Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi is still over nine months away from its official release date for theaters worldwide, but that's not stopping the geniuses at Lucasfilm and Disney from throwing subtle marketing in our faces. Just a couple weeks ago, we were treated to the first one-sheet for the film that featured various details that may provide hints at what the next story will tell. Details included the vastness of space with hundreds of distant stars, the Star Wars logo in ominously red font, and the subtitle known as "The Last Jedi."
Fans have been attempting to decipher the hidden secrets behind the intricacies of the mysterious poster but just a few days ago, the marketing team revealed our first look at the "official toy packaging" for the upcoming film. We finally no longer have to exhaust ourselves with arguments concerning whether Jedi is singular or plural. But what splendid packaging we were blessed with, for it tells us so much about our returning lead characters.
1. Poe Dameron
The handsome Resistance pilot returns to the silver screen gracing a sexy multi-colored helmet and classic rebel vest, prepared for the hardships of war. He appears extremely serious staring out into the void but what does that mean for our hero? Perhaps he loses something close to him unexpectedly during the movie.
2. Finn
The traitor of the First Order returns sporting his best friend's favorite Resistance jacket as well as a very serious stare. The latter is something that is symmetrically shared with Poe Dameron on this art packaging. It is obvious that Finn still cares deeply for his relationship with Poe but is there a divide on the horizon? Finn also appears to be back to healthy conditions after the brutal events of where the story left him last in The Force Awakens. If you want my opinion on how he recovered, I'd say the profound power of bromance brought him stability quicker than doctors may have anticipated.
3. Rey
Last time we saw Rey, she was on Ahch-To encountering Luke Skywalker for the first time with his family lightsaber in her grasp. Thanks to this art packaging reveal, it seems like much has changed since her encounter with the Jedi knight. Note the way she wields the lightsaber in the image above because it is much different than the way she wielded it in the previous film. Obviously, Luke has trained her through the ways of the force immensely. Rey also has altered her fashion sense with an edgy robe and an intense weave. Her hairstyle looks very similar to that of Qui Gon Jinn's from older Star Wars lore. I think Liam Neeson was secretly cast in The Last Jedi to have an encounter with Luke and Rey during a key sequence where all of the remaining Jedi force ghosts will come together. Or maybe Rey just got tired of the way her hair looked before and changed it in an attempt to impress Luke or another lucky guy. Or maybe, Rey is the daughter of Qui Gon Jinn! Or maybe Qui Gon Jinn was never murdered by Darth Maul during the events of The Phantom Menace. Anything can happen.
4. Finn and Poe
Lastly, this art packaging leads credence most importantly to a vital subplot that'll be explored in the next film in the Star Wars saga. The relationship of Finn and Poe Dameron may be severely damaged. Notice how both characters are staring in opposite directions with stern stares as mentioned earlier. Where is the love, as the Black Eyed Peas once elegantly sang? Maybe the red font in the new film's logo does not represent the impending destruction of our heroes by Kylo Ren and Snoke. Maybe the red font does not represent the turn of the tide in the new war between the Resistance and the First Order. Perhaps, it represents the death of love between friends.
We can all speculate on The Last Jedi and what changes it will bring to the franchise but we can certainly all agree on one crucial thing. In the upcoming film, there will be changes. We must remember that everything we read on the internet is truth and especially with Star Wars speculation, rumors are always fact. All we can hope for now, until the new trailer hits the internet, is that we get a better look at Rey's new hairstyle. The more we see of her hair, the more we can discover about her character arc.
