Caution: This post contains spoilers for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is the ending of both the sequel trilogy and the nine-episode Skywalker saga as a whole, bringing a conclusion to the nine-episode story. Because the film provides closure for the prequel and original trilogies as well, The Rise of Skywalker features many performances from returning actors and a sense of closure for returning characters.
Some of the most prominent returning characters were featured heavily in the marketing of the film, including C-3PO (Anthony Daniels), Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), Lando Calrissian (Billy Dee Williams), and the insidious Sheev Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid). Chewbacca (Joonas Suotama) and R2-D2 (Jimmy Vee), although they are not played by their original actors, return as well. General Leia Organa appears in the film despite Carrie Fisher's tragic death through the use of recycled footage from previous films.
Other characters' appearances were a surprising addition to The Rise of Skywalker. Harrison Ford reprised his iconic role as Han Solo, appearing in a memory to his son, Kylo Ren. The voices of past Jedi comfort and encourage Rey as she battles with Emperor Palpatine, including Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen), Obi-Wan Kenobi (voiced by both Ewan McGregor and Alec Guinness), Yoda (Frank Oz), Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson), Mace Windu (Samuel L. Jackson), and, from the expanded universe, Ahsoka Tano (Ashley Eckstein).
However, The Rise of Skywalker also featured one surprise cameo from an original trilogy Rebellion fighter. During the battle over Exegol, as Lando Calrissian arrives with Resistance reinforcements, he is joined by ace pilot Wedge Antilles, played by original actor Denis Lawson. In a blink-and-you-miss-it shot, Antilles fires on First Order ships while exclaiming to Lando Calrissian, "Nice flying, Lando!"
Wedge Antilles flew as Red Two at the Battle of Yavin IV, one of only three surviving X-wing pilots against the first Death Star. At the Battle of Endor, Wedge flew in an X-wing alongside Lando piloting the Millennium Falcon; with Lando, Wedge destroyed the second Death Star. As such, Wedge Antilles is the only pilot to have flown and survived both the Battle of Yavin and the Battle of Endor.
Star Wars animation fans will know Wedge's early years from the Star Wars Rebels television show. In Star Wars Legends, Wedge Antilles' adventures were chronicled in the Star Wars: X-Wing novels. However, Wedge's canonical life in the Rebellion and Resistance is explored in the Aftermath novels, where he meets and marries Norra Wexley, becoming the stepfather to her son, Temmin "Snap" Wexley (Gregory Phillip Grunberg), who tragically dies at the battle of Exegol. Most recently, Wedge appeared in the novel Resistance Reborn, as a mentor to Poe Dameron, setting up his appearance in The Rise of Skywalker.
Having Wedge fly with Lando one last time in The Rise of Skywalker was a nice Easter egg for fans of the ace pilot.
MORE: Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker - Every Easter Egg & Reference
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