VIDEO: Mark Hamill, Adam Driver Are Forces to Be Reckoned With in New ‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’ Trailer

The Empire claps back in the new trailer for “Star Wars: The Last Jedi,” Episode VIII of Lucasfilm and Disney’s wildly popular, 40-year-old space-adventure franchise.

Released Monday night, the second official trailer (above) begins with the film’s shadowy, creepy looking villain Snoke (Andy Serkis) delivering a voice-over monologue about “raw, untamed power.” It’s not immediately clear, though, whose power he’s talking about. It could be a reference to his underling Kylo Ren (played by 2015 Stern Show guest Adam Driver), who took a big step toward the dark side in the last film by murdering his father Han Solo (Harrison Ford). Or perhaps the power belongs to Rey (Daisy Ridley), a kind-hearted scavenger-turned-hero studying the ways of the Force under Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), the film’s titular last Jedi.

In addition to space battles, gorilla-style AT-ATs, Wookiee sightings, and more lightsaber wooshes than anyone could ever hope for, “The Last Jedi’s” dramatically scored trailer hints this Rian Johnson-written-and-directed installment may be breaking away from the rest of the franchise. “Let the past die. Kill it if you have to,” Driver’s character says at one point, just before the trailer cuts to a first glimpse of his mother, Princess Leia (played by the late Carrie Fisher).

Later in the trailer, Hamill, who’s starring in his first “Star Wars” film since 1983’s “Return of the Jedi,” warns of unexpected twists. “This is not going to go the way you think,” he growls.

“Star Wars: The Last Jedi,” also starring John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Domhnall Gleeson, “Game of Thrones” actress Gwendoline Christie, Benicio del Toro, and Laura Dern, hits theaters Dec. 15.

Watch the trailer (above) and check out Howard’s sit-down with Driver, which includes a discussion about how he landed his “Star Wars” role, here.