During the weekend, Disney had their bi-annual convention known as D23 during which they announced numerous things coming up and showcased footage from their upcoming films.
One of which includes footage for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker then blew up Twitter over one moment and then yesterday [Monday 26th August] Disney released this “Special Look” online and fuck me it’s wonderful.
Even under the burning, hot sun as I wait for UK’s 90s kid’s TV Dave Benson Phillips stunning wrestlers (yes it was glorious) I finally saw the moment Darth/Sith Rey and I audibly gasped with excitement.
Since seeing that moment I’ve been thinking, like every other film pundit who writes and talks about this stuff, what does this mean?
However, before I start there’s plenty I loved about trailer away from the big ending. The imagery is utterly beautiful under the eye of JJ Abrams and his returning cinematographer Dan Mindel, having handled The Force Awakens.
The ones that come to mind is the lightsabre fight between Rey and Kylo Ren in the oceans mirroring the battle Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker on Mustafar in Revenge of the Sith (my favourite Star Wars movie to date).
The other is the looks to be the battle in space between the new Rebellion/Resistance and the return of the Imperial Fleet and their Star Destroyers, which leaves the questions what happens to the First Order? Do they team with the imperial or resistance?
If you’re a wrestling fan this is an incredibly interesting triple threat to see on screen.
Finally, with all this imaginary and of course Darth Rey, it truly feels like an epic blockbuster that Star Wars has never seen before and a lot will be down to director Abrams and the fantastic screenwriter Chris Terrio.
Anyway going back to Darth Rey and what it could mean for Rise of Skywalker and possibly the future of the franchise.
Is This Just A Dark Vision?
The first and possible outcome of Darth Rey is a vision from Rey similar to Luke Skywalker in Empire Strikes Back, when he went to the Dark Side Cave, seeing himself in Darth Vader’s helmet.
So Rey may see what would happen if she did go to the dark side.
On the other hand, what if it’s Kylo Ren’s vision, a mind game tactic by the returning Palpatine, showing him at this girl would be a better Sith then he could ever be.
I hope it’s not because being just a vision would be a letdown and I don’t think Terrio is that sort of writer.
Is It A Misdirect?
This idea comes from many trailers use to remove the scent of the film with the biggest example being Infinity War and the use of Hulk in the battle of Wakanda.
I mean in the Force Awakens trailer we all thought Finn was a Jedi or someone who had force powers, well that didn’t happen.
So in this case, I don’t seeing it being a massive misdirect (whatever happens) because if this isn’t in the film, fans will be incredibly pissed.
Could Rey Be Turning To The Dark Side?
Since Force Awakens, fans have been cosplaying as dark side Rey and with some awesome results.
The turn would be to either join Kylo or take his place or the possibility of a double turn with Kylo becoming Ben Solo and being on the light side once again (like his grandfather before him).
If Rey does become drawn to the dark it will have something to do with Palpatine at he knows her true belonging and that’s at the front leading the sith once again.
Rey Is One Of Many Clones?
While I think the vision is likely, this idea gets me the most excited.
The use of clones is embedded in Star Wars since before the prequels as with the now legends storyline of the Emperor having cloned himself.
Then we had the prequels and then in Force Awakens Kylo makes a comment to General Hux about using clones.
Meanwhile, the question of why was Rey left on Jakku will have to do with this idea, especially since, thanks to the Aftermath books, the desert planet is home to a sith temple underneath and Palpatine used it.
Then we come to The Last Jedi as Rey sees multiple mirror reflections of herself and when she asks to see her parents she only sees herself. This could point to the fact that she doesn’t have born parents and is a clone.
Elsewhere, the opening shots of Force Awakens was going to have Luke’s hand drifting in space before landing on Jakku.
So you’ve got to think the now hidden sith lord was using that as a beginning of cloning the perfect sith warrior mixing DNA of Luke, Anakin and Palpatine and Rey was one of many successful clones.
To expand the experiment, the Rey we’ve been following was left on Jakku and see what her life would become. Meanwhile, the sith Rey was kept and moulded by the Emperor, which is why she has a similar grey complexion to him.
Finally, Rey being one of many clones of Skywalker could be a reason and plotline for future films set within a new saga that light and dark Skywalker’s become the new Jedi and Sith.
Whatever happens, I’m so hyped about this film thanks to this new footage more so when we first teaser was released.
Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker is released in cinemas on December 19, 2019.
The Bear Cave 