Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker trivia: 72 facts about the trilogy capper!

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is the final film in the new Star Wars trilogy and the final film of the Skywalker saga that started in 1977.

So let’s find out some trivia and facts about the new film!

1. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is a 2019 American epic space-opera film
2. It is also known as Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker
3. It is produced, co-written, and directed by J. J. Abrams
4. It is the third installment of the Star Wars sequel trilogy
5. Following The Force Awakens (2015) and The Last Jedi (2017)
6. And the final episode of the nine-part “Skywalker saga”
7. It was produced by Lucasfilm and Abrams’s production company Bad Robot Productions
8. It was distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
9. The film’s ensemble cast includes Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Anthony Daniels, Naomi Ackie, Domhnall Gleeson, Richard E. Grant, Lupita Nyong’o, Keri Russell, Joonas Suotamo, Kelly Marie Tran, Ian McDiarmid, and Billy Dee Williams
10. The new trilogy was announced following Disney’s acquisition of Lucasfilm in 2012
11. It was originally reported that The Last Jedi director Rian Johnson would write the script for Episode IX
12. In August 2015, Colin Trevorrow was hired to direct the film
13. While constant-collaborator Derek Connolly would co-write a new script
14. Both would eventually receive story credit with Abrams and Chris Terrio
15. In September 2017, Trevorrow left the project following creative differences with producer Kathleen Kennedy
16. So Abrams was hired to return a few days later
17. Principal photography began in August 2018 at Pinewood Studios in England
18. It wrapped in February 2019
19. Post-production was completed on November 24, 2019
20. The Rise of Skywalker had its world premiere in Los Angeles on December 16, 2019
21. It will be released theatrically on December 20 in the United States
22. In contrast to its predecessors, the film has received mixed reviews from critics
23. A year after the events of The Last Jedi, the remnants of the Resistance face the First Order once again
24. While reckoning with the past and their own inner turmoil
25. Meanwhile, the ancient conflict between the Jedi and the Sith reaches its climax
26. Bringing the Skywalker saga to a definitive end
27. In October 2012, Star Wars creator George Lucas sold his production company Lucasfilm, and with it the Star Wars franchise, to The Walt Disney Company
28. Disney subsequently announced the Star Wars sequel trilogy
29. In June 2014, it was announced that Rian Johnson, writer and director of The Last Jedi, would write a story treatment for Episode IX
30. In August 2015, Colin Trevorrow was announced as the director of the film
31. He was to write the script with frequent collaborator Derek Connolly
32. In April 2017, Johnson stated that he was not involved in writing the film
33. In February 2016, Disney chief executive officer Bob Iger confirmed that pre-production on Episode IX had begun
34. In late April 2017, Disney announced that the film would be released on May 24, 2019
35. A month later, filming was expected to begin in January 2018
36. But this was later pushed back to August
37. In August 2017, it was announced that Jack Thorne would rewrite the script
38. On September 5, 2017, Lucasfilm stated that Trevorrow had left the production following creative differences
39. The Hollywood Reporter reported that his working relationship with Kathleen Kennedy had become unmanageable after failing to deliver a satisfactory script, despite writing several drafts
40. Johnson was rumored as the top choice to replace Trevorrow as director
41. But stated “it was never in the plan for me to direct Episode IX”
42. The next day, it was announced that J. J. Abrams, the director of The Force Awakens, would return to direct the film
43. And that the film’s release date would be moved to December 20, 2019
44. The story team met with George Lucas before writing the new script
45. Which Abrams co-wrote with Chris Terrio
46. Trevorrow and Connolly retain story credits
47. The story was rewritten to some extent before filming was completed
48. The film is being produced by Abrams’s company Bad Robot Productions, Kathleen Kennedy, and Michelle Rejwan
49. Before filming, Episode IX was initially given the working title Black Diamond
50. It was then changed to TrIXie
51. Most likely to insert the roman numeral “IX” within the working title
52. The title, The Rise of Skywalker, was announced at April 2019’s Star Wars Celebration in Chicago
53. Though Abrams has stayed silent about many details of the film, he has expressed his hopes that audiences will be “satisfied”
54. He headed a panel dedicated to the film on April 12, 2019, during Star Wars Celebration in Chicago, Illinois
55. There the film’s title was revealed via the first trailer, and new images were shown
56. The trailer was viewed 111 million times in the first 24 hours of its release
57. It was 20 million more views than the teaser for The Last Jedi
58. And more than double that of The Force Awakens
59. The film will be released on Disney+ in 2020
60. Pre-sale tickets went on sale on October 21, 2019
61. The film sold more tickets in their first hour of availability on Atom Tickets than the previous record-holder for ticket sales, Avengers: Endgame
62. It became Atom Tickets’ second-best first-day seller of all-time behind Endgame
63. Selling more than twice the number of tickets than The Last Jedi sold in that same timeframe
64. While Fandango reported it outsold all previous Star Wars films
65. Initial box office tracking has The Rise of Skywalker grossing around $205 million in its opening weekend
66. Though some firms predict a debut closer to $175 million
67. Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes currently reports a 59% approval rating
68. Based on 93 review
69. With an average rating of 6.5/10
70. Metacritic gives it a score of 53 out of 100
71. Based on 33 critics
72. Indicating “mixed or average reviews”