4 compelling theories about the title of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

The next Star Wars movie finally has a title: The Rise of Skywalker. So what does it mean?

Immediately, two ideas come to mind, the first being that it teases Luke Skywalker's literal rise from the dead and the second being that it teases a reveal that Rey is actually a Skywalker. But it seems unlikely director J.J. Abrams would diverge from The Last Jedi so severely, although Luke will surely return as a Force ghost. So if we rule these out, what's left? Here are a few compelling theories:

1. It refers to Kylo Ren. Kylo Ren is a member of the Skywalker bloodline, so the title could tease a redemption arc and the rise of the light in him.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

2. It refers to Leia. Slashfilm speculates it could instead refer to Leia. She was originally set to be the film's main focus before Carrie Fisher's death, and perhaps thanks to the use of alternative footage from The Force Awakens, that's actually still possible.

3. It refers to Anakin Skywalker. The title could refer to the Skywalker bloodline more generally, suggesting the movie will explore the origins of the family and trace their rise and legacy. This could involve going back to the birth of Anakin Skywalker, and the name would be fitting for a movie that looks set to tie the entire series together.

4. It refers to the future of the Jedi. One Reddit user speculates that the title doesn't refer to a specific person; rather, it indicates that from now on, "Skywalker" will become the new name for Force users. Alternatively, it could be that Rey adopts that last name, or it could symbolize how Luke inspired hope in the galaxy. Regardless, this would fit with The Last Jedi's goal of expanding the Star Wars narrative beyond just the Skywalker family while at the same time allowing their legacy to continue for decades to come.