‘Star Wars’ Retrospective Trailer for ‘Rise of Skywalker’ Pulls 40 Years of Heartstrings

“Star Wars” is more than just an idea, more than just a film series. It’s a cultural phenomenon spanning a generation.

Lucasfilm and Disney tapped into more than 40 years of that legacy with its latest trailer for the concluding chapter of the main saga, “The Rise of Skywalker.”

With a clip spanning from the deserts where creator George Lucas first filmed Mark Hamill for the 1977 original to the cast gathered in the Millennium Falcon for this year’s “Episode IX,” the trailer evoked the power, passion and emotion of this saga that has connected families and created a franchise the likes of which the world has never seen.

And perhaps most importantly, it has touched the hearts and lives of its fans, fanatics since that first crawl. And that’s why it’s so palpable that Lucasilm and Disney acknowledged those fans that have kept the torch burning all these years in this latest clip, with footage covering decades of cosplay and those insane lines wrapping around theaters to be the first to see the latest adventures of C-3PO, R2-D2, Luke, Leia, Han, Chewbacca, Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon, Padme, Finn, Poe, Rose, Rey and so many more!

Dominating an entire commercial segment of the 2019 American Music Awards, it was surprising that the teaser spoke so powerfully to fans of the franchise, and even those perhaps sitting on the outside of its fandom who have nevertheless felt its power rippling outward into the world.

How appropriate that the trailer starts with the fans, because it’s their loyalty and support that has even allowed this latest trilogy to exist all these years later. And you can feel the love and appreciation for those die-hards throughout its two-minute-thirty-second runtime, interspersed with film footage, behind-the-scenes moments and all that love for and from 40 years of fans.

We loved that there were moments from other television series, showing how its impact and influence has expanded so far beyond the theater that it’s become a part of our cultural experience. And that powerful generational influence was perfectly captured by John Boyega and Daisy Ridley geeking out over Harrison Ford signing Boyega’s Han Solo action figure.

This film series is so much bigger than even the people who are a part of it, with the latest stars standing on the shoulders of the ones who forged the way a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.

With news clips across the years, interview footage from stars past and present, this is a love letter to the franchise that has defined a generation; to its fans, to its power and to its everlasting influence.

All stories must end, and this chapter closes with “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker,” in theaters December 20. But the saga will live on.

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