Promising to include all-new scenes adapted from never-before-seen material, deleted scenes, and input from the filmmakers, the story that began in Star Wars: The Force Awakens and continued in Star Wars: The Last Jedi reaches an astounding conclusion.


But what can fans expect to be included in the much-touted all-new material? For starters we know that, via Starwars.com, Kylo's mission to Mustafar to retrieve the Sith Wayfinder gets elaborated on - but aside from that we're largely in the dark.

However, with some careful sifting of Internet rumours, comments by the cast, a look at gaps in licensee releases and a touch of subjective analysis it's likely that some, or all, of the following will get touched on:

• The Dead Speak! - revealing himself through a Fortnite in-game Star Wars event on December 14th, 2020 the Emperor's announcement that the Sith have returned was initially taken to be part of The Rise of Skywalker marketing hype but it was soon realised that it was connected to the movie's opening text crawl.


• Wabi-sabi - though it was shocking to learn that the Sith had an alchemist from the Planet of the Apes, it didn't come as a surprise that a scene showing Kylo gathering the shards of his helmet together was cut for time. Thankfully Topps Authentics preserved this footage in a still, which you can purchase for your collection.


• Every Rose - this character's portrayal in The Last Jedi has been re-developed in the latest episode, stripping Rose of her sidekick persona and given a more strategic position in the Resistance, as hinted at in The Rise of Skywalker Visual Dictionary by DK.


• The Lost Ship - making a comeback from the Original Trilogy is the retconned Tantive IV, saved from Imperial oblivion by a sympathetic senator. Given the briefest of explanations in The Rise of Skywalker Visual Dictionary, there's every reason that the Expanded Edition will provide some exposition on her return.


• Lightsaber Found - reignited after decades locked in a trunk, Luke's first Jedi weapon is wielded by Rey who was given the Skywalker lighsaber in The Force Awakens by Maz Kanata. Despite a clear desire by fans to learn the blade's full story, no full and proper explanation has been forthcoming.


• Lando's Message - having issued a plea for help that goes apparently goes unanswered, Lando and Nien Nunb - the only regular co-pilot he's had since L3-37 became one with the Falcon - head off to rouse some support. What exactly did Lando say to persuade so many ship's captains to navigate to the Unknown Regions to help the Resistance out?


• Beaumont Kin - heavily hinted at by actor Dominic Monaghan who played the historian-turned-ground-pounder, the action sequence that earned this character a double-page spread in The Rise of Skywalker Visual Dictionary could be explained in more detail.


• Spawn Of A Scoundrel - another tidbit of information teased by DK's The Rise of Skywalker Visual Dictionary is the relationship between Landonis Balthazar Calrissian and the ex-First Order stormtrooper Jannah. According to the companion book there's a direct link between the ex-Baron Administrator of Cloud City's missing daughter and this new character, which is confirmed by Lucasfilm's senior editor of adult fiction, Jennifer Heddle, as included in the upcoming novelisation.

You can experience The Rise of Skywalker: Extended Edition, by Rae Carson, from March 17th which will be available from Walmart, Target, Amazon and all good booksellers for $28.99 (RRP). Pre-order it now so you don't get swept away in all The Rise of Skywalker home entertainment edition exitement.

For those readers who need a more visually stimulating medium Marvel will be printing a tie-in five-part series, announced at the annual ComicsPRO get together.

STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER ADAPTATION (1 of 5) Written by JODY HOUSER Art by WILL SLINEY Cover by PHIL NOTO FROM BEYOND THE OUTER RIM, AN OLD ENEMY RETURNS! REY and the RESISTANCE set out on a desperate quest to stop the threat of the FINAL ORDER! Can they succeed where Jedi Master LUKE SKYWALKER himself failed? And what is KYLO REN'S real goal in partnering with the resurrected PALPATINE? The landmark Skywalker saga is adapted by Jody (TIE FIGHTER) Houser and Will Sliney (THE RISE OF KYLO REN). Featuring extended and deleted scenes.

Will these two publications be considered the director's cut? At this point, given the rumoured controversy that plagued the movie during its production, it's likely to be as close to Abram's full vision as can be salvaged from the cutting room floor so anyone hoping to catch a glimpse of the more-than-bromantic relationship between Finn and Poe that was allegedly put forward in pre-production planning meetings are likely to be disappointed.

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