EPISODE VIII: MAINTAINING THE LIGHT!

Having only just escape the threat of the First Order fleet thanks to the brave but doomed Admiral Holdo, General Leia Organa recognises the potential leadership skills of her friend and Resistance comrade Poe Dameron, in this great posed image from The Last Jedi.

'THE FORCE AWAKENS' AT 10: THE RESISTANCE FIGHTS BACK!

As the galaxy, and its benevolent but harried New Republic, faces fresh turmoil with the first incursions of the dreaded First Order, a small but no less brave group of fighter pilots joins the fight back, headed by their inspirational, talented, though often reckless, leader, Poe Dameron (as played with amiable heroism by then rising star, and long-time Star Wars fan, Oscar Isaac). Soon enough the diverse-piloted Black Squadron is thrust into the greatest battles of new history, including a successful opening aerial conflict against the First Order on the mercenary world of Takodana, liberating rebel heroes Han Solo and Finn in the process, as well bringing vital assistance, against overwhelming odds, to the epic destruction of the enemy's planet killing weapon, Starkiller Base...

Oscar Isaac with his original X-wing on the Jakku exterior set at Pinewood Studios, photographed for Vanity Fair by Annie Leibovitz.

The crowd-pleasing Battle of Takodana begins...

EPISODE VII: MAKING THINGS RIGHT AGAIN...

Desperate times require help from the past, as top Resistance pilot Poe Dameron makes an urgent trip for General Leia Organa to the far off realm of Jakku and a secret meeting with the enigmatic Lor San Tekka, who holds the potential key as to the location of the missing Jedi Master Luke Skywalker, during the beginning to The Force Awakens.

EPISODE VII: TIME FOR THE NEXT CHAPTER...

New characters who'd swiftly capture the hearts and imaginations of old and new Star Wars fans with their debut in 2015, the ever-popular Joe Corroney captures Rey, Finn, Poe Dameron, BB-8 and Kylo Ren's saga 'essences' in this great artwork linked to the excellent first teaser trailer to The Force Awakens.

EPISODE VIII: A SPACE AGE DAVID vs GOLIATH!

He's either brave or insane. Whatever his First Order enemies think at that present time, the Resistance's boldest and most passionate fighter pilot Poe Dameon plans to make an impact (literally) against the huge and powerful forces that have arrived in the D'Qar system and now plan to level his fellow freedom fighters into extinction.

A memorable moment launching The Last Jedi.

EPISODE VII: THE TORTURED HERO!

Captured on Jakku by the First Order, it's not long before Resistance hero pilot Poe Dameron is ominously brought to the infamous and truly evil Kylo Ren for a brutal interrogation over the location of the missing Luke Skywalker, in an early scene from The Force Awakens.

Storybook art by Brian Rood.

EPISODE IX: PREPARING FOR EXECUTION!

Their mission to rescue Chewbacca has succeeded but also failed, as Finn, Poe and our Wookiee legend are captured and await execution from a seemingly eager General Hux, in another fun moment from The Rise of Skywalker. The revelation that Hux was leaking info to the Resistance was inevitable, though, after the finale events of The Last Jedi involving the rise of Supreme Leader Kylo Ren.

EPISODE VIII: ONE MAN WAR MACHINE!

He's stalled for time long enough, now ace pilot Poe Dameron makes an incredible one-man (and droid) X-wing fighter assault on the First Order dreadnought's heavy duty laser cannons - his plan ultimately being the first stage to an even bigger offensive during the memorable space conflict start to The Last Jedi.

EPISODE VIII: SALT WORLD WARRIORS!

The odds are once more against them, and the situation is grim for the Resistance. As always leading from the front, almost poker-face fearless in the face of overwhelming First Order firepower, Poe Dameron leads the spirited charge back, during the spectacular Battle of Crait. 

EPISODE IX: MAKING PLANS, BUILDING HOPE...

General Leia Organa has sadly gone from the lives of her comrades in war, but the struggle to once more bring peace to the galaxy continues- do or die! Poe Dameron may at first doubt his abilities as a Resistance leader, especially after all the problems prior emanated from their prior Battle of Crait defeat, but now his spirited, rallying dedication to the cause shines anew, in retaliation to the state of the fully awakened Galactic Empire, in this ultimately stirring sequence from The Rise of Skywalker.

