Oscar Isaac: Star Wars Heroes And Villains Will Be Tested In The Last Jedi.

Oscar Isaac recently revealed in an interview that Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi will spend much of its plot testing and exploring the new and old characters, hinting at the struggles the stars of The Force Awakens will face and the challenges that the returning characters from the Original Trilogy will have to rise to.

 

Isaac was recently interviewed by The Guardian while promoting his latest film, The Promise (which opened in theaters earlier today), and they got to ask him a single question about The Last Jedi: where do all these characters go from the end of The Force Awakens? Isaac wouldn’t go into specifics regarding the new characters, but he did mention that the characters you’ve already met will have their stories move in interesting new directions:

“The characters that you know already: their specific character flaws or their weaknesses get tested. And out of that, I think, you get to see a bit more of who they are. The best way to learn about somebody is to see them in a crisis.”

So far we’ve got a bit of an idea of where things are with a few of our characters – Rey’s struggling to find her place in the Force, Finn is trying to determine if he’s completely in with the Resistance or if evading the First Order is more important, and Luke is having to deal with a crisis of faith even before the fate of the entire Galaxy is placed upon his shoulders. We can also clearly imagine that the death of Han is going to weigh heavily on Leia, Ben, and Chewie’s minds going forward. So that leaves things more open for Poe, Hux, and Phasma, all while Snoke continues to be watching everything from a distance. They were curiously quiet about the First Order characters at Celebration, leaving where they plan on taking the antagonists of The Force Awakens from here – and at the current point, there’s little in regards to leaks to point us in the direction of where any of them are headed, perhaps aside from Kylo Ren himself. Hopefully, Lucasfilm won’t be too stingy about information regarding The Last Jedi going forward.

 

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Grant has been a fan of Star Wars for as long as he can remember, having seen every movie on the big screen. When he’s not hard at work with his college studies, he keeps himself busy by reporting on all kinds of Star Wars news for SWNN and general movie news on the sister site, Movie News Net. He served as a frequent commentator on SWNN’s The Resistance Broadcast.

Grant Davis (Pomojema)

Grant has been a fan of Star Wars for as long as he can remember, having seen every movie on the big screen. When he’s not hard at work with his college studies, he keeps himself busy by reporting on all kinds of Star Wars news for SWNN and general movie news on the sister site, Movie News Net. He served as a frequent commentator on SWNN’s The Resistance Broadcast.

55 thoughts on “Oscar Isaac: Star Wars Heroes And Villains Will Be Tested In The Last Jedi.

  • April 22, 2017 at 8:14 am
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    Looks like we’re gonna see some heavy character development in TLJ; once the film finally comes out in December this year, pretty much, like with ESB, nothing will ever be the same when all is said and done.

  • April 22, 2017 at 8:22 am
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    Sounds like ESB………

    • April 22, 2017 at 9:47 am
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      Oh, stfu.

      • April 22, 2017 at 11:04 am
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        umm ok

    • April 22, 2017 at 10:55 am
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      “There’s character development in this one, THEREFORE IT’S A KNOCKOFF OF TESB.”

      Oh, for God’s sake…

      – Pomojema

      • April 22, 2017 at 11:04 am
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        well there are walkers in the film that are being attacked by landspeeders.

        • April 22, 2017 at 5:55 pm
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          And a wannabe-Jedi training under the guidance of lone Jedi master on a secluded planet after that old Jedi suffered defeat and went into hiding, and resistance will be on the run, pushed back by FO, and we’ll probably learn who Rey parents were…

      • April 22, 2017 at 11:04 am
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        that is seen in the trailer

      • April 22, 2017 at 11:06 am
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        also I never said it was going to be a knockoff . I just said it sounds like ESB. Geez you people get so hostile when someone says something that you dont like.

        • April 22, 2017 at 10:04 pm
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          No, we get pissed off when people assume that the film is gong to be rehash of TESB because it has CHARACTER DEFVELOPMENT. By that standard, nearly every film every made is an ESB knockoff.

