The Rise of Skywalker: Who is the film’s title referencing?
The Rise of Skywalker has finally arrived in theaters, and that means fans can finally learn which Skywalker the title is referencing.
Warning: This post contains spoilers for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.
The recent trilogy of Star Wars movies has given fans titles that are cryptic and vague at first glance, and that mostly only make sense after they’ve watched the film. And that’s the case with the latest installment, The Rise of Skywalker, which leaves fans guessing who the titular Skywalker is throughout its run — and wondering how exactly they’re going to rise to power.
There are a few obvious contenders the title could be referencing, including the saga’s most iconic Skywalkers: Luke and Leia. Although they’re no longer the main characters of the story, the two have played pivotal roles in shaping the story’s protagonist and antagonist. To add to that, most of us knew that Leia would finally get a much-anticipated Jedi moment or two in this installment, meaning it could have been referring to her.
More likely, though, was the theory that it would reference Kylo Ren. While he’s technically a Solo, he’s got plenty of Skywalker in him. And many fans predicted his rise against the Dark Side, something that did come to fruition — though the title isn’t about him either.
The answer comes at the end of the film, when Rey travels to Tattooine to bury her former mentors’ lightsabers. She runs into an old woman who asks who she is. “Rey,” she tells the lady, who then presses for her surname. Rey considers this as Luke and Leia’s Force Ghosts appear nearby, and then she answers, “Rey Skywalker.”
It’s a powerful scene that reinforces the notion that Rey can choose who she wants to be — that she isn’t bound by her connection to Emperor Palpatine. It also showcases just how much Luke and Leia have impacted her journey (and let’s be honest, there’s probably some homage to Ben Solo in there too.)
But most importantly, Rey’s decision to take on the name Skywalker — though she technically has no ancestral claim to it — means there could be weight to the theory that Force wielders will eventually call themselves Skywalkers. We haven’t seen anyone else embrace the ways of the Jedi just yet, but when they do, they could also take up Luke and Leia’s legacy by referring to themselves this way. These movies are all about choice — and that choice seems like it will enable the original characters to live on, even beyond Rey’s story.
Next. The Rise of Skywalker: Let's talk about that Rey reveal. dark