“Star Wars. It means family. The emotion of it all. Making a film with people that you really love.” That’s how Daisy Ridley describes filming Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker in the latest Star Wars featurette entitled, simply, “Friendship.” It’s hard not to talk about friendship when referring to the biggest film franchise of the last four decades. And it’s hard not to be sad knowing it all comes to an end with Episode IX.

“The dynamic between us three is capturing some of that spirt of the original films,” says Oscar Isaac. “Us three”, of course, refers to Isaac (Poe Dameron), John Boyega (Finn) and Daisy Ridley (Rey). Together they form the nucleus of the sequel trilogy. The new Star Wars featurette focuses on their friendship, and that of their characters. So too will The Rise of Skywalker, which will finally see the three acting all together.

Star Wars Featurette; Rise of Skywalker
Image: Lucasfilm Ltd.

Star Wars featurette emphasizes friendships on and off the screen

“It feels like kids going on an adventure,” according to Daisy Ridley. And let’s face it: That’s what Star Wars is, isn’t it? An adventure? As the Star Wars featurette points out, it’s an adventure many of us have been on for over four decades. Its ending will be bittersweet, to be sure. The characters of Star Wars have, from a certain point of view, been our friends for all that time. Goodbyes are never easy. Thus, director J.J. Abrams’ efforts with the The Rise of Skywalker bear an importance we’ve not felt in the franchise since perhaps the first film in 1977.

Star Wars Featurette
Harrison Ford (Han Solo) hams it up with Carrie Fisher (Leia Organa) while filing The Empire Strikes Back. (Image: Lucasfilm Ltd.)

The Star Wars universe has created friendships that have lasted for forty-plus years. So to capture that spirit and bring it to a conclusion has been such an amazing task. “

~ Oscar Isaac

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker opens December 20. Until then, let this Star Wars featurette remind you of what makes Star Wars so special.