The question I'm interested in, is how are they going to alter her role in preparation for Episode IX?
She may not even have a role, since she's deceased. I'm hoping they'll kill her off in the film to show the heroes aren't immortal, like they did with Han in 7. Perhaps have Kylo kill her as well to make him truly evil and sever all attachments to the light side, as that is what he's trying to achieve.
No clue. Maybe they are the knights of Ren. Or perhaps they are the equivalent of these guys... The mortality of characters (even heroes) has already been very well established in the Star Wars franchise. Obi-Wan, Yoda, Han, Windu, Anakin, Padme, Rogue One cast and the rest of the Jedi. They are definitely in a difficult position though.
I'm hoping Snoke is Darth Plagueis and the red chaps are the Knights of Ren to provide some originality...
That might be Benicio del Toro's character, because I know he was to play a villain in it. No - it's Anakin's lightsaber from Revenge of the Sith, remember? Sadly it looks as if they are going to echo Empire with the First Order Walkers but there look to be some original sequences in there too that will be undoubtedly worthy of praise. I don't know about the other side of the Atlantic, but over here in Britain merchandise for Episode 8 has started to appear already, and I still haven't been able to get a single Rogue One figure The red chaps are Praetorian Guards, obviously the equivalent of the Royal Guard of Palpatine, but it looks as though they will feature in 8 a lot more heavily than the Royal Guards in 6 and 3 because they feature as one of the very first episode 8 figures alongside Rey (Jedi Training), Finn, Kylo Ren with his mask off and some assorted Resistance personnel (that should be New Republic if you ask me), so I'm looking forward to seeing the Praetorians in action. Perhaps they'll actually kill someone?
This can be true but it is easy to avoid, always look at where the item is shipping from, if it says "Services outside the UK" It's probably from China could be fake, always check the feedback of sellers before you purchase anything.