New Concept Art for Colin Trevorrow’s Star Wars: Episode IX
Last week, we learned the full story Colin Trevorrow had planned for his original vision of Episode IX: Duel of the Fates. Today, we’re getting another glimpse behind that curtain as concept art from Trevorrow’s time on the project has leaked, offering a small glimpse at what his story might have looked like.
The concept art comes courtesy of the Star Wars Leaks Reddit, and appears to cover all of the major story beats. Obviously, this is just a small glimpse of how things might have looked. The incredible Art of books show just how much concepts can evolve on their journey to the screen. This artwork is based on the first draft of the script, written before Carrie Fisher passed away. But it’s always fun to get a peak behind the scenes and look at some of the incredible artwork produced in the making of these movies.
Going in roughly story order, the first piece, pictured above, shows Rey with her new double bladed lightsaber on the bridge of a Star Destroyer. This is likely based on the Resistance heroes’ escape from the Kuat shipyards that was to open the movie. Rey’s outfit here is very different from what she wore in The Rise of Skywalker, instead heavily influenced by Luke’s look in Return of the Jedi.
The next image shows occupied Coruscant, the skyline of the city planet in the shadow of the gigantic First Order capital ship that looms overhead.
This is followed by an image showing a lightsaber guillotine execution of what looks to be a Resistance pilot. In the script this was to be Bisc Kova, a traitor who helped the Resistance steal the Star Destroyer from Kuat. And is that meant to be Phasma? She wasn’t mentioned in the script breakdown but that could be chrome armor and the repair on the helmet would match the damage from The Last Jedi.
Ahead of her next mission, Rey continues her Jedi training under the guidance of Luke Skywalker. In the story breakdown, Luke’s Force-ghost both continued Rey’s training and attempted to turn Kylo Ren back towards the light.
On Remnicore, Kylo Ren found a different teacher. Tor Valum. An ancient Sith teacher who taught him how to drain the Living Force from others.
Whilst on Coruscant Finn, Rose, R2-D2, and C-3PO traveled through the lower levels on their journey to the old Jedi Temple. Here they saw how the First Order had turned the people of Coruscant into scavengers struggling to survive and ready to rise up against their oppressors.
Kylo Ren was to confront his own version of the Dagobah cave, a duel with an apparition of Darth Vader. It was a battle he would lose.
On the other side of the galaxy, Rey, Poe, Chewbacca, and BB-8 arrived on Bonadan seeking a seer to help Rey discover her path. Interestingly the concept art leak notes that Poe used to live here with his grandfather.
Under the Jedi Temple the Resistance team is successful in lighting the Force beacon and sending out Leia’s call for aid to the galaxy.
On Bonadan, the Knights of Ren chase Rey and Poe in the Knife 9. The heroes take to the water in a Razor Sail as they attempt to escape. The chase sequence was to culminate in a fight between Rey and the Knights.
On Coruscant, Finn helps to inspire an uprising by those oppressed by the First Order, including former Stormtroopers.
Star Wars Leaks thinks this piece might how the Coruscant underground, but in the story breakdown it was mentioned that the Resistance repaint the walkers and war machines they find in the stolen Star Destroyer. Based on that, and what looks to be a Resistance pilot at the front of the image, I believe this to be the Resistance preparing for the battle of Coruscant.
Star Wars Leaks labels this piece as Rey confronting a monster outside the forest of Mortis. This scene wasn’t mentioned in the breakdown so presumably this takes place just before she scales the mountain.
On Coruscant, First Order Stormtroopers prepare to face off with the uprising. You can see the Stormtroopers in the trench are First Order whilst those above have removed their helmets and joined the Resistance.
The people of Coruscant cheer the repainted walkers as they prepare to take on the might of the First Order.
Rey duels Kylo Ren on Mortis. This image offers our best look at how Kylo Ren would have appeared in this film, including the Mandalorian helmet smelted to his face.
The moment that would have broken everyone’s heart. C-3PO mourns the destruction of R2-D2 in the battle of Coruscant.
Luke confronts his fallen apprentice, catching his lightsaber blade with his bare hand. I can picture this being the “You are no Skywalker” moment.
With defeat inevitable, Chancellor Hux uses a lightsaber from his collection to commit suicide. In the breakdown the lightsaber was to be purple.
And finally, Leia with BB-8. It’s likely this piece is from earlier in the movie, with Leia recording her message to the galaxy. But it nicely mirrors her first scene in A New Hope, a scene that was to be recreated at the end of Duel of the Fates, so I felt that this would be a nice image to end on.
So there you have it. Be sure to share your thoughts on the art work in the comments below and in the Cantina.
SOURCE: Star Wars Leaks Reddit
Chris is a lifelong fan of Star Wars, Disney, and super heroes who can’t quite believe this golden age of movies and TV we’re living in. Having written blogs dedicated to Disney’s Aladdin musical and Star Wars Celebration, Chris is excited to be part of the SWNN and MNN teams.
