The issue will feature an eight-page spread, which includes exclusive interviews with Mark Hamill and Director Rian Johnson, and looks ahead to the film’s release in December.
There will be two covers, with the extra special subscriptions cover making use of a holographic sheen to show the hand of Daisy Ridley's Rey handing the lightsaber to the robotic hand of Mark Hamill's Luke Skywalker.
This new issue builds on Empire’s long and special relationship with Star Wars, which has included a whole host of exclusive and innovative styles of publishing, says Bauer Media.
Most recently the partnership has included; six collectable 3D covers showcasing characters from Star Wars: The Force Awakens in November 2016. In 2005 the magazine joined forces with Lucasfilm to publish a limited-edition ‘breathing’ Darth Vader cover which produced sound using chip technology embedded in its spine.
Editor in Chief Terri White said: “Star Wars: The Last Jedi is set to be the biggest film of 2017 when it hits cinemas in December and as ever, Empire is there from the start, bringing you the first word on the movie from director Rian Johnson and star Mark Hamill, as well as a raft of exclusive new pictures. The newsstand and subscriber covers – printed using holographic ‘Mirri’ board - are the latest in a line of creative collaborations between Empire and Disney and Lucasfilm. The exclusive covers were revealed by Mark Hamill - Luke Skywalker himself - on social media earlier this week, and have elicited the biggest response of any Empire cover this year.”
This is the first of the Star Wars exclusives to come from Empire Magazine this year, with the next due for publication in November.
