'Sith Rey' appears in 'Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker' footage at D23 Expo 2019

ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 24: Daisy Ridley attends Go Behind The Scenes with Walt Disney Studios during D23 Expo 2019 at Anaheim Convention Center on August 24, 2019 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 24: Daisy Ridley attends Go Behind The Scenes with Walt Disney Studios during D23 Expo 2019 at Anaheim Convention Center on August 24, 2019 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

Star Wars fans got a shock after witnessing new footage from The Rise of Skywalker at D23 Expo.

JJ Abrams, Kathleen Kennedy, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega and manyof the cast were there to promote the final instalment of this saga with a new trailer and poster.

The video footage showed scenes from the last eight Episodes as well as previously seen scenes from Episode 9 but ended with Rey looking like a Sith.

The Star Wars hero is seen wearing a black cloak, like Emperor Palpatine’s, and wielding a brand new lightsaber.

Read more: The Mandalorian trailer revealed

She flips the dual red lightsaber into a staff form not too dissimilar to the weapon favoured by Darth Maul.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker poster (Credit: DIsney)
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker poster (Credit: DIsney)

Another scene shows Kylo Ren and Rey fighting on a ship in a sea during a storm which seems to be referenced on the brand new poster.

The poster also sees Emperor Palpatine’s face ominously looming over the two.

Keri Russell was also in attendance and revealed more details about her character Zorri.Bliss.

Read more: Three new Marvel series coming to Disney+

“I have this amazing costume, and this and this helmet, which I actually love to wear and didn't take it off for about the first two days,” she said. “I found it incredibly, strangely empowering and exciting, and I can't wait for you guys to meet Zorri.

“She's very cool and a little bit shady,” she adds, “She's kind of a criminal, and sort of this old friend of Poe’s.”

JJ Abrams also spoke about returning to the franchise because of Carrie Fisher.

Emma Stone as Cruella  (Credit: Disney)
Emma Stone as Cruella (Credit: Disney)

"I looked in her last book The Princess Diarist and she had written, 'And special thanks to JJ Abrams for putting up with me twice'“ Abrams revealed. “Now, I had never worked with her before The Force Awakens.

“And I wasn't supposed to do this movie. So it was a classic Carrie thing to write something like that, that could only mean one thing for me."

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is released on on December 20, 2019

Elsewhere, Pixar confirmed they had begun shooting Cruella in London with Emma Stone and Emma Thompson.

Speaking via video, Stone said the film would be set in 1970s London and be very “punk rock,” which a first look photo confirmed. The film is out on May 28, 2021.

Mulan extended clip shown at D23 Expo (Credit: DIsney)
Mulan extended clip shown at D23 Expo (Credit: DIsney)

An extended clip and trailer for Mulan was presented too by director Niki Caro.

“We've assembled a beautiful cast, the photography, the locations, the costumes are all breathtaking and the action sequences are explosive,” she said before showing a a scene where Mulan is dressed up and meets the Matchmaker.

There are also some phenomenal fight scenes and choreography on show that is a first for the Disney Princess movies.

Mulan is out on March 27, 2020

The first two trailers for Jungle Cruise were presented by stars Emily Blunt and Dwayne Johnson.

The adventure inspired by the classic theme-park attraction sees Johnson play riverboat captain Frank Wolff opposite Blunt’s Dr. Lily Houghton who helps her on a dangerous and supernatural mission.

Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra, the film is released on July 24, 2020.

New footage from Frozen 2 was also revealed as well as two new voice stars.

Sterling K Brown and Evan Rachel Wood appear as Lieutenant Matthias and Ana and Elsa’s mother Queen Iduna, respectively.

Two new songs were also revealed; the first sung by Elsa believed to be called “Into the Unknown,” and “Some Things Never Change,” which was sung by the cast Idina Menzel (Elsa), Kristen Bell (Ana), Josh Gad (Olaf) and Jonathan Groff (Hans) live.

Frozen 2 is released on on November 22.

Stay tuned to Yahoo Movies UK for extensive updates from D23 Expo over the next few days.