John Boyega May Have Confirmed Star Wars: Episode IX Time-Jump

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A “long time ago” in the Star Wars galaxy may officially have gotten one year closer. Following months of rumors surrounding the ultra-secret plot of 2019s Star Wars: Episode IX, an offhand quote from actor John Boyega appears to have confirmed the final chapter of the Skywalker saga will see a time-jump from The Last Jedi.

A new Empire article specifically notes “John Boyega has confirmed the film takes place one year after the events of The Last Jedi.” Theres no direct quote to speak of (and Snoke knows, Disney wouldnt approve any if there were), but Boyegas words are the most official proclamation weve had. It certainly makes sense that a years time would allow the Resistance time to regroup after The Last Jedi left them with their forces decimated.

Boyega was the first to stoke rumors of an episode nine time-jump earlier this year, as an interview quote in April seemed to suggest his character Finn would have time to grow out his hair. Star Wars: The Last Jedi famously picked up in the immediate, minutes-later aftermath of 2015s Star Wars: The Force Awakens—the only entry in the saga not to feature any significant time-lapse between films.

Its also worth wondering what implications a one-year time-jump have for the untitled sequel, which bears the burden of sending off General Leia Organa after Carrie Fishers death in 2016. Disney made clear the new film would use “previously unreleased footage shot for Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” rather than recast the role or create a CG approximation. Episode IX will also see Matt Smith, Dominic Monaghan, Naomi Ackie, Richard E. Grant, and Keri Russell joining the cast, while Star Wars vets Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, and Billy Dee Williams will all return. Jumping forward in time one year leave plenty of room for new villains and old allies alike.

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