Episode IX: Spoilers and Rumors

https://deadline.com/2018/08/emmys-keri-russell-americans-star-wars-episode-ix-1202452053/amp/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter&__twitter_impression=true

I hopped on the phone this week with Russell, who was just coming from the airport after arriving back from London where she is shooting Star Wars: Episode IX.

so she was shooting something last week.

For those wondering where they were filming earlier this week (the Finn/Poe set pics), it was Ivinghoe Beacon, which is in Buckinghamshire and on the outskirts of London: https://www.leightonbuzzardonline.co.uk/news/business/chewbacca-finn-and-poe-spotted-not-far-far-away-from-leighton-buzzard-for-star-wars-episode-ix-filming-1-8613948

You weren't too far off with your guess, @MrsWindu!

Black Park (where the Falcon was spotted), is also in Buckinghamshire.

Riri wrote:Just to let you know, Express have a new “leak” every other day. I’m not sure what their track record is though.

@Riri
Apparently, their source is MZ so I would take it with a huge grain of salt.

Ok, this is flying under the radar but it seems that 2 different sources think Poe is indeed getting a love interest. lets start with the more reliable one. This redditor is rock solid and he/she listens to Jason's Patreon podcast. Anyway, a few episodes back, Jason said that Keri Russell may be playing Poe's love interest. Now the redditor explains how Jason got the info:

They have spoken on that rumor since and they are not totally sure about it. I think. It comes from someone they are friends with on Facebook, who posted something like "Poe's lady got cast" with a link to Keri, and then deleted it just hours before the story broke. Could be nothing. Could be everything, especially since we have no idea what Rey or Rose are doing right now either. There is no 100% way to tell who her scenes have been with so far.

I do think, assuming that person is SW related, it does increase the chances that either her or Ackie are a love interest for him. Depends how old Ackie is playing. The original casting call seemed to suggest younger but she is also Daisy and John's age now and I am not sure they would have been cast to play 19 now.

https://www.reddit.com/r/StarWarsLeaks/comments/9afry2/keri_russell_was_shooting_ix_this_week/

now the less reliable one, since this source needs some confirmation although some things he said about Finn and Poe previously corroborated to an extent:

The small force we see in photos, shrouded in camo, is part of a paramilitary group led by Naomi Ackie’s character, who has been working with Chewbacca for months to build a homegrown resistance force. She has been described to me as smart and capable, and has immediate chemistry with Mr. Dameron. She leads them back to their base of operations, where I’ve been told we get some exposition that elaborates on the total control the First Order has.

https://www.reddit.com/r/StarWarsLeaks/comments/99z1xn/4lom_leak_new_info_from_the_first_act/

so while this rumor points a different actress as potential love interest ("great chemsitry") the idea is the same, that one of new female characters may be romantically involved with Poe.

I honestly don't know what to think. Last second romance feels so extraneous and since it's yet another romance it feels like an overkill. But we'll see what happens. I just thought that there seems to be some fire to this smoke.

giaciak2 wrote:Hallo to all, I find a new spoiler for ep. IX. My english is not very good but I find it in english too. I add here the link. I’m writing by my phone I hope I can share this : https://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/films/1007125/Star-Wars-9-Kylo-Ren-Anakin-Darth-Vader-force-ghost-release-date-theories-fan-backlash

@giaciak2

The express often uses Mike Zeroh as a "source". They're not reliable.

