Star Wars' Gross Galactic Product Problem

With a week to go before the release of “The Last Jedi,” the Internet is awash in conjecture, much of it couched in an argot that only a truly wonkish Star Wars fan could even begin to follow. Consider this bit, from the venerable New York Times: “It has been speculated that a former Sith Lord caused the virgin birth of Anakin Skywalker by manipulating midichlorians.” Or this, from a Reddit devoted to guessing what comes next: “Kylo’s scar is being used to confuse the timeline.”

There’s the above-the-surface anticipation, of course, as experts debate the likely box-office numbers.1512762982144 (Will the film’s receipts eclipse those of 2015’s “The Force Awakens”? Most people seem to think not.) And of course the political arguments fly fast and furious -- even if the answers are not always predictable. (For instance: Luke Skywalker’s family would have supported Donald Trump.) Some wonder whether there might not be cosmic significance in the fact that earlier this year, Trump stepped into the main cabin of Air Force One to chat with reporters who were watching “Rogue One” -- and at that very instant Darth Vader appeared on the screen.