We’re still a few months away from the release of Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker, the last in the third trilogy of Star Wars films overseen by director/producer JJ Abrams. And while details are still thin on the ground – we’ve only had one measly teaser trailer so far – StarWars.com has teased the first look at one of the film’s new creations: a crimson red version of the iconic Stormtrooper dubbed the “Sith Trooper”.
There are no real details on how these troopers will fit into the story, but with Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) now in charge as the First Order’s new Supreme Leader and on the hunt for what little remains of the Resistance, it looks like he’ll be employing some nattily dressed dark-side muscle.
The preview of the new design comes ahead of a special exhibition that will be heading to this year’s San Diego Comic-Con (taking place from 18-21 July), which will showcase a collection of various Stormtrooper costume designs that have featured throughout the Skywalker saga – including the new scarlet armour.
According to Madlyn Burkert, a Lucasfilm archivist who’s co-producing the exhibition, the new design has “some really unique aesthetics to it” and “some subtle ties” to previous designs (we’re presuming other than the fact it looks like, well, a red Stormtrooper).
As you might expect for a new Star Wars film, the exhibition will be accompanied by a shedload of toys, collectibles and various other merch – the previews of which give those of us who aren’t going to SDCC the chance to get a better look at the new henchpeople (see below).
So, how exactly will these new Sith Troopers fit into the story? We’ll find out when Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker hits UK cinemas on 19 December.