Bestselling author Rebecca Roanhorse's highly readable adventure set between the epic storylines of The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker, chronicling the important team re-building events for Poe Dameron and the Resistance (whilst featuring the fan-favourite return of Wedge Antilles!): Resistance Reborn, has now debuted in UK Arrow paperback.

AFICIONADO's original review:

https://starwarsaficionado.blogspot.com/2019/12/aficionado-review-resistance-reborn.html

Get Resistance Reborn here: 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Resistance-Reborn-Star-Rebecca-Roanhorse/dp/0593130138/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=resistance+reborn&qid=1600452338&sr=8-1

EPISODE IX: RESISTANCE INCURSION!

Having freed the captive Chewbacca, Finn and Poe begin their retreat action within the belly of the First Order star destroyer Steadfast, making swift work in dispatching approaching enemy Stormtroopers, in another exciting image captured by on set photographer Jonathan Olley for The Rise of Skywalker.

EPISODE IX: SLIP-SLIDING AWAY...

They may have taken out their last First Order pursuer, but our heroes are soon caught in a futher slippery situation in the wastelands of Pasaana, in this memorable moment from The Rise of Skywalker which was achieved using special on-site underground built hydraulics for the cast to 'sink' into.

EPISODE IX: FROM SPICE TO SPACE!

Oscar Isaac's General Poe Dameron strikes a heroic call-to-action merchandising/publicity pose for The Rise of Skywalker. The character certainly faced some new new challenges to his courage and bravery as pilot and leader, alongside the revelations of his past before joining the Resistance, notably his association with a group of spice smugglers led by the enigmatic Zorri Bliss, as played onscreen by Keri Russell.

Fighting back in pilot mode after the disastrous Battle of Crait.

Renewed past ties with Zorri Bliss (Keri Russell) on the frontier world of KIjimi.

Publicity image of Oscar Isaac and Keri Russell for EPISODE IX.

Interview clips:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lgyp21qUU9Y
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRjcLOB5Tw0

EPISODE IX: A POINTER FOR THE RESISTANCE!

At their secret jungle base on Ajan Kloss, Poe, Rose and Finn tracks the movements of Rey's homing beacon as she travels the perilous route to Exegol in Luke Skywalker's X-wing fighter, in this moment from The Rise of Skywalker, now available to watch online in the US.

https://www.slashfilm.com/frozen-2-on-disney-star-wars-rise-of-skywalker-hits-itunes-early/

EPISODE IX: A TRAGEDY FOR THE RESISTANCE!

Returned from the Endor system, our Resistance heroes have suffered greatly whilst time runs out before the Emperor strikes. Now Poe, Finn and Chewbacca receive the worst news of all at their jungle Resistance base, in this poignant and emotional moment from The Rise of Skywalker.

https://www.list.co.uk/article/113655-joonas-suotamo-leias-star-wars-death-was-very-emotional/

How the Resistance fared in an altogether different EPISODE IX:
https://www.polygon.com/2020/1/16/21067246/colin-trevorrow-script-star-wars-duel-of-fates-episode-9-reported-leaked-details

EPISODE IX: LATEST FOOTAGE (2)

Hugh Fleming's exclusive poster art for EPISODE IX's Australian release.

Barely a week to go until The Rise of Skywalker concludes the story of our Star Wars heroes and their epic and emotional battle against the ultimate evil...

Here's the latest clips, trailer footage and interviews to enjoy in this final lead-up to release...

New Trailer 4:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rungSN-5MiI

Clip: Kylo Ren meets an old foe:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssGXzh4MAYM

TV spot: 'She':
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=15&v=b0O4Thfe4Q4&feature=emb_logo

BTS footage:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpzTwoa9d1w

Amazon 'Special Look':

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIoLqwvHg7A

TV spots:

Voices:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKtNddxn6FQ

"She"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0O4Thfe4Q4

All TV spots:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yd2V9g-Miw

More
https://www.cnet.com/news/star-wars-rise-of-skywalkers-cgi-free-carrie-fisher-is-shockingly-successful/


https://variety.com/2019/film/news/star-wars-oscar-isaac-the-rise-of-skywalker-1203436342/

Cast and crew in the Asian leg of the EPISODE IX worldwide promotional tour.

New 'The Star Wars Show' cast interviews:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIYb0mfl5R4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kx04g8yqgDw

Josh Gad and Daisy Ridley:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_hnqcqyYxU

J.J. Abrams interviews:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KgMMqVC2Xw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=al5ve3pvhfE

Adam Driver:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhMFqEboiZk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06uViALTd_8

New TROS poster homage to the 1977 teaser.