@vaderito Yeah we have a lot of couples in this trilogy. Of course, Poe and his love interest could be already established at the beginning of the movie, especially if she's being called Poe's lady from the beginning. I don't remember Rose getting called Finn's lady from inside sources this early. It would be an easy way to highlight Rey's loneliness. All her friends have relationships and different priorities now, whereas she's separated from her skype boyfriend.

vaderito wrote:Ok, this is flying under the radar but it seems that 2 different sources think Poe is indeed getting a love interest. lets start with the more reliable one. This redditor is rock solid and he/she listens to Jason's Patreon podcast. Anyway, a few episodes back, Jason said that Keri Russell may be playing Poe's love interest. Now the redditor explains how Jason got the info:

They have spoken on that rumor since and they are not totally sure about it. I think. It comes from someone they are friends with on Facebook, who posted something like "Poe's lady got cast" with a link to Keri, and then deleted it just hours before the story broke. Could be nothing. Could be everything, especially since we have no idea what Rey or Rose are doing right now either. There is no 100% way to tell who her scenes have been with so far.

I do think, assuming that person is SW related, it does increase the chances that either her or Ackie are a love interest for him. Depends how old Ackie is playing. The original casting call seemed to suggest younger but she is also Daisy and John's age now and I am not sure they would have been cast to play 19 now.

https://www.reddit.com/r/StarWarsLeaks/comments/9afry2/keri_russell_was_shooting_ix_this_week/

now the less reliable one, since this source needs some confirmation although some things he said about Finn and Poe previously corroborated to an extent:

The small force we see in photos, shrouded in camo, is part of a paramilitary group led by Naomi Ackie’s character, who has been working with Chewbacca for months to build a homegrown resistance force. She has been described to me as smart and capable, and has immediate chemistry with Mr. Dameron. She leads them back to their base of operations, where I’ve been told we get some exposition that elaborates on the total control the First Order has.

https://www.reddit.com/r/StarWarsLeaks/comments/99z1xn/4lom_leak_new_info_from_the_first_act/

so while this rumor points a different actress as potential love interest ("great chemsitry") the idea is the same, that one of new female characters may be romantically involved with Poe.

I honestly don't know what to think. Last second romance feels so extraneous and since it's yet another romance it feels like an overkill. But we'll see what happens. I just thought that there seems to be some fire to this smoke.

@vaderito

I'm the one who posted the Keri Russell was shooting IX thread on StarWarsLeaks. I'm glad that person clarified the Poe rumour a bit more. Not sure if I still believe it, but it's interesting nevertheless.

Someone on Reddit said that they are part of a Facebook group where a person said they met Greg Gunberg (Snap Wexley, Resistance pilot), at a convention and he told them he's heading to the UK to film IX next week. So it seems like Resistance stuff is continuing into next week.

Kylo Rey wrote:

vaderito wrote:Ok, this is flying under the radar but it seems that 2 different sources think Poe is indeed getting a love interest. lets start with the more reliable one. This redditor is rock solid and he/she listens to Jason's Patreon podcast. Anyway, a few episodes back, Jason said that Keri Russell may be playing Poe's love interest. Now the redditor explains how Jason got the info:

They have spoken on that rumor since and they are not totally sure about it. I think. It comes from someone they are friends with on Facebook, who posted something like "Poe's lady got cast" with a link to Keri, and then deleted it just hours before the story broke. Could be nothing. Could be everything, especially since we have no idea what Rey or Rose are doing right now either. There is no 100% way to tell who her scenes have been with so far.

I do think, assuming that person is SW related, it does increase the chances that either her or Ackie are a love interest for him. Depends how old Ackie is playing. The original casting call seemed to suggest younger but she is also Daisy and John's age now and I am not sure they would have been cast to play 19 now.

https://www.reddit.com/r/StarWarsLeaks/comments/9afry2/keri_russell_was_shooting_ix_this_week/

now the less reliable one, since this source needs some confirmation although some things he said about Finn and Poe previously corroborated to an extent:

The small force we see in photos, shrouded in camo, is part of a paramilitary group led by Naomi Ackie’s character, who has been working with Chewbacca for months to build a homegrown resistance force. She has been described to me as smart and capable, and has immediate chemistry with Mr. Dameron. She leads them back to their base of operations, where I’ve been told we get some exposition that elaborates on the total control the First Order has.

https://www.reddit.com/r/StarWarsLeaks/comments/99z1xn/4lom_leak_new_info_from_the_first_act/

so while this rumor points a different actress as potential love interest ("great chemsitry") the idea is the same, that one of new female characters may be romantically involved with Poe.

