It’s almost hard to believe, but the Skywalker Saga will come to an end shortly. J.J. Abrams’ Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker will wrap up the story that George R.R. Martin started back in A New Hope, which spanned decades of filmmaking. The generations of fans are eager to see how the narrative will conclude, especially related to the new protagonists like Rey and Kylo Ren. And it turns out that their relationship will be a major factor in Episode IX.
Kylo Ren’s morality has been an overarching question in the sequel trilogy, with Daisy Ridley’s Rey forming a close bond with the villain in The Last Jedi. The Force linked their minds, and both characters seem to act with empathy. But Kylo ultimately ascended to the role of Supreme Leader, failing to join the Light Side. The Rise of Skywalker writer Chris Terrio recently teased this ongoing story, saying:
Well, that’s certainly exciting. Because while J.J. Abrams will be able to complete the story he began with The Force Awakens, Rian Johnson’s influence on the franchise will certainly be felt with the upcoming sequel. Especially related to Rey and Kylo Ren’s continued give and take.
Chris Terrio’s comments to Empire are sure to excite The Last Jedi fans out there, as well as moviegoers who are eager to see what happens between the current trilogy’s biggest hero and villain. A relationship built on hate became much more friendly in Rian Johnson’s blockbuster, as Supreme Leader Snoke connected their minds to mess with his protegee. That decision ultimately got Snoke cut in half, with Rey and Kylo uniting in battle to take out his guards.
That partnership was unfortunately short-lived, as Rey wanted to save The Resistance, while Ben Solo wanted to burn both that group and the First Order to the ground and rule with his former enemy. But she turned him down, and Kylo Ren rose up as the new Supreme Leader, traveling to Crait to personally find and kill the rebels.
But glimpses into Kylo Ren’s humanity have been shown in both of the last two movies as well. His heart is clearly still struggling with the Dark Side. Although the time jump in The Rise of Skywalker may serve to strengthen his resolve.
It’ll be fascinating to see if Rey managed to bring him back into The Light during The Rise of Skywalker. The two characters will have some epic lightsaber duels in the upcoming sequel, but she may be the key to bringing him back home to Leia. Clearly their dynamic is integral to the story, and luckily we don’t have to wait too much longer for the movie to finally arrive.
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker will fly into theaters on December 20th. In the meantime, check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.