Star Wars 9 FIRST official image revealed and time-jump CONFIRMED

The Episode IX panel is the hot ticket of the biennial event. After so many teases and no-shows, Lucasfilm and Disney are finally giving fans the first official look at Star Wars 9. Although Mark Hamill was shocking absent, due to other commitments, it finally feels like the build-up to the Skywalker finale has begun. Anthony Daniels and Billy Dee Williams joined the stage to huge cheers but there was a massive gasp when an official image from the movie appeared on the big screen. Scroll down to see it.

The image prompted host Stephen Colbert to ask: “Does it pick up where we lift off?” 

Abrams replied: “The movie doesn’t pick up immediately after the last film. Some time has gone by. What you can tell from that picture, this is at the beginning of it and this is an adventure the group goes off on together.

“One of the great things about working on it was the dynamic between the characters. They are just the most wonderful together and that is the thing I’m most excited for you to see.

See the first image here below.

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The image clearly shows Rey, Chewbacca, C-3PO, BB8, Finn and Poe.

It looks like they are loading up the Millennium Falcon for a mission.

This was confirmed later on when Naomi Ackie came on stage and revealed how her character will meet the team.

She said: “The original group is going on this epic, epic adventure together and I am so excited about where my character crosses paths with them. It’s wicked.”

This links in with persistent rumours that Leia will send out her remaining trusted people to seek any remaining allies. Apparently, they might also be seeking the First Order’s secret headquarters and some way of exposing a dark secret or flaw that might help bring down the evil empire.

STAR WARS 9 IS OUT ON DECEMBER 20