Rey Skywalker has had a rather complicated history in Star Wars movies and TV shows thus far, but as her Star Wars story continues, it would be wise of the franchise to have an approach similar to Jyn Erso's story in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Rey is confirmed to be getting some sort of future in Star Wars' upcoming movies, although what that will look like remains to be seen. For quite some time, Rey was expected to return in her own movie, rumored to be titled Star Wars: New Jedi Order.
That rumored title suggested Rey would be establishing her own Jedi Order, but with the news of Simon Kinberg's Star Wars trilogy, which will apparently see Rey in an 'Obi-Wan Kenobi role,' that has come into question. In whatever capacity Rey returns, Star Wars must grapple with Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker's decision to make Rey a Palpatine by bloodline and a Skywalker by choice. This will no doubt be complicated, but Rogue One, specifically in terms of Jyn's story, could serve as the perfect blueprint.
Star Wars Shouldn't Ignore Rey's Palpatine Lineage
The Rise Of Skywalker Created Complications, But Star Wars Must Commit
There were admittedly a number of issues with the Star Wars sequel trilogy, although one of the biggest complaints about the movies was the very sudden and minimally explained return of Palpatine in The Rise of Skywalker. Coinciding with this shocking revelation was the news that Rey wasn't a 'nobody' after all, as Star Wars: The Last Jedi had suggested, but rather was related to Palpatine through her father, Dathan, a failed (in Palpatine's view) clone of the Emperor himself. In the end, Rey turned away from this lineage, choosing the last name Skywalker.
There was plenty of backlash and controversy about Rey choosing this name, but it is largely unjustified. There is a long-standing tradition of Star Wars characters choosing their own names, and while that hasn't previously happened with a legendary family name like Skywalker, Rey can certainly do so. After all, The Rise of Skywalker confirmed that Luke and Leia both approved, as they appeared on Tatooine and smiled down upon her as she confirmed her new name.
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Given the poor reception of Rey choosing the last name Skywalker and, very likely, Star Wars' desire to move away from this controversial Palpatine choice, the franchise may steer clear of Rey's Palpatine connection in the future. That would be a mistake, though. Rey's Palpatine lineage certainly shouldn't define her character, but it shouldn't be ignored either. Jyn Erso's family history and the trajectory of her story in Rogue One is therefore the perfect example of what Rey's next story should be.
Jyn Erso's family history and the trajectory of her story in Rogue One is therefore the perfect example of what Rey's next story should be.
Rey's History Should Be Part Of Her Story—But Not Define Her
Like Jyn Erso's Lineage, Rey's History Should Have Some Influence
In Rogue One, Jyn had a blood relation to Galen Erso, whom she believed to be an Imperial for most of her life, but she was effectively raised by Saw Gerrera, a radical member of the Rebellion. She wasn't particularly fond of either father figure for myriad reasons, but her connections to both enabled her to play a significant role in the fate of the galaxy, most notably by helping to destroy the Death Star. Even in light of this, Jyn Erso was always her own person, and her story wasn't dictated by her family.
This is the perfect formula for Rey's next story. Be it New Jedi Order or Kinberg's trilogy, Star Wars should explore how Rey's connection to both Emperor Palpatine and the Skywalker family tree shapes her journey but ultimately does not determine her fate. Hopefully, rather than avoiding Rey Skywalker's relation to Palpatine entirely, Star Wars will take an approach similar to Rogue One: A Star War Story's plotline for Jyn Erso.
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Set in the weeks leading up to Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story provides additional context for the Rebellion's plan to destroy the Death Star. Rogue One follows Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones) as she enlists the help of Rebel Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) to locate her father, Galen Erso (Mads Mikkelsen), after the Empire kidnaps him.
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Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, released in December 2019, follows the surviving Resistance as they confront the First Order. The film continues the journey of Rey, Finn, and Poe Dameron as they harness the power of past generations to engage in a climactic battle against the forces of tyranny.
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The tenth mainline installment in the Star Wars franchise is the first movie to follow the sequel trilogy, where Mark Hamill's Luke, Carrie Fisher's Leia, and Harrison Ford's Han Solo gave their final farewell. After the release of The Rise of Skywalker, development on a direct sequel had become dormant as Disney shifted focus on other parts of the galaxy, namely, Disney+ shows such as The Mandalorian, Andor, and Ahsoka. However, a movie starring Daisy Ridley as Rey Skywalker was officially announced at Star Wars Celebration 2023.
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