenes rev up: there is a fight on a planet that appears to be Jakku or Tatooine, where Luke grew up with his aunt and uncle.
A ship with Finn and C-3PO glides through the air. It seems to be on fire and about to crash into the sand.
A new poster was shared too: Here is the first poster for Star Wars IX: The Rise Of Skywalker
Then we see Rey hold onto a device presented to her in the last Star Wars film. She rubs it as if its a magic genie.
There is a shot of Fisher as Leia hugging Rey. The footage is taken from The Force Awakens, JJ Abrams explained months ago. She died in 2016 and he did not want to use CGI to re-create her.
'We always will be with you,' says Luke from the beyond.
Rey is seen walking down a grassy hill with Chewbacca, BB-8, C-3PO, Poe and Finn. They all look ready for battle as they look out at the ocean.
'No one's ever really gone,' says Luke in voiceover.
Menacing laughter from Emperor Palpatine is heard as the screen goes black, then the Star Wars logo is seen in blue. The Rise Of Skywalker is added.
Episode IX opens nationwide December 20, 2019.
Droid time: R2-D2 was ready for his close-up as he took front and center stage
