17 Characters You Need to Know Before Seeing Star Wars: The Last Jedi
As a follow up to The Force Awakens, the characters of Star Wars: The Last Jedi continues the story of a galactic-scale battle between the Resistance and the First Order.
Quick Summary
Two years after the destruction of the Starkiller Base, the First Order is about to launch an all-out attack on the Resistance. Heroes from wars in the decades gone by, twins Luke Skywalker and Leia Morgana, seem to be the last hope for the Resistance to prevail. While Leia takes the leading role in the battle, Luke remains reluctant to end his solitary refuge on Planet Ahch-To. Rey is doing all she can to bring him back.
In addition to returning heroes and known villains, The Last Jedi introduces an array of new characters to the picture. At the end when all hopes seem lost, the undisputed Jedi Master Luke Skywalker comes to the rescue.
Where to Watch
Star Wars: The Last Jedi is available for online streaming on Disney+.
From legendary figures to new heroes and fresh villains, here are some characters you must know before seeing Star Wars: The Last Jedi.
Rey (Daisy Ridley)
The young heroine from The Force Awakens, Rey, returns as expected; she still has so many stories left untold following her encounter with Luke Skywalker at the conclusion of the film. Now in The Last Jedi, Rey is even more determined to unveil the secret of the Force and learn to wield the power from the master himself. She almost makes a complete transformation from a confused scavenger without a shred of knowledge about her origin into a lightsaber-wielding Jedi Knight of the Resistance. It’s about time to see a full-fledged confrontation between Rey and Kylo Ren.
Finn (John Boyega)
Previously known as FN-2187, the disillusioned former stormtrooper has now become Finn and a loyal fighter for the Resistance. In The Force Awakens, he escaped the First Order and specifically the command of the ruthless Captain Phasma only to get stranded on a desert planet. As it turned out, fate brought him to Rey and BB-8 while they were still searching for Luke Skywalker. Along with Poe Dameron and the rest of the resistance fighters, Finn is ready to strike back at the military dictatorship he once served.
Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac)
The death of Han Solo brought intense grief not only to his wife General Leia Organa and best friend Chewbacca, but also to the other Resistance fighters. The galaxy suffers from the loss of a great fighter and a combat ace. No one will replace him in the hearts of fans, but Poe Dameron might be the right person to fill the gap Han left behind. So far he has shown a respectable degree of recklessness and arrogance, but with combat skills and bravery to make up for all those downsides. The time has come for Poe to be at the forefront of the battle leading his comrades to victory.
Kylo Ren (Adam Driver)
Ben Solo is the son of Han Solo and Leia Organa. He was previously trained to be a Jedi Knight under his uncle Luke Skywalker, before defecting to the dark side and becoming Kylo Ren. Rey learns about his origin through the Force, and she believes he is not all bad; there is still good Ben Solo beneath his evil façade. She wants to bring Ben back to his mother, Leia, and out of the First Order. As noble as it may sound, it is not likely to happen without a big face-off between the two.
Rose Tico (Kelly Marie Tran)
A new character, Rose Tico, is played by a newcomer, Kelly Marie Tan. During a Star Wars Celebration event in Orlando, Florida, months before the release of The Last Jedi, director Rian Johnson said that Rose had the biggest new part and was portrayed by the smallest actor. Rose is a mechanic working for the resistance, so she doesn’t usually get involved directly in every shoot out. This time is different because her sister, a gunner named Paige Tico, sacrifices herself early in the opening battle. It was the beginning of Rose’s path into a mission behind the enemy lines with Finn.
Supreme Leader Snoke (Andy Serkis)
First introduced in The Force Awakens in a holographic projection, Supreme Leader Snoke appears in his true physical form in The Last Jedi. As a Commander of the First Order’s massive fleet of warships, Snoke is determined to be the true ruler of the galaxy by any means necessary. The presence of the Resistance and even the slightest sense of Luke Skywalker being alive must be put to an end. As Master to Kylo Ren, the commander also has one of the most powerful dark side warriors to execute every evil plan he comes up with.
General Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher)
Circumstances involving General Leia Morgana may be problematic enough to compromise her capacity to lead the Resistance. Her twin brother, Luke Skywalker, remains uncertain about returning to the frontline. Her husband, Han Solo, was killed. And her son, Ben Solo, is fighting for the dark side as Kylo Ren. To make things worse, it was Ren who took the life of his own father. Despite the many challenges, General Leia has always been a capable and inspiring leader. She can always find hope.
Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill)
When Rey broke the news of Han Solo’s death to Luke Skywalker, there was almost no time to grieve. However, it’s clear that deep down Luke is heartbroken. The reason he disappeared, as revealed in The Force Awakens, was because he failed to prevent Ben Solo from falling into the dark side and becoming Kylo Ren. Now Luke knows that Ren killed Han Solo. The sequence of events somehow makes him feel responsible for the death of his old friend. Time is of the essence. Luke Skywalker must make up his mind about the inevitable face-off with the First Order and Kylo Ren.
Vice Admiral Amilyn Holdo (Laura Dern)
Serving as general Leia’s second-in-command is Vice Admiral Amilyn Holdo. There’s not much of a background story in the film about Holdo or her relationship with Leia. The novel “Leia, Princess of Alderaan,” (2017) explains about the friendship between Holdo and Leia since being teenagers. They also served together in the Apprentice of Legislature of the Imperial Planet. Holdo learned about Leia’s involvement in the Rebel Alliance and decided to join her. When Holdo first appears in the film, she delivers an impression of a typical bureaucratic. When the time calls for drastic measure, however, she proves to be the just right person for the deed.
DJ (Benicio del Toro)
Some say DJ is an amoral thief, others claim he is one of the most effective villains in Star Wars. He is involved in a mission to Canto Bight with Finn and Rose, but he’s a cynic who refuses to take sides between the Resistance and the First Order, probably because he thinks neither can give him what he wants. The nickname “DJ” stands for “Don’t Join,” which explains his attitude as well as his name. DJ is portrayed by seasoned actor yet Star Wars newcomer Benicio del Toro.
General Hux (Domhnall Gleeson)
Unlike most villains in the film, General Hux wants Kylo Ren to lose; but unlike the Resistance, General Hux wants to do right by Supreme Leader Snoke. With ceaseless over-the-top lines and unmistakable sneering stare, Hux is exactly what you expect from a First Order commander. His character’s scornful remarks and hypersensitiveness to both the Resistance and Kylo Ren make the film more enjoyable.
Kaydel Connix (Billie Lourd)
Portrayed by Billie Lourd (daughter of Carrie Fisher), Lieutenant Kaydel Connix has more screen time and duties in The Last Jedi. She does not always agree with Admiral Holdo, but her performance as operation controller has earned her respect from the superiors, resulting in a promotion to the rank of lieutenant. She’s also one of the officers who supports Poe’s decision to rebel against Admiral Holdo. General Leia puts a stop to the attempt.
Porg (voiced by the sounds of doves, turkeys, and chickens)
With a body built like penguins and facial features like seals, no one can resist Porgs. Known to be insanely cute, the species are native to Ahch-To, the planet where Luke Skywalker lives a solitary life cut off from the rest of the galaxy. Some of the porgs you see in the film are CGI based on real puffins. The planet scene was filmed on Skellig Islands, where there’s a huge population of Atlantic Puffins. Instead of removing them from the backgrounds, filmmakers decided to develop new fictional species to disguise the real seabirds.
Master Codebreaker (Justin Theroux)
Played by Justin Theroux, the Master Codebreaker spent his time decoding the Logbook and the Smuggler’s Guide.
Yoda’s Force spirit
Frank Oz played the voice of the deceased Yoda who shows up as a Force spirit to offer guidance to our heroes.
Stormtroopers (Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex)
Good luck finding them, but the Prince and the Prince are both serious Star Wars fans and thrilled at the chance to be in the movie.
Are you as big a Star Wars fan as we are? Tell us what you think of the latest movies. We’d love to hear from you.
Is Luke’s daughter Rey?
Many fans thought Rey was the daughter of either Luke Skywalker or Han Solo, but the big surprise came when she turned out to be someone else’s kid (unknown so far) who can use the power of the Force.
Who is Luke Skywalkers son?
Ben is the son of Luke Skywalker and Mara Jade. He was named after Obi-Wan “Ben” Kenobi from the original series.
Is Rey Kylo Ren’s sister?
No, they are cousins, though Rey might be his great-aunt.