I honestly don't know what to think. Last second romance feels so extraneous and since it's yet another romance it feels like an overkill. But we'll see what happens. I just thought that there seems to be some fire to this smoke.

@vaderito

I'm the one who posted the Keri Russell was shooting IX thread on StarWarsLeaks. I'm glad that person clarified the Poe rumour a bit more. Not sure if I still believe it, but it's interesting nevertheless.

Someone on Reddit said that they are part of a Facebook group where a person said they met Greg Gunberg (Snap Wexley, Resistance pilot), at a convention and he told them he's heading to the UK to film IX next week. So it seems like Resistance stuff is continuing into next week.

@Kylo Rey

Greg was at a convention in the past few days. A pic of him at the convention showed up in my twitter feed yesterday.

Kylo Rey wrote:

I'm the one who posted the Keri Russell was shooting IX thread on StarWarsLeaks. I'm glad that person clarified the Poe rumour a bit more. Not sure if I still believe it, but it's interesting nevertheless.

Someone on Reddit said that they are part of a Facebook group where a person said they met Greg Gunberg (Snap Wexley, Resistance pilot), at a convention and he told them he's heading to the UK to film IX next week. So it seems like Resistance stuff is continuing into next week.

@Kylo Rey

Oh, wow, thanks!

rawpowah wrote:@vaderito Yeah we have a lot of couples in this trilogy. Of course, Poe and his love interest could be already established at the beginning of the movie, especially if she's being called Poe's lady from the beginning. I don't remember Rose getting called Finn's lady from inside sources this early. It would be an easy way to highlight Rey's loneliness. All her friends have relationships and different priorities now, whereas she's separated from her skype boyfriend.

@rawpowah So Poe and Rey making eyes at each other at the end of TLJ didn't work out, eh?

rawpowah wrote:@vaderito Yeah we have a lot of couples in this trilogy. Of course, Poe and his love interest could be already established at the beginning of the movie, especially if she's being called Poe's lady from the beginning. I don't remember Rose getting called Finn's lady from inside sources this early. It would be an easy way to highlight Rey's loneliness. All her friends have relationships and different priorities now, whereas she's separated from her skype boyfriend.

@rawpowah
If the endgame is Reylo then the plot needs to establish why Rey can’t just continue on as things are. One of her ongoing themes has been essentially “looking for love belonging in all the wrong places.” First in waiting for a family that was never coming back, then in Luke Skywalker and now with the Resistance. The narrative needs to show us how unsatisfying Rey’s situation with the Resistance is; isolated and sidelined from the action because “the last Jedi” is too important... basically the Fifth Wheel of the Resistance; for the audience to root for her to then do something to change her fate.

Pairing everyone else up, then pairing the pairings (Finn/Rose + Poe/Naomi’s character) while Rey has no one (not even BB-8; who initially looked like might be her ‘true companion’ in TFA but ended up being Poe and Finn’s sidekick... more accurately they’r BB-8’s sidekicks as his exploits are more impressive than either of theirs) is just asking the audience to want something more for her.

I wouldn’t be surprised if our reintroduction to Rey in IX comes as one of the actual Beautiful Friendship Gang (i.e. Poe, Finn, Rose and BB- checking in on Rey as almost an afterthought to what they were doing (as a counterpoint to Finn’s first thoughts in TLJ being “where’s Rey?”, by IX Rey is the last person on Finn’s mind... killing the idea that Rey will ever find the belonging she seeks with either Finn or Poe or as part of the BFG).

