Deadlinereports that the recent The Rise of Skywalker trailer hit 111 million views within the first 24 hours of release. That number is 20 million more than The Last Jedi registered, and actually more than double the views obtained by The Force Awakens’ teaser way back in November of 2014.
The 111 million number, while impressive, doesn’t match the 289 million views the Avengers: Endgame trailer earned upon its release, or even the 224 million viewers who tuned in take a look at Jon Favreau’s The Lion King.
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Do these numbers suggest a declining interest in the Skywalker saga, or is something more sinister afoot? The trade suggests the lower numbers are due to the millions of fans who watched the trailer via the live streaming Star Wars Celebration. What’s more, the article points out that the trailer has gotten off to “a very healthy start … with fans ripping and reposting the teaser trailer for the J.J. Abrams-directed sequel across YouTube on movie fan channels and Marvel superfan channels as well.”
The force is still strong with this one.
Returning cast members for Episode IX include Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Domhnall Gleeson, Kelly Marie Tran, Joonas Suotamo and Billie Lourd and even Ian McDiarmid. Joining the cast are Naomi Ackie (Doctor Who), Richard E. Grant (Logan), Dominic Monaghan (Lord of the Rings), Matt Smith (Doctor Who) and Keri Russell (The Americans), who will also be joined by veteran Star Wars actors Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels and Billy Dee Williams, who will reprise his role as Lando Calrissian.
The role of Leia Organa will once again be played by Carrie Fisher, using previously unreleased footage shot for Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
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Star Wars: Episode IX began filming at London’s Pinewood Studios on August 1, with J.J. Abrams (Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Star Trek) returning to direct the final installment of the Skywalker saga. Abrams co-wrote the screenplay with Chris Terrio (Argo, Justice League). Composer John Williams, who has scored every chapter in the Star Wars saga since 1977’s A New Hope, will return to a galaxy far, far away with Episode IX.
The film will be produced by Kathleen Kennedy, J.J. Abrams, and Michelle Rejwan, and executive produced by Callum Greene and Jason McGatlin.
Star Wars: Episode IX is scheduled for release on December 20, 2019.
