The force is strong with Episode 9 as we get our first look at  the filming locations for the latest installment in the Star Wars franchise.

Filming started recently in Wadi Rum, a national park in Jordan that bears a striking resemblance to a few famous and very significant planets in the Star Wars Universe. However, details about the last installment in the story of Rey and Kylo Ren have been scarce leaving Star Wars fans speculating about what planet this could represent.

The first and most obvious planet is Tatooine.  The desert planet was the birthplace of Anakin Skywalker and played a pivotal role in both the original and prequel trilogies. However, this iconic Star Wars location has not appeared in the newest saga. Tatooine was the first planet to appear in Star Wars, so it seems only fitting that the final chapter in this Star Wars story will happen in the same place it began.

The next option is Jakku. This is the junk planet that was introduced and played a pivotal role in The Force Awakens since Rey was born there and it appeared a lot in The Force Awakens. However, it would be interesting to see this planet become significant again after both Maz and Kylo Ren told Rey that Jakku was nothing but a junkyard with nothing to offer her. The idea of returning home has been prevalent in Star Wars mythology so far, so Rey returning to Jakku would fit right in with the rest of the franchise.

The final option is Jedha, another relatively new planet but it has already served as a major plot point in 2016’s Rogue One. Jedha is hallowed ground for the Jedi since the planet is home to both an early Jedi temple and the kyber crystals that power lightsabers and the Death Star.  In Rogue One we saw the capital city destroyed, but it was never clear whether the planet survived or not. This could be an opportunity to show the damage done to the Universe by the empire or could show Rey an important planet in the history of the force as she develops her skills as a Jedi.

However, this could be an entirely new planet that will surprise us with a new species and culture to add to the ever expanding Star Wars Universe.

JJ Abrams is returning to direct the final episode in saga that he started with The Force Awakens in 2015.’Star Wars: Episode IX’ will hit theaters December 20, 2019, and will be the final chapter in the story of the Skywalkers.

What planet do you think it is? Let us know in the comments below! –Taylor Tyler

Source:  Star Wars Legacy