Heck, one could even argue that they’re pairing off non-romantic characters as well; Maz + Lando for example. Everybody has somebody, except Rey (and Leia I guess, but that’s down more to having to use recycled footage, I suspect if Carrie were still alive she’d have someone specific in the cast she’d be paired off with in her scenes... possibly with the character played by her daughter as Leia’s protégé to emphasize that Rey doesn’t even have a position as a surrogate daughter to Leia as a way of belonging).

Meanwhile, I’m almost certain that Kylo’s parallel theme will be that it is lonely at the top (particularly when you’re at the top of a nest of vipers) and that despite this being everything he thought he wanted, he’s more miserable than ever.

If it were me, I’d introduce him as appearing to be an “asskicking equals authority” type of leader (possibly even earning him the respect of any semi-honorable elements within the First Order) only to show on closer inspection that Kylo actions are actually reckless almost to the point of suicidal (mirroring Poe at the start of TLJ but only endangering himself instead of those under him) because he is so miserable (basically playing the odds for an eventual ‘suicide by combat’ because he’d never do himself in). But any scenario where it’s clear his heart just isn’t in it would work just as well.

What would be interesting to see would be if the story set up pairings (although unlikely to be romantic) among everyone in the First Order except Kylo as well; Hux + other lead conspirator, new officer + chief lieutenant, etc.; just to reinforce the idea that something is wrong with the world for Rey and Kylo to be so alone.

It would make narrative sense for Poe to have a love interest, leaving Rey as the only one of the BFG without a SO. Rey would be the only only all by her lonesome.

At the same time, that might give off a weird sense that Rey should have a love interest just because that's a thing everybody does. Pairing literally everyone off might actually make romance seem too commonplace in the context of the story, and maybe take off a bit of luster from what is supposed to be a big, sweeping, epic, transcendental love story with Kylo.

I might also feel a little bad for Poe's lady love, since all the other characters already had one or two movies to flesh out their character. And there's so much going on in IX anyway, how would this character get enough screentime to introduce, develop, and play out an entire character arc in a very stuffed movie? My main concern is that this hypothetical character would be less of a character and more defined by her relationship to another character. Rose is an actual three dimensional player in the ST, but I think it would be difficult for a new person to come in this late in the game and get the same level of treatment.

Also, there would be a kind of satisfaction seeing Poe, the most traditional hunky hero figure in the trilogy, NOT end up with someone. Just as Rose is someone you wouldn't expect to see in SW, let alone be a LI for one of the leading men, Poe is the person you expect to get the girl in almost any other movie. That fact alone I think, outside of whatever sexual tension Oscar exudes naturally, is why Rey-Poe and FinnRey are so popular. It's not the dynamic or lack thereof regarding the character pairs themselves, but what almost every medium and genre of storytelling has taught audiences to assume regardless. If the ST is about subverting expectations, this could tie in nicely.

@Chris24601 That is exactly how I see things as well as far as Rey is concerned. I can easily picture Episode IX opening with Finn, Poe and Chewie on that mission from the pics that were leaked. And then we see them arrive at the new Resistance base, where everyone is paired off and celebrating their initial success, while Rey is off to the side being all lonely. Then, after we get an idea of her struggles, we segway into a Kylo scene that establishes his loneliness and what's going on in the FO.

I can imagine BB-8 hanging out with the other droids like R2 as well. And Chewie could hang out with Maz, Leia and Lando. 3PO can hang out with Leia. And a good way to utilize that Leia footage is to show her working on something in the background as Rey looks on, showing how busy she is with Resistance stuff instead of worrying about the Force or something. That would make Ben as the only known FS who gets what Rey is going through.

Also, if the Resistance is keeping Rey out of action and coddling her because of her 'last jedi' status, then you're right that we would root for Rey to get out of that situation. I can't image Ben sidelining her like that and I think that's something Rey might realize as well.

@californiagirl The thing is, you don't need a sweeping love story for Poe. All you need to establish he's interested in someone is to have them either casually kiss at the beginning to show that they're in an established relationship, or simply flirt in a scene to show he has a personal life going on (which can be expanded in comics and so on). That's it. If anything, introducing a love interest for Poe this late in the game (providing Jason is right) shows JJ doesn't have much story left for the Resistance, and I fully expect the pew-pew scenes for example to be stretched to give them something to do.

