Despite releasing a ‘final’ trailer just last month, Disney and LucasFilm have unveiled a new TV spot for Star Wars Episode IX The Rise Of Skywalker. Though it runs for only 30 seconds in length, the TV spot features glimpses of brand new footage not included in any of the movie’s previous trailers.

The new TV spot begins with the same now-iconic scene of C-3PO saying, “Taking one last look, sir, at my friends.” from the final trailer. Then, we see a shot of the Millennium Falcon exiting hyperspace to an unknown planet. The weird thing here is that the ship is back to being equipped with its original round dish, instead of the square one that was initially introduced in Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens.

The next scene has the Star Wars fan in me very intrigued. It shows Rey discovering the shattered remnants of Darth Vader’s helmet, which was last seen in Star Wars Episode VII The Force Awakens. It looks like the helmet will be playing a larger role in the third and final movie. Maybe Emperor Palpatine has been possessing the helmet all these years? Sort of like a Force Echo?

The rest is basically the same old footage, though we do get a first clear look at Kylo Ren’s fixed helmet. The lines, or seams, where the helmet is pasted together is red in colour, which is very Sith-like in theme.

Time Travel In Star Wars

My working theory remains that Emperor Palpatine / Darth Sidious could have somehow survived all these decades and years by transporting himself to the future. Time travel is a relatively new concept in the franchise, as it was introduced in the final season of the Star Wars Rebels animated series.

In the thirteenth episode of the final season, protagonist Ezra Bridger saved Ahsoka Tano from dying at Darth Vader’s hand by pulling her into the World Between Worlds, a dimension that exists outside of time and space but linking all moments in time together at the same time.

This act proved that time could be manipulated and altered in the Star Wars universe. In the same episode, Emperor Palpatine himself could project an astral form into the World Between Worlds but he needed Ezra’s help to physically enter. His plans were foiled when Ezra retaliated against him and destroyed the portal.

It could be possible that Darth Sidious managed to find another way into the World Between Worlds, and used it to transport himself into the future. If he had access to it, he could have amassed a secret Imperial army and stayed alive all this time without anyone knowing.

Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker is slated to release on 20 December 2019. In the meantime, check out the new TV spot below.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zsp8iOt76YU&w=560&h=315]