Star Wars Episode IX rumors: More filming locations to come?

With Star Wars Episode IX in full swing, even the question of where the movie will film has become the subject of some fascinating rumors.

Star Wars Episode IX is going to be epic. We know that much for sure, since it’s the conclusion to the sequel trilogy. But with a need for that kind of scale comes a need to do some on-location filming. Sometimes, a set just won’t do.

Enter Star Wars News Net with a set of reports on just where the movie could go, although it (and we) will emphasize that these are reports and thus should be taken with the usual grain of salt. We probably wouldn’t recommend a Crait-style salt lick just yet, though.

All jokes aside, California, Ireland, and Italy are apparently on the shortlist. SWNN speculates that these could be used as repeat locations — Endor IV, Ahch-To, and Naboo, respectively.

Ahch-To makes a modicum of sense; perhaps Rey will take a moment to return there and face the Dark Side cave again or otherwise speak to Luke (although if he’s a Force ghost, he’s not limited to the place he died). As for Naboo, it’s possible that part of the journey of killing the past for the new Supreme Leader, Kylo Ren, includes killing any mention of Padmé Amidala from the planet she ruled and represented at different points in her life.

It’s Endor that we can’t quite understand. SWNN speculates that perhaps the idea involves getting in touch with anyone and everyone who ever helped either the Rebellion or the Resistance, but the Ewoks worked so well because they were on their home turf. Besides, if you don’t think that Kylo Ren would know all about how the Battle of Endor went the first time, you’ve got another think coming. He’s probably not foolish enough to try stormtroopers in the forest for a second time.

The mountains of California could possibly help stand in for Naboo as well. In the Legends canon, Leia Organa eventually visited her cousin, Pooja Naberrie, to talk about their relationship as cousins; House Naberrie also lives in the mountains. While it’s probably not possible for Leia to carry this out any longer because of the limitations of the footage that exists, either Kylo or Rey (if she’s a Skywalker) could perhaps pay a visit instead.

Part of this might just be a desire for more Naboo on this writer’s part, because Padmé does matter to the greater story of Star Wars. However, there has been a shift in the books lately, with Thrawn: Alliances and the announced Queen’s Shadow both featuring her prominently. Perhaps it will presage a rise to importance in the movies, too.

But all that being said, keep your eyes peeled for more Star Wars: Episode IX rumors.

Star Wars: Episode IX has a scheduled release date of Dec. 20, 2019.