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‘Star Wars’ Episode VIII just got its official title

We know little about it, but fans are already digging in deep.

 

Michelle Jaworski

Internet Culture

Posted on Jan 23, 2017   Updated on May 25, 2021, 3:51 am CDT

After months of speculation and an intriguing trademark application from Lucasfilm, the name of the next movie in the Star Wars saga is official.

The official Star Wars Twitter account revealed the name Monday morning with an ominous title card and a brief press release. Episode VIII is now Star Wars: The Last Jedi.

The release and photo demonstrate that Lucasfilm is now labeling the episodic Star Wars films as the “Skywalker saga” to differentiate between the main films and spinoffs like Rogue One. That and title aside, Lucasfilm didn’t reveal any other information, but fans are already analyzing what little there is—and in full force.

For instance, why is the Star Wars font red?

As some have pointed out, it’s not the first time Star Wars has used the color.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens ends with Rey presenting Luke Skywalker with his old lightsaber on Ahch-To, and we know that The Last Jedi will pick up right where it left off. Now fans are asking, well, who is the last Jedi? Is it Luke, Rey, both of them, or somebody we’re not expecting?

Just to clarify, Jedi is both singular and plural, although a deleted tweet from Star Wars Brazil’s account seemed to indicate that Jedi was singular—and referred to someone who was male.

Director Rian Johnson has said the title of The Last Jedi has been part of his script since the first draft, so we’re especially curious to see where it goes. Even more impressive is that someone guessed the correct title a year ago. It’s also the name of a Star Wars Legends novel, which is no longer considered canon by Lucasfilm.

It wouldn’t be a Star Wars title reveal without its own set of memes. We only just learned the title so we’ve got a while to gear up, but the early contenders are especially strong (and topical).

We’re not getting Episode IX for years, but fans already collectively agreed on what to call it.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi hits theaters Dec. 15.

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*First Published: Jan 23, 2017, 12:41 pm CST