The final trailer for Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker is here.

And while we're still officially in the dark about the plot, there were some nuggets in the trailer that the eagle-eyed were keen to know more about.

There are no spoilers for the film below, but if you're planning to go in completely clean, now's the time to back out.

Rey's dagger sure seems important

It's in a shot that lingers for less than a second, with lots going on. So here's a good look at it:

The Reylo shippers are very happy. ( Disney )

That's a dagger in her left hand.

Fans are speculating that it's the Dagger of Mortis, a weapon that featured in the Clone Wars animated series. Basically, the dagger had the ability to control and kill two siblings who were powerful, immortal Force users.

The Dagger of Mortis, as shown in the Clone Wars animated series. ( Disney/Lucasfilm )

The ability to kill an immortal user of the Force (hello Emperor Palpatine) or control two powerful sibling Force users (more on this next) has fans convinced it'll play a big role in the plot of Episode IX.

It's also worth having a second look at that room from this shot.

With decor inspired by Darth Vader's meditation chamber, and a (now obliterated) shrine with his helmet on top, there's a fair chance it's got a big role to play as well.

Actually ... who is Rey?

For the third straight movie, the question of Rey's identity looks to be key.

In an Empire interview, Rise of Skywalker co-writer Chris Terrio said the key question he and director JJ Abrams kept coming back to was "who is Rey?".

"How can we give the most satisfying answer to that not only factually — because obviously people are interested in whether there's more to be learned of Rey's story — but more importantly who is she as a character? How will she find the courage and will and inner strength and power to carry on what she's inherited," he said.

The trailer suggests Kylo Ren has the answer (although he said he did in Episode VIII). Maybe it's got to do with that MacGuffin dagger with links to siblings who are powerful in the Force?

Another answer is in the Rise of Skywalker title, and Disney officially referring to it as the "final instalment of the Skywalker saga".

There might not be much Carrie Fisher

Fisher died in 2016, about six months after filming her final scenes in Star Wars: The Last Jedi. ( Supplied: Lucasfilm )

The trailer didn't give us any new footage of Fisher's General Leia Organa. It did give her the last, emotional word though:

"Always," we hear her say, finishing off the series' iconic phrase.

We know that CGI technology won't be used to recreate Fisher in the film. Here's what Abrams has said about how he's bringing Fisher back:

"Finding a truly satisfying conclusion to the Skywalker saga without her eluded us. We were never going to recast, or use a CG character. With the support and blessing from her daughter, Billie, we have found a way to honour Carrie's legacy and role as Leia in Episode IX by using unseen footage we shot together in Episode VII."

The big question is how much footage of Fisher do they have? It might not matter.

As the trailer showed, it won't take much Leia to wrench the heartstrings of fans and leave a big impact.

The Emperor got some work done (maybe)

Here's another shot that's got everyone breaking out the corkboard and red string:

This definitely isn't Darth Plagueis. ( Disney/Lucasfilm )

Sure looks like Rey confronting Emperor Palpatine, even before you take into account Ian McDiarmid's unmistakeable evil laughter.

We know the biggest Star Wars baddie of them all is coming back, but in what form? Or rather, what on earth is left after you fall a great distance into the reactor of a Death Star, and then that Death Star explodes?

Early theories suggested Palpatine had survived as some kind of Force ghost, like we've seen Jedi do in the past. But the trailer seems to show he's survived with some mechanical additions, just like his one-time apprentice.

What we do know is the ominous throne that would make a Targaryen jealous seems to be linked to Palpatine.

Lucasfilm creative art manager Phil Szostak tweeted that it took direct inspiration from a lost Return of the Jedi sketch:

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C-3PO probably won't die. But be ready ...

"Taking one last look sir," C-3PO says in the trailer.

"At my friends."

Big one day before retirement vibes, to be honest.

It's way too obvious to suggest that C-3PO will the one to bite the galactic dust.

But Abrams hasn't been shy about killing off fan favourites in his previous Star Wars outing (even if Harrison Ford was more than willing to be shown the door).

The death of C-3PO would mean the end of everyone's favourite Stars Wars trivia — that C3PO actor Anthony Daniels is the only person to appear in every episodic Star Wars movie as well as Solo and Rogue One.

Killing off the one thread between every film could mean that Disney is serious with its "the saga will end" tagline.