Press interviews various:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmtSq3Uioxc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5MKcLPYKU0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfL6DiBz3QY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRiF0vB5EV0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqAT74k9raI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqgmVNunvQk

Other online material:

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/how-victoria-mahoney-became-first-female-star-wars-director-guest-column-1260385?utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter

Inside The Writing of 'Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker' - Rolling Stone

AFICIONADO REVIEW: 'RESISTANCE REBORN'

Courage under fire for our sequel heroes, as Resistance Reborn arrives in UK hardback.

Having been initiated successfully with the second prequel movie, the idea of publishing an all-new lead-in adventure to every Star Wars cinematic tale before its release has continued with both the sequel trilogy and the one-off movies, but to only varying degrees of success. The latest tie-in, Resistance Reborn, from newcomer author to the saga Rebecca Roanhorse (published in the UK by Century), is importantly charged with detailing the critical events that happened in the start of the year's gap between The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker, as the battle-weary General Leia Organa and her few surviving rag-tag heroes aboard the Millennium Falcon begin the long and dangerous road back to recruiting new leaders and fighters in their continuing conflict against the more universally dominant, thoroughly evil First Order. With help from old friends, including the iconic Rogue Squadron pilot Wedge Antilles, the heroes must liberate a group of captured influential names (one an important figure from Leia's pre-EPISODE VII senatorial past), secure a list of wanted suspects from the underworld on the legendary industry realms of Corellia, and steal as many decommissioned ships as possible from a far-off planet. All this whilst Leia is trying to set up a new secret base with the people of Ryloth, a deservedly bitter and suspecting race who are no strangers to fighting military threats since the days of The Clone Wars.

Though already an experienced speculative fiction author, Miss Roanhose's love of Star Wars is more important than ever in such a novel so eagerly-awaited by fans. And that love shines through in Resistance Reborn- clearly knowing how to write for the existing characters, giving Poe Dameron in particular more to do as the successor to a busy but physically withering Leia Organa. Sadly, new Jedi-to-be Rey and the dedicated-to-the-cause Finn, though also present in the story, ultimately feel sidelined from doing anything truly worthwhile, their destinies locked in 'hover mode' before J.J. Abrams gives them their final cinematic bow. Fans of the Expanded Universe post 2014, however, will be pleased with certain characters and referencing carefully included in this galaxy-spanning tale (mostly linked to Chuck Wendig's Aftermath trilogy and Claudia Gray's Bloodline), and there's some fair use of the aforementioned Antilles (Denis Lawson's character supposedly making a cameo for IX, too).

As for the overall story? Well, its plot reads great in the advance blurb but ultimately didn't win my full enthusiasm as a page-turner, lacking the kind of bold imagination and stirring action I thought was needed in this special case movie lead-in, to a film of such saga-ending significance as IX. It all felt to me that there was too much of a similar ilk done already in various storytelling media.

Ultimately, Resistance Reborn is perfectly readable stuff, and a solid effort. Yet, despite the author's commendably unabashed enthusiasm, it's certainly not the essential SW book collection purchase that it should have been, and deserved to be.

AFICIONADO RATING: 3 out of 5

Get it here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Star-Wars-Resistance-Rebecca-Roanhorse/dp/1780899920/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=resistance+reborn&qid=1575630195&sr=8-1

EPISODE IX: THE HILDEBRANDT'S LEGACY!

A lovely reference and celebration to things past, to 1977 and the launch of the original Star Wars, with this new US RealD poster for The Rise of Skywalker. Forty-two years? Where has all the time gone?

Legacy featurette:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJhKQeblpYk

New International Trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtrg3bRM50Y

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdrEgEA36hk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cR13lGA9wdU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CiSoWLSzecg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSBQLBIJX6o

EPISODE IX: DESERT CHASE!

The next chase begins, as our heroes try to speedily avoid pursuant First Order forces after the completion of a mission - a no doubt thrilling sequence filmed in Jordan, acting as the desert realm of Pasaana, for The Rise of Skywalker.

First movie clip:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCPiBWrIaSI

EPISODE IX: FALCON FLY-TIME!

Poe Dameron said he can fly anything, so it's great to see him with Chewbacca at the controls of the iconic mind-of-its-own Millennium Falcon, during another pivotal action moment from the upcoming The Rise of Skywalker.