          • April 24, 2017 at 1:36 pm
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            #Rehashingisasin

      • April 23, 2017 at 3:25 am
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        Yeah, that is really annoying. I’m no fan of TFA, but LucasFilm namely Kathleen Kennedy would have been one of the stupidest people alive to retread once again. Logically, the wool of nostalgia is not over people’s eyes.Especially, in a post RO world we live in.

        As for taking inspiration from ESB, I can see this film doing it. This through its lack of cohesive narrative for more character-driven aspects. And its smaller tone and more personal, intimate themes. Which is great. Because, in my view; a lot of these new characters desperately need that sort of development.

        And I don’t think it was a coincidence that LucasFilm hired Rian Johnson. Looper, much as I love that movie, you could argue that its narrative wasn’t the greatest, as the idea of time travel is both a bit confusing and skewed if you think about it. But as a character piece and thematic evaluation of individuals, it is in my view a masterpiece.

    • April 22, 2017 at 12:04 pm
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      Is this going to be the mantra till the release? Getting really boring…

    • April 22, 2017 at 5:07 pm
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      Sounds like most movies.

    • April 22, 2017 at 6:20 pm
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      Sounds like every mid trilogy movie.

    • April 22, 2017 at 8:57 pm
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      The comparisons are going to be inevitable given it is the second movie in the trilogy. And in both trilogies, ESB and ATC tired to go for more intimate, personal stakes. Though, ATC is a big steaming pile and ESB did this incredibly well.

      If Rian Johnson takes inspiration from ESB, while also weaving his own tale, TLJ will be absolutely fine. And really, given TFA’s setup it was inevitable that the ESB comparison was going to be harped upon. Rey going to Luke for training, conflict between the two factions is escalating etc.

      Plus, logically; LucasFilm cannot hide behind the wool of nostalgia. Not this time.

  • April 22, 2017 at 11:22 am
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    Hmm, this sounds interesting…hope I won’t lead to a widely viewed downer ending like in ESB (Which it actually isn’t anyways).

    • April 22, 2017 at 5:07 pm
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      It actually is.

      • April 22, 2017 at 5:11 pm
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        Yeah, but the heroes survived and continue to fight another day. I just hoping I wont’ be worse in The Last Jedi.

        • April 23, 2017 at 5:54 am
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          Yeah, they survived, but were beaten at every turn and lost Han. It’s a downer.

      • April 22, 2017 at 10:02 pm
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        I’d say its bittersweet. A “lick your wounds and keep on fighting” type of thing.

  • April 22, 2017 at 2:54 pm
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    My kids, 7 and 10 LOVED TFA, R1 and will love this one. They don’t think about how one may mirror another. I am so grateful to Lucasfilm for making ANY Star Wars film. I am so excited for December. You all need to remember how you liked this as a child and take a breath.

    • April 22, 2017 at 8:39 pm
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      For children, yeah; I can see them liking it. It isn’t a bad movie, I argue. But really, that emotional appeal you made I find is a moot point. Really, I find that TFA beyond its good elements, is incomplete. LucasFilm borrowed too much from Marvel in trying to setup a universe.

      And while Marvel has finally gotten the hang of it(seriously, look at phase one. I like it, but most is really filler until the Avengers), LucasFilm clearly took the wrong lesson. Who knows? If TLJ is excellent, which I believe it will be; as the director is one of the best I’ve seen, it may change my mind on TFA and perhaps many fans who are mixed on it.

      But really this movie was a mixed opportunity. The nostalgia aside, the movie is very much “Come and see the next one., with “Remember that? Hey, wasn’t that so cool in the OT?”. Cough, Starkiller base.