As for the romance aspect, the main idea is to emphasize loneliness and that Kylo is the only one who understands Rey (and viceversa), which is something we already saw in TLJ, and hopefully IX will make it explicit. Rey won't be jumping into Kylo's arms because all her friends hooked up, and I think JJ can establish that (especially if we'll see non-romantic pairings hang out together, like the droids or Leia with her friends and co-workers).

Poe and a love interest? hmm! And... it's not Rey?! tee hee!!

I think if Poe gets a love interest, and we have Finn and Rose & eventually Rey and Kylo/Ben - this suggests Poe's won't get a happy ending.. Too trite! She'll probably turn out to be a traitor to the resistance/ a spy for the FO - a honey pot (whooo maybe a KOR! haa) who set out to seduce one of the leaders of the resistance (I'm trying not to assume he will be the leader of the resistance.. maybe..) Poor Poe, but I'd be happy to see him do some penance for his 'heroics' that got nearly the whole resistance wiped out in TLJ!

I've enjoyed reading ideas about Rey feeling on the outer because she's surrounded by couples and she's unattached. You guys always get me thinking!!
I keep coming back to the idea that Reylo is headed in a Jane Eyre type direction- where she finds connection and belonging, but - it is still can't compare to the connection Jane has with Rochester.
When thinking about how Rey could experience missing Kylo/Ben in IX, we have:
Rey feeling the absence of Kylo/Ben because she is surrounded by couples
vs
Rey being surrounded by people with whom she's connected and found a sense of belonging - but it isn't enough, because they are not Ben

I go with the second option, as I think it is more powerful and Reylo is well set up for this in TFA and TLJ. [but YMMV]
Rey and Kylo/Ben are uniquely suited to each other, and it is unrivaled.
Go Reylo!  

I definitely see the Resistance as the equivalent of the Rivers family. Rey will have her friendship with them and they function as a family she makes, but her belonging is imo with Ben. I agree.

Maybe it comes from the general concept to subvert expectations. Or the fact that lots of people are annoyed with Poe for getting more Resistance members killed than Kylo, and he's still all "the spark that will light the fire to burn the FO down", but is still somehow viewed as a traditional hero, and I just kind of don't want him to have a girlfriend with that mindset and the things he's done. Maybe I'm just very biased.

rawpowah wrote:@Chris24601 That is exactly how I see things as well as far as Rey is concerned. I can easily picture Episode IX opening with Finn, Poe and Chewie on that mission from the pics that were leaked. And then we see them arrive at the new Resistance base, where everyone is paired off and celebrating their initial success, while Rey is off to the side being all lonely. Then, after we get an idea of her struggles, we segway into a Kylo scene that establishes his loneliness and what's going on in the FO.

I can imagine BB-8 hanging out with the other droids like R2 as well. And Chewie could hang out with Maz, Leia and Lando. 3PO can hang out with Leia. And a good way to utilize that Leia footage is to show her working on something in the background as Rey looks on, showing how busy she is with Resistance stuff instead of worrying about the Force or something. That would make Ben as the only known FS who gets what Rey is going through.

Also, if the Resistance is keeping Rey out of action and coddling her because of her 'last jedi' status, then you're right that we would root for Rey to get out of that situation. I can't image Ben sidelining her like that and I think that's something Rey might realize as well.

@rawpowah

I sorta found a copy (French fandom YT account) of the original video where somebody went through an analyzed how JJ and his DP framed her throughout TFA to show her isolation. Even in situations where she was with other characters:



And we know two for two even when she's with the Resistance, she's not interacting with them and framed as being alone other than Leia going out of her way to comfort her





Even in the moment at TFA's climax when she finally sees the island for reals, she's alone in her thoughts (Chewie suspects something). Ultimately her trip to Ache-to ends feeling even more alone and isolated (confession to Kylo) than she ever felt on Jakku thanks to the descent into the vagina mirror cave only showing her that she'll never get answers about her parents and that she's on her own.

