‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’: Rey’s New Lightsaber Was Originally Way More Important
Many fans agree Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker didn’t live up to the hype. In fact, its final scene has become one of the most controversial in the sequel trilogy. Yet, for all the answers Rey’s (Daisy Ridley) story provides, it still leaves many mysteries unsolved. So it makes sense the latest Star Wars movie originally went deeper.
In particular, fans nearly learned a lot more about Rey’s fancy new lightsaber. The Rise of Skywalker ends with the character igniting a newly constructed yellow-bladed weapon. In the final cut, it plays like a surprise reveal. But this wasn’t always the plan. A long time ago, Rey’s lightsaber had an entire subplot to itself.
Rey fulfills her destiny in ‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker reveals Rey isn’t as disconnected from the saga’s mythos as fans thought. She’s actually the granddaughter of Emperor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid) himself. Yet, despite her dark lineage, Rey defeats the Sith Lord and becomes the only remaining Jedi.
The movie doesn’t get the chance to explore what Rey will do after the credits roll. But the final scene says a lot more than some Star Wars fans realize. Yes, Rey takes on the Skywalker name, essentially choosing her own family. This action too implies she’ll keep their legacy alive.
Many fans believe Rey will launch a new Jedi order. Armed with the sacred Jedi texts, she has enough knowledge of the Force to train the next generation. And her new lightsaber represents just how far she’s come. After all, constructing one’s own saber is a Jedi rite of passage.
Rey’s new lightsaber was supposed to appear throughout the movie
Director J.J. Abrams doesn’t devote much screen time to Rey’s golden-hued lightsaber. All fans get is a brief glimpse of it. But eagle-eyed viewers may notice how its design is built out of Rey’s own staff. As such, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker implies she’ll bring her own spin to the Jedi religion.
The movie doesn’t have the time to delve deep into Rey’s evolution. But according to Lucasfilm’s creative art manager, Phil Szostak, the original plan was to highlight Rey’s lightsaber as a key part of her growing power.
In a recent Instagram post, Szostak shared a peek behind the design process. He provides fans with a photo of the 3D-printed model as well as an animation of the weapon in action. In the caption too, Szostak confirms a discarded subplot that would have seen Rey using the Jedi texts throughout Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.
Yellow lightsabers are relatively new to the ‘Star Wars’ universe
Indeed, showing Rey in the process of performing such a critical Jedi task would have been an interesting addition. To date, no live-action Star Wars movie has ever detailed what goes into building a lightsaber. Darth Vader, for instance, only briefly points out Luke constructed his green one in Return of the Jedi.
But Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker had the opportunity to expose mainstream audiences to the world of kyber crystals. For those unfamiliar, these crystals are what powers a lightsaber and gives each one a different color. Still, Rey’s yellow one is relatively unseen in Star Wars.
The canon does recognize the color as corresponding to the Jedi Temple guards. So perhaps Rey’s lightsaber is meant to imply she is now the steward of whatever the Jedi’s future holds. Whatever comes next rests on her shoulders. Fans can only wait and see how Rey will apply what she’s learned from Luke, Leia, and the sacred Jedi texts.