      • April 23, 2017 at 2:45 am
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        I think TFA will work as a part of the new trilogy. The problem that it doesn’t really work as a film itself (ending with a cliffhanger is a proof of that).
        The first act is really good but the last two aren’t specially well paced. Abrams played it safe. It’s totally understandable (bringing back the nostalgia, getting a new audience, developping a new fan base) but I hope – and I’m pretty sure of it – Johnson will make bold choices with TLJ.

        • April 23, 2017 at 3:12 am
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          I disagree about it being wise to play it safe. Really,Starkiller base shouldn’t have existed period. Plus, your point about it working as a trilogy could be valid, depending on TLJ. But as a part of the Saga, it sucks.

          Seriously, try watching this back to back with ROTJ; it doesn’t work as well. For granted, 30 years have passed so I cannot fault it too much. But really, the screenplay needed a lot more work. Ideally, I would have scrapped the entire plot, but if I could only make two changes to this movie it would be as such.

          1) No Starkiller base: Have a giant fleet. That would have been a lot more believable, plus an excuse for an epic space battle. 🙂

          2) Cut the Rathar sequence and have Poe be with the group: That sequence was better for a Han Solo movie, not this one. And Oscar Isaac was absolutely wasted. And he shouldn’t be. He’s an amazing actor. But I guess that is what happens when JJ wanted to kill his character. Facepalm.

          • April 23, 2017 at 12:09 pm
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            The shame is Poe have an awesome chapter in the novelization of TFA. Very mad max-ish. I would have loved to see it in the movie.

          • April 23, 2017 at 5:24 pm
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            I remember that chapter, actually and it pisses me off too that he wasn’t in the movie more. Really, the ANH thing aside, I found that TFA didn’t use most of its characters effectively. If you boil it down, the two characters I felt that good fairly good development where Han Solo and Kylo Ren, shockingly. Harrison Ford slipped back into those shoes. And I say this as someone who isn’t the biggest fan of Han Solo. Chewie on the other hand is a badass. Unsung hero. 🙂

            And even then, I question why Han got so much focus. Yeah, it was about his son. But it really dilutes the whole next generation thing. And Kylo, Adam Driver is a very good actor and he did very well with the material given to him. I just wished he wasn’t in charge, because really he came off as an utter buffoon. I’d be more forgiving if Hux was the main antagonist and they shared a reverse relationship of Vader and Tarkin; a cool nod to ANH.

            Because, really a cool idea that I loved in the film that it just gave such shoty execution is that Kylo isn’t Vader. And that he still has a lot to learn, much like Rey. And I hope that TLJ runs full steam with this.

          • April 23, 2017 at 6:04 pm
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            I agree. Han Solo takes too much place, that’s why I think it was a good thing to kill him off.

        • April 23, 2017 at 5:35 am
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          “The problem that it doesn’t really work as a film itself (ending with a cliffhanger is a proof of that). ”

          Yeah, movies that end on cliffhangers don’t work. Except TESB ends with a cliffhanger, so….

          • April 23, 2017 at 12:07 pm
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            Last scene of ESB is not a cliffhanger. 😉

          • April 23, 2017 at 2:49 pm
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            Well it doesn’t tell you where Han is, so close enough, in my book.

  • April 22, 2017 at 3:54 pm
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    The heroes and villains will be tested huh..Will it be multiple choice? And will they have a break for snacks? These are questions we need the answers to!

  • April 22, 2017 at 4:11 pm
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    Wait….Star Wars heroes and villains will be tested?!?!?!

    (I’m having a duel Monty Python moment of the Gorge of Eternal Peril from ‘Holy Grail’ & the Sex Education classroom from ‘The Meaning of Life’…)

  • April 22, 2017 at 8:44 pm
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    I wonder how Poe will be tested. He looked flawless in TFA.

    • April 22, 2017 at 8:47 pm
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      Because, JJ Abrams clearly thought, “hey, brand new character. Let’s kill him off.” Keep in mind, his parents got a lot of focus in Shattered Empire and that comic I find is great. If only Poe Dameron had tagged along with Finn and Rey, I doubt so many would have griped about the Falcon sequence.

