Please do not share the details of this article openly on social media and spoil Star Wars: The Last Jedi for those that want to remain spoiler free. These are very general spoilers but let’s respect other fan’s wishes and not spoil those that do not appreciate spoilers. Be cool!

As we discussed on the last episode of “Now, This is Podcasting!“, The birds we once thought could have been convorees are actually being called “porgs” and we think that name is sticking. These are the birds we first reported on that are based on puffins, which are native to the Skellig Michael. They do look a lot like the birds we saw in the animated Star Wars shows; however, these have solid black eyes. The bodies are a soft white with a tinge of grey. On the corner of the head near the eye line, the feathers are orange. Back when we thought they could be the birds we saw in Rebels, people still told us “leave some room open for the animated shows’ interpretation.” Well, they’re called “porgs” and they’re a distant cousin at best. I certainly see why sources thought they could be the same thing but I highly doubt they are now.

In The Last Jedi you will see the baby porgs that have recently hatched. There’s a nest full of them and they’re super realistic and kind of gross looking as fresh hatchlings. In Ireland they filmed some stuff on the side of a cliff with a nest of porgs.

Most of the reports about the creatures we heard revolved around Luke Skywalker. But I have also heard they filmed some fun and rather touching moments between the porgs and Chewbacca. I rather like the idea. Chewbacca’s best friend was killed just the day before and now he’s on this ancient Jedi world communing with the birds and getting back to his Wookiee roots. There’s something beautiful about that.

Speaking of Chewbacca, I’ve also heard that Luke’s journey is rather emotional in The Last Jedi, and there’s a beautiful moment where he is reunited with Chewbacca and Artoo-Detoo. We’re going to see Luke Skywalker, Chewbacca, and Artoo together again and then Luke is going to train Rey like Yoda trained him but with his own “spin on it.” I think Luke’s reluctance to train Rey is wholly different than Yoda’s reluctance about Luke being the right candidate. Luke will tell Rey about her true connection to the Force and what it means. It is also Rey that brings this non-blood family together again in the wake of the tragedy of losing Han Solo in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. It really makes you think about how much blood lines don’t matter as much as the families we make.

I’m looking forward to finally seeing these birds on screen and that reunion between Luke Skywalker and some of his oldest friends that have become family to him. It sounds like the world of Ahch-To is going to be amazing and not only are the mystical creatures going to be very interesting but the events that take place there are going to be some of the most memorable from anything in the entire saga. I have faith!