The Title Of "Star Wars: Episode VIII" Has Arrived And Everyone's Certain It Promises A Major Death

Many expected the title for Rian Johnson's upcoming Star Wars sequel to come out alongside Rogue One in December.

(We were hoping for a teaser too, but figured we were pushing our luck.)

Alas, it didn't, but Disney and Lucasfilm haven't made us wait long, today revealing the ominous subtitle, The Last Jedi.

As you'd imagine, social media had jokes.

Now, on first glance, no big whoop, right?

It was previously established in The Force Awakens that Luke Skywalker was the titular 'Last Jedi' and the film ended (spoilers, but seriously?) with Rey finally locating him atop some lonely mountaintop.

Mark Hamill himself said in an interview today (while seated next to SNL's Kyle Mooney, strangely), the title has a "Samurai" feel and is "straightforward and minimalist".

Ultimately, we're in agreement: it's cool and relevant, like if MC Skat Kat made a joke about the size of Trump's inauguration.

Mark Hamill on the 'The Last Jedi'. pic.twitter.com/lI4N8EGxUo

— Star Wars Stuff (@starwarstuff) January 23, 2017

However, the panicky denizens of the internet see something much more foreboding in Disney and Lucasfilm's announcement.

Firstly, doesn't the end of Force Awakens indicate that there's at least two Jedi remaining: Luke and Rey?

Secondly, the usage of red in the logo was previously only done for episodes III and VI; two instalments in which numerous major characters died.

You get where this is going.

It seems you should start steeling yourself now for the sight of someone carking it in Episode VIII. As if the grieving process for Star Wars fans hasn't been gruelling enough over the past twelve months...

Maybe the title is simply using the plural version of 'Jedi'. We'll have to wait until December 15 to find out for sure.

Photo: Star Wars