      He did say he could pilot anything. And I always imagined him to be the Han Solo of the group; the older experienced individual. Plus, it would have made Starkiller that much more tolerable. Because, had we traveled with Poe; got to know him, more audiences would come to care.

      Really, Isaac’s acting chops really helped him stand out in an other wise very throwaway character. And that excites me, because Rian Johnson will not make that same mistake.

      • April 23, 2017 at 2:38 am
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        I can’t agree more. As far as I like the new cast, Isaac is the best actor of the group (even if Driver and Gleeson are both really good) and it was pretty upsetting to see him so underused in TFA.

        Like you, I think Johnson will correct that flaw (he’s very talented when it comes to write many interesting arcs for many characters ; specially in The Brothers Bloom, this little gem totally – and sadly – underrated).

        • April 23, 2017 at 3:16 am
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          Brothers Bloom I am mixed about, but I’ll watch it again sometime soon to see. Really, TFA’s screenplay just sucks. When describing TFA, I’ll never forget what GreyJedi91 of the Council Forcecast(excellent SWs podcast if you are a legends fan/want a fairly in depth critique of TFA) described TFA as.

          It isn’t a film that he could see inspiring someone. It’s no shock that the OT did inspire people. ANH inspired a ton of people, along with ESB and to an extent ROTJ. The PT didn’t. Though, for me personally, ROTS did inspire me on a thematic level.

          TFA just feels fairly lifeless and incomplete. I hope TLJ is so much better because something tells me it is going to be one of the biggest surprises to not just SWs fans, but movie audiences.

  • April 22, 2017 at 8:51 pm
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    Interesting comments. Personally, my thoughts on TFA aside, I am really looking forward to this movie. And am curious to see these characters in a more capable director’s hands. Especially, Oscar Isaac. Seriously, if there is one thing that pisses me off, it was how his character was so utterly shafted. I mean has Abrams seen any of his movies? Why try to kill him off? Dumb move. And especially, after his comic which is phenomenal; I want more Poe Dameron.

    I want to see who he is in this movie. And really, how feels about this conflict. Finn, I’m very mixed on him. I love the actor, John Boyega. A wonderful individual and Attack the Block was amazing. 🙂 But really, I’m hoping the Finn that is in the movie is less of a goof ball and more of the serious soldier from Before the Awakening, where he is like Master chief.

    Rey, arguably needs the most work I find. While I don’t hate her, a lot of her development I argued was packaged away for this movie. So I hope it is good. Something I’d like to see is Rey actually become more angered/ impatient. here me out. Han was killed by Ben and combined with the idea of the Force, I can see her wanting to avenge him.

    And I think that could work as a nice parallel to Ben who becomes more driven and focused. Essentially, a reverse of TFA. Or she could turn to the dark side? Which would be balsy to say the least.

    • April 22, 2017 at 9:00 pm
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      Revenge is not the Jedi way. Although the Jedi are obviously capable of killing other people, they do so only when it is absolutely necessary , and not simply to avenge someone.

      I suppose a grey force user could seek revenge as a goal, but personally I don’t think a force user can remain grey for a long time without falling to the dark side. Once one taps into anger and hatred to sharpen his/her force skills, it eventually consumes him/her and forever dominates his/her destiny.

      • April 22, 2017 at 9:10 pm
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        Rey isn’t a Jedi. And knowing Rian; I doubt she’ll fully embrace the ideas of the Jedi or even become one. Luke for all we know will train Rey on how to control her Force powers/ wield a Lightsaber, but really there is no guarantee that Rey will stay with the light side.

        As for your grey force user, much as I do not like Rebels, the Bendu really did state a very important part about the Light side and Dark side; that trying to see both sides is meaningless because the willingness to do good and bad things is reliant on the individual.

