Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker has had almost a yr to digest within the ether, but it surely stays a supply of controversy, with the J.J. Abrams-directed movie having stultified its Rian Johnson-directed quick predecessor, to not point out co-star John Boyega’s current criticism of his character’s unfulfilling arc. Nevertheless, the trilogy nearer’s revealed parentage of Daisy Ridley’s protagonist, Rey, stays a supply of widespread head-scratching. Now, Ridley herself confirms that mentioned reveal was the top results of intriguing permutations.
In a digital interview on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Ridley was pressed with an compulsory set of Star Wars questions from visitor host (and clear fan,) Josh Gad about her expertise with the franchise, notably relating to The Rise of Skywalker’s twist reveal that (sorry, spoiler forward,) Rey is the granddaughter of the franchise’s abruptly returned unique antagonist, Emperor Palpatine. Ridley’s reply reveals that mentioned twist was the fruits of a number of spit-balled concepts. As Ridley explains of the method:
“Originally, there was toying with an Obi-Wan connection,” including, “There have been completely different variations, after which it actually went to she was ‘nobody.’ After which it got here to Episode 9 and J.J. pitched me the movie and was like, ‘Oh yeah, Palpatine’s granddaddy, and I used to be like, ‘Superior.’ After which two weeks later he was like, ‘Oh, we’re unsure.’ So, it saved altering. So, then I used to be filming and I wasn’t certain what the reply was gonna be.”
Ridley’s affirmation of preliminary plans for an Obi-Wan connection truly traces up with a principle about Rey’s parentage that was strongly permeating throughout the period of 2015 trilogy-launcher The Force Awakens. Particularly, the scene in that movie wherein Rey experiences Drive-driven visions after Maz Kanada provides her Luke’s outdated lightsaber comprises samples from Star Wars moments of the previous earlier than transitioning to an unique pattern of Obi-Wan Kenobi’s voice saying “Rey… these are your first steps.” It was an particularly intriguing addition, because it was confirmed that Ewan McGregor truly went in to report the audio in query, which gave extra efficiency to the rumor of an Obi-Wan connection. Thus, it does now appear doubtless that McGregor’s understated voiceover was meant because the seed from which a plot twist was designed to develop later within the trilogy.
After all, Rey didn’t develop into a Kenobi, nor did she develop into the “nobody” she was (quickly) revealed to be in director Rian Johnson’s center act, The Last Jedi—actually, she didn’t develop into something that she was initially hinted to grow to be earlier within the trilogy. Consequently, Ridley’s reply additionally serves as additional affirmation of what many have long-suspected of the Star Wars Sequel Trilogy, particularly that its revolving artistic coalition was flying by the seat of their pants on a film-to-film foundation with regard to the plot; a notion its critics could level to as a purpose for its obvious lack of cohesion. Nevertheless, that’s not to say that the Sequel Trilogy is with out its followers, and the considerably redeemed standing of the contemporaneously-maligned 1999-2005 Prequel Trilogy is perhaps proof that the fandom’s present verdict is way from ultimate, for what it’s price.
