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:
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
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.
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.
-
Venezuela’s Trump-shaped power vacuumIN THE SPOTLIGHT The American abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has thrust South America’s biggest oil-producing state into uncharted geopolitical waters
-
Most data centers are being built in the wrong climateThe explainer Data centers require substantial water and energy. But certain locations are more strained than others, mainly due to rising temperatures.
-
‘Maps are the ideal metaphor for our models of what the world might be’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
‘One Battle After Another’ wins Critics Choice honorsSpeed Read Paul Thomas Anderson’s latest film, which stars Leonardo DiCaprio, won best picture at the 31st Critics Choice Awards
-
The most anticipated movies of 2026The Week Recommends If the trailers are anything to go by, film buffs are in for a treat
-
Son arrested over killing of Rob and Michele ReinerSpeed Read Nick, the 32-year-old son of Hollywood director Rob Reiner, has been booked for the murder of his parents
-
Rob Reiner, wife dead in ‘apparent homicide’speed read The Reiners, found in their Los Angeles home, ‘had injuries consistent with being stabbed’
-
Hungary’s Krasznahorkai wins Nobel for literatureSpeed Read László Krasznahorkai is the author of acclaimed novels like ‘The Melancholy of Resistance’ and ‘Satantango’
-
Primatologist Jane Goodall dies at 91Speed Read She rose to fame following her groundbreaking field research with chimpanzees
-
Florida erases rainbow crosswalk at Pulse nightclubSpeed Read The colorful crosswalk was outside the former LGBTQ nightclub where 49 people were killed in a 2016 shooting
-
Trump says Smithsonian too focused on slavery's illsSpeed Read The president would prefer the museum to highlight 'success,' 'brightness' and 'the future'
