Star Wars: 10 Game-Changing Theories For Episode VIII
3. Another Original Cast Member Will Die
Killing characters is difficult, especially in a saga like Star Wars where work is already underway on the next two films when the current one is being made. With Han Solo dead, how do you fulfil the classic filmmaking mandate of upping the stakes in the next movie?
The most predictable answer is kill someone else!, which brings the remaining original trilogy actors back into danger could Episode VIII see the death of Leia, or maybe even Luke? Once the baton is fully passed to the new generation, it doesnt seem implausible that ways might be found to squeeze as much storytelling worth out of the original trilogy actors by giving them all their own dramatic death scenes.
Of Luke and Leia, the latter seems more likely for an Episode VIII demise. Yes, Leia plays a key role in the Resistance, but weve seen already that there are plenty of other people around to take her place should she pop her clogs. Luke the only Jedi left to train Rey on the other hand, is vital to the plot going forward.
The exact whys and wherefores of either of their potential deaths are unclear at this stage (except, obviously, that Kylo Ren will be involved), but you can bet that Lucasfilm have considered both of them for a dramatic end already. It wont be easy to top the death of Han Solo, after all.