        And really, while Grey is a color to which can have light or dark sides; how I see it is that if Rey or Luke become Gray Jedi they will more affiliated towards the light. Especially, with their force powers. That doesn’t mean they’ll avoid dark side abilities.

        In fact, Kyle Katarn from Jedi Academy had a wonderful quote: “It isn’t about the powers themselves, but the intent behind them.” If that is the way this ST is heading, then falling to the dark side because of anger shouldn’t be an issue.

        Especially, if you can control your anger and allow yourself to feel that way but do not allow it to predicate one’s actions.

        • April 22, 2017 at 9:21 pm
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          As much as I respect the Bendu’s opinion, that was not Yoda’s point of view. The point is that the dark side is addictive and overpowers its users. Maybe some people can resist the temptation and control themselves (like a “social drinker” so to speak), but one can never know a priori if he/she has that kind of control. Bottom line then: the best way to avoid becoming an alcoholic is never to start drinking. It may sound really extreme, but that is the Jedi philosophy;

          • April 23, 2017 at 10:00 pm
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            Imagine being able to harvest the ‘best’ of the light and the dark side, not succumbing to the excesses though. Wouldn’t that make you truly powerful? I’d like to see them take Rey in this direction personally. The TLJ could be Rey’s struggle to achieve this balance, about learning from Luke based on a viewpoint that now supports this notion, perhaps even based on more things Luke has learned about the Jedi’s past, like some long forgotten Jedi philosophy that even championed the use of the dark side in strengthening the light ..

  • April 22, 2017 at 9:37 pm
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    As long as it’s not common core testing…

    • April 23, 2017 at 5:33 am
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      One more reason that TLJ will be a rehash…smh. /s

      • April 23, 2017 at 7:48 am
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        Really? Just based on a pic??

        • April 23, 2017 at 2:50 pm
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          “/s” means “sarcasm”.

    • April 23, 2017 at 8:28 am
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      To be fair, They did eventually fix that.

      • April 23, 2017 at 9:30 am
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        If the rumors are true, they’re going full practical with Snoke, so his design should look and feel more realistic. Perhaps he underwent some alterations as well.

      • April 23, 2017 at 2:52 pm
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        “To be fair, They did eventually fix that.”

        Yeah, after 24 years.

    • April 23, 2017 at 9:53 pm
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      What’s more amazing is how Rian has the time to respond to silly tweets like this.

      The killer is another one where some guy accuses Rian of redoing ESB, and that it’s basically being made by Disney, somehow relegating Rian/LucasFilm from the process… to which Rian jokingly agrees that yes, he’s spent the last 3 years redoing ESB, and adds that he’s had the same creative control on TLJ as any movie he’s ever done before, and basically inferring that Disney is not interfering in the process one jot.

    • April 24, 2017 at 6:21 pm
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      Theory confirmed: Snoke is the orginal Palpatine puppet after years in storage

  • April 23, 2017 at 8:59 am
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    Again, The PT problems reappear in the ST. Just as nobody really gave a shit about the prequel characters outside of Anakin, Palpatine, and maybe Obi-Wan. The ST is pretty much the Rey and Kylo show so far. Just like Ewan, Issac is a good actor wasted on inferior material and the real trick will be to get people to be interested in his and other character’s story arcs and make feel like filler.

    • April 23, 2017 at 9:26 am
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      Look at all the cosplayers at cons and it’s the Rey and Kylo armies. Nobody is going as Orange Yoda, Poe, or Connix.

      Fuck, Even TPM gets more love far as costume variety goes.

    • April 23, 2017 at 9:49 pm
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      Well frankly, all movies do this to varying degrees. There are primary characters, secondary.. tertiary. You can’t delve into the story about the pilot when the story is about Rey or Luke. The PT was an unfair example to give because it failed in a lot of areas least of all its representation of primary/secondary characters.

      The ST has so far seemingly succeeded in making people at least be invested in characters like Finn and Poe, which arguably can’t be said of comparable characters in the PT.

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