Star Wars' Richard E Grant says Rise of Skywalker backlash will be unavoidable

Actor joins franchise in final instalment of sequel trilogy

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is bound to face some criticism, according to Richard E Grant.

The actor, who’s joining the franchise in the final instalment of its sequel trilogy, told Gizmodo in a recent interview that he expects the film to be met with the same kind of backlash experienced by Game of Thrones.

That is because, he said, fans tend to have strong feelings about both franchises.

“Inevitably there will be a Game of Thrones syndrome to Star Wars because you can’t please everybody all of the time,” Grant said.

“And the ending, what people want it to be and what it actually is, hopefully, for the majority of people seeing it, they will feel that they’ve had their wishes fulfilled. But inevitably there’s gonna be people that don’t feel that way. And you can’t anticipate that. You have to do what is honest and true to you.”

He credited director JJ Abrams and screenwriter Chris Terrio, who co-wrote the screenplay with Abrams, with doing so “to the absolute ends of their ability”.

The Rise of Skywalker will be released on 19 December in the UK and 20 December in the US.

Grant, who will appear as Allegiant General Pryde from the First Order, recently shared his emotional reaction after seeing the film for the first time.