I suspect that JJ will continue with this theme with her in IX and as the story progresses towards resolution, we'll see Rey framed more as being where she's found her belonging (hint, not with the BFG).

@snufkin I don't speak French, but I understood most of this. Romance languages FTW!

When you got to the portions in TLJ, this got me thinking about how Rian visually depicted the force bond between Rey and Kylo. We start out with them in separate frames, until we get to the smut hut and we finally see them together, in communion. This makes me wonder if we will see a change in the way JJ frames the force bond in Episode IX (if he doesn't abandon it). Perhaps we will see the bond develop (maybe they'll see their surroundings, or touch again), and once again we'll have them depicted in the same scene. If JJ frames Rey and Kylo to suggest that he is her belonging, then he can use the framing during her interactions with the Resistance to show that the BFG isn't where she's supposed to be

Thanks for the video @snufkin , and for once I'm happy to know French language.

I agree the Resistance is basically played out; that’s probably why they’re bringing in the pirates and Hutts to at least add some flavor to their bland oatmeal. But that also got me thinking about how some of the superfans have complained that there’s nowhere for the story to go and that IX might as well be an unconnected film.

What if that’s actually the idea? We’re closing out a nine film saga that has always used mirroring and repeated motifs as part of its story structure. Even more, we’re pretty Reylo and Bendemption are likely playing into a Reverse Anidala. That suggests to me that IX could very well be intended to mirror and perhaps even reverse The Phantom Menace.

Rumors and general assumptions provide a lot of parallels with the specifics flipped. One example would be that there will be a conflict involving a semi-criminal consortium on one side (Trade Federation then, Hutt Cartels now) vs. a corrupt government (Republic then, First Order now) and the heroes have only conditional support from their supposed allies (Padme gets no support from the Republic and must rely on the Gungans to win, the Resistance is going to have to try and convince the Hutts to support them).

Worth considering as a possible ending as well is that we also had two Force user antagonists come out of hiding and one of them seizes control of the corrupt government over the course of the film. So if you flip the script you’d start with a Force user protagonist in charge of the corrupt government surrender control of the corrupt government (Ben) and along with the other Force user protagonist (Rey) go into hiding/exile to rebuild their Order.

But here’s the thing that I think is relevant about how the superfans are saying IX practically has to be an unconnected story is that, so was The Phantom Menace. It was essentially a prologue to the entire saga set a decade before the main conflict began (the Clone Wars that allowed the Empire to rise) that was not a Republic-wide conflict to determine control of the entire galaxy. Rather it was a struggle over a single world, the beginning of the conflict between the Jedi and Sith and because of Qui-Gon’s death became the moment that the course of Anakin’s destiny was sealed (because Qui-Gon would have better understood Anakin’s fears about his mother and probably have done something to resolve them instead of making him bury them and as a general father figure instead of a brother would have been able to provide the guidance that Anakin ultimately turned to Palpatine for).

So here’s the thought. Whatever the battle between the Resistance and First Order is will be largely irrelevant to the emotional core of the film... it’s just the backdrop. The emotional core will be the seemingly unconnected struggle for Ben’s redemption and his surrendering his power (i.e. the opposite of Palpatine) before going into hiding with Rey as they build a new Jedi Order together (i.e reversing the path of the Sith in TPM).

That would also mirror the climax of RotJ as well in that, while the Battle of Endor was the deciding battle of the Rebellion, the emotional core of the film was Luke’s battle to save the soul of his father in a conflict that had absolutely no relevance to the outcome of the Battle of Endor.

