Fans lost it when it was revealed that footage shown at D23 over the weekend seemed to indicate that Rey would go dark in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Now, that material has been officially released online and we can see for ourselves just what all the fuss is about.
Embedded up above, the first minute or so of the promo recaps the events of the previous eight movies in the Skywalker saga, before the second minute treats us to some fresh shots of Episode IX. Luke’s voiceover warns Rey that “a thousand generations” live in her, before the devil on her shoulder speaks up instead and Emperor Palpatine is heard to say: “Your journey nears its end.” The special look then concludes with the much-discussed big moment: Rey, dressed in dark robes, and wielding a double-edged red lightsaber.
So, what can we gather from this scene? Well, Rey appears to be in some kind of misty forest environment at night. It’s already been essentially confirmed that Endor will be revisited in Rise, so that’s a possible location for this moment. It’s also worth noting that Rey’s double-bladed lightsaber is different from previous models, such as Maul’s, as it has a hinge in the middle.
Naturally, though, fans know not to take what we see at face value. After all, this could be a Force illusion or some kind of vision. That said, it’s worth pointing out that Daisy Ridley has commented on the footage’s reveal already, teasing that it was “great” to tackle Rey’s struggle with the light and the dark in this film. So, maybe this scene is exactly as it appears?
In any case, all the answers will be revealed when Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker hits cinemas and brings “the story of a generation” to a close on December 20th.