'Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker': Most compelling fan theories from across the internet
'Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker' is only a day away, and there is a lot riding on the final film of the Skywalker saga to wrap up an innumerable number of dangling plot threads, or sever them completely to provide a satisfying conclusion to the nine-episode 'Star Wars' story. There are more fan theories about what will happen than there are missed Stormtrooper shots, but we take a look at seven of the most compelling theories floating about the internet.
[Note: We have avoided looking at leaked spoilers in the writing of this article, and to the best of our knowledge, this article contains none for 'The Rise of Skywalker', though there will be some for the other eight movies in the 'Star Wars' franchise]
1. The Sith Legacy plays a major role
Though Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) may have rebelled against his own master, Supreme Leader Snoke (Andy Serkis), killing him to try and find a new way forward, but his doing so is still very much in keeping with Sith tradition and the Rule of Two, an ancient Sith principle that states that a Sith Master must always kill and replace their apprentice, or be killed by that apprentice who becomes the new Master. With legacy playing such an important part in the series, the masters of the Dark Side of the Force may have a role to play, and with the return of Emperor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmind) being teased, Kylo Ren may have himself a new Master or become the ultimate Lord of the Sith himself.
2. Kylo rebels against Palpatine to save Rey
Kylo Ren is a long way away from redemption, despite his many temptations towards rejoining the Light Side of the Force. The one person who seems to be able to get through to him at all is Rey (Daisy Ridley), and if a returned Emperor Palpatine threatens her life, it might just be the tipping point necessary to have Kylo rebel against the Dark Side completely and save her life.
3. 'Reylo' finally brings balance to the Force
The Force has been out of balance for a long while now, with the cutting down of the Jedi Order in 'Revenge of the Sith.' If the Resistance can successfully take down the First Order and any other last remnants of the Empire, they may be finally able to restore peace to the galaxy (even if 'Star Peaces' isn't quite as catchy a franchise name), paving the way for Rey and Kylo to restore balance to the Force as wielders of both its Dark and Light sides. It may just be a happy ending for them, and see a culmination in the romance that a whole contingent of fans have been dying to see.
4. Rey is a clone
'The Last Jedi' answered the question of Rey's parentage in the most anti-climactic way possible, as Kylo Ren tells her that her parents were essentially nobody, implying that Rey was just a random person with no inherent connection to the 'Star Wars' space opera. If Rey was cloned, however, with DNA from the Skywalker clan, then while it's true that her parents don't matter, her legacy does and the Skywalker who rises may just be her.
5. Force ghosts everywhere
There are a lot of theories about Force ghosts, some theorizing that we may be seeing our first Force ghost from the Dark Side of the Force bringing Emperor Palpatine back, while others believe that Anakin Skywalker will return one last time to bring an end to the world he helped bring about. Anakin Skywalker's return would close the loop, effectively, ending the Skywalker legacy with the man who started it all.
What are your theories about 'Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker'? Let us know in the comments!
''Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker' releases in theaters on December 20.