That isn’t surprising though since GL originally planned TPM as the mirror of RotJ in terms of structure... the seemingly unimportant battle (relative to the Battle of Naboo) that killed Qui-Gon (two Jedi vs. one Sith ending with the Sith plummeting down a shaft) set Anakin on the path to the Dark side... dooming the Jedi and bringing the Sith to power. Luke confronting the Emperor (one Jedi vs. two Sith, then at the critical moment of decision becoming again two Jedi vs. one Sith and that Sith being hurled down a shaft) in the also seemingly largely unconnected battle is what restores Anakin to the Light, saves the Jedi and ends the Sith.

It seems to me that the natural end of the Skywalker saga also needs to be this intimate 2 vs. 1 conflict that is almost unconnected from the larger war. Rey and Ben are two of the three (and will either be on the same side from the start or be there by the end for certain) The only questions are who is the third party and what type of shaft will they plummet down?

rawpowah wrote:
Also, if the Resistance is keeping Rey out of action and coddling her because of her 'last jedi' status, then you're right that we would root for Rey to get out of that situation. I can't image Ben sidelining her like that and I think that's something Rey might realize as well.

@rawpowah

I haven't even thought of this aspect before, But I love it and can completely see it happening. I love the idea of Poe, Finn and Rose being her friends, along with Leia and Chewie and everyone loving Rey and wanting to be a support system for her. But she's still so different from them. I think they can love her and she can love them but they don't understand her like Kylo does. He was a kid with parents who loved him but his power set him apart.
After the scene in TLJ with Rey moving the rocks with her mind, I think her power will not quite scare her friends away, but they might think differently of her now. Or like how snoke saw Kylo, how he was the first orders greatest weapon/ most valuable asset, Rey is now that for the rebels.

I was thinking the other day that SW doesn't seem to play the "special powers" angle like, say, the X-Men films do, where they explore how having powers sets you apart from other people, makes you feel different and excluded, etc. I'm not even sure that having force powers is portrayed as something Rey and Kylo feel kinship over, force is more like the means for them to communicate rather than "oh my god there's another person who has the same power and can understand me".

It's a perspective I can easily see being explored, I'm just not sure if the ST is going to go there.

Saracene wrote:I was thinking the other day that SW doesn't seem to play the "special powers" angle like, say, the X-Men films do, where they explore how having powers sets you apart from other people, makes you feel different and excluded, etc. I'm not even sure that having force powers is portrayed as something Rey and Kylo feel kinship over, force is more like the means for them to communicate rather than "oh my god there's another person who has the same power and can understand me".

It's a perspective I can easily see being explored, I'm just not sure if the ST is going to go there.

@Saracene

I think they already went there a little. In some ways, that is what the whole Atch-to storyline is about. Rey is trying to find her place. Luke is not what she expected. He's traumatized because of what his power has done, and convinced that no one should have that power. He does teach her a valuable lesson - that the force is not a power she has, but an energy she can feel. And, maybe this is just my headcanon talking but I feel that Luke feels like finding force-sensitive people to fight wars is not a good idea. And although Rey does think she can turn Kylo Ren back to Ben Solo to help the resistance win the war, I think it's pretty clear there is a personal reason for her to connect with Kylo, which may be at odds with the Resistance's goals.

As for Kylo, he's attained a lot of power but he's clearly not at ease. And more importantly, it seems that with Snoke and Luke dead, there aren't any other force sensitives around except Leia, who never became a Jedi or broadcast her own force abilities. Rey clearly looks up to Leia and Leia feels affection for her, but Kylo is her son, and Leia is going to die too. So these two young force sensitive main characters are in a unique position in the 9 film story arc - they are free of older people trying to tell them what to do. How that resolves seems to be essential to their journey.

Another new IX cast member, Matt Smith.

The headline claims it's a key role, but doesn't say anything about this below. I also find the "sources say" to be a little odd, but perhaps that's just Hollywood-ese.

https://variety.com/2018/film/news/star-wars-episode-ix-matt-smith-1202886507/