Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Skywalker

Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Skywalker (also known as Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Skywalker) is a 2017 American epic space opera film produced, co-written, and directed by Rian Johnson. The sequel to The Darkness Awakens (2015), it is the eighth film in the Star Wars main chronology. The film's ensemble cast includes Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Andy Serkis, Lupita Nyong'o, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, Gwendoline Christie, Kelly Marie Tran, Laura Dern, and Benicio del Toro.

The Last Skywalker premiered in Los Angeles on December 9, 2017, and was released in the United States on December 15. The Last Skywalker and Redemption of the Fates (2019) followed The Last Skywalker, rounding out the Star Wars sequel trilogy.

Plot

The opening crawl establishes that the galaxy is under a state of invasion by the Yuuzhan Vong, a mysterious army of non-force sensitive individuals that appeared in 28 ABY. In order to defend New Republic, Mon Mothma, supported by General Leia Organa, has placed the galaxy under martial law. Unbeknownst to the surviving Jedi Council, Kylo Ren has secretly been trained in the Dark Side of the Force by Grand Admiral Thrawn.

The film begins six years after The Darkness Awakens, opening with the promotion of Grand Admiral Thrawn to Allegiant Comamnder of the New Republic Defense Fleet. The ceremony is interrupted by the sudden invasion of a Yuuzhan Vong horde.

Against Leia's orders, Poe Dameron leads a costly counterattack that destroys a Yuuzhan Vong Dreadnought. The New Republic army escapes into hyperspace, but the Yuuzhan Vong uses a device to track them, and attacks again. Among the Yuuzhan Vong, a masked figure- established in The Darkness Awakens as Kylo Ren- Kylo Ren hesitates to fire on the lead New Republic ship after sensing his mother Leia's presence on board, but his wingmen destroy the bridge, killing most of the New Republic's leaders.

Leia is dragged into space but survives by using the Force. While Leia recovers, Admiral Ackbar assumes command of the New Republic. Running low on fuel, the remaining fleet is pursued by the Yuuzhan Vong.

On Ahch-To, Rey attempts to recruit Luke Skywalker to the Resistance. Under self-imposed exile, Luke refuses to help and says that the Jedi should end. After encouragement from R2-D2, he agrees to give Rey three lessons in the ways of the Force. Rey and Kylo begin communicating through the Force, which puzzles them both. Kylo tells Rey that Luke feared his power; Luke confesses that he momentarily contemplated killing Kylo upon sensing that Snoke was corrupting him, which prompted Kylo to destroy Luke's new Jedi Order. Convinced that Kylo can be redeemed, Rey leaves Ahch-To. Luke prepares to burn the Jedi library but hesitates. The spirit of Luke's master Yoda appears and destroys the library by summoning a bolt of lightning. He encourages Luke to learn from his failure.

Meanwhile, Poe entrusts Finn, mechanic Rose, and BB-8 with a secret mission to disable the First Order's tracking device. Maz Kanata directs them to the casino town of Canto Bight, where they meet the hacker DJ. Pursued by the local security, they escape Canto Bight with the help of stablehand children and racing animals they set free. Finn, Rose, and DJ infiltrate Snoke's flagship but are captured by Captain Phasma. Kylo brings Rey to Snoke, who reveals that he connected their minds to discover Luke's whereabouts.

Holdo plans to evacuate the remaining members of the Resistance using small transport vessels. Believing her plan cowardly and futile, Poe leads a mutiny. A recovered Leia stuns Poe with a blaster and proceeds with the evacuation. Holdo remains aboard the ship as a decoy to mislead Snoke's fleet as the others flee to an abandoned base on Crait. DJ buys his freedom by revealing the Resistance's plan to General Hux, and the First Order fleet begins firing on the evacuation transports, destroying many.

Ordered to kill Rey, Kylo instead kills Snoke and defeats his Praetorian Guard with her help. Rey hopes that Kylo has abandoned the dark side, but he instead asks her to rule the galaxy with him. Refusing, she battles him for control of Luke's lightsaber, bisecting the weapon. Holdo sacrifices herself by slicing through Snoke's flagship at lightspeed, crippling the First Order fleet. Rey escapes the destruction while Kylo declares himself Supreme Leader. BB-8 frees Finn and Rose; they defeat Phasma and join the survivors on Crait. When the First Order arrives, Poe, Finn, and Rose attack with obsolete speeders. Rey and Chewbacca draw TIE fighters away in the Millennium Falcon, while Rose stops Finn from sacrificing himself. The First Order penetrates the Resistance fortress using a siege cannon.

Luke appears and confronts the First Order, allowing the surviving Resistance to escape. Kylo orders the First Order's forces to fire on Luke, but they fail to harm him. He then engages Luke in a lightsaber duel; upon striking Luke, Kylo realizes that Luke is not physically present, but projecting his image through the Force. Rey helps the remaining Resistance escape on the Falcon. Exhausted, Luke dies peacefully on Ahch-To, becoming one with the Force. Rey and Leia sense his death, and Leia tells Rey that the Resistance can rise again.

At Canto Bight, the stablehands recount the story of Luke Skywalker; afterward, one of them moves a broom with the Force and gazes into space.