Rey’s New Jedi Order movie will continue her story 15 years after the sequel trilogy, and there are several ways it can fix Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. The final entry in the Skywalker Saga received a mixed reception on release due to its jumbled storyline, last-minute changes, and lack of original ideas. The decision to bring back Emperor Palpatine was the biggest point of controversy, as was making Rey his granddaughter, both of which were underdeveloped and seen as an over-correction to Star Wars: The Last Jedi. These problems left audiences understandably skeptical when a New Jedi Order movie was announced at Star Wars Celebration Europe 2023.
However, it’s entirely possible for Rey’s New Jedi Order movie to redeem The Rise of Skywalker. A new story offers a chance for greater character development and exciting new plot lines, meaning Rey’s New Jedi Order move has unlimited potential. The Rise of Skywalker had plenty of interesting ideas, but as the last entry in a trilogy, it didn’t have enough time to develop them properly. Rey’s New Jedi Order movie can explain plot holes, do its characters justice, and bring fresh ideas that will give Star Wars a promising future. In fact, there are eight ways that Rey’s New Jedi order movie can fix The Rise of Skywalker.
8 Rey’s New Jedi Order Movie Can Properly Explain Her New Yellow Lightsaber
The Rise of Skywalker gave Rey an awesome new yellow lightsaber, but it debuted at the very end of the film. The New Jedi Order movie, however, can finally show her using this new lightsaber and explain its significance. Rey’s yellow lightsaber perfectly fits New Jedi Order because it symbolizes her role as leader and protector of the Jedi, as yellow blades were traditionally used by Jedi Temple Guards. Rey could even modify her yellow lightsaber to be double-bladed, just like the Jedi Temple Guards, which would be a good fit given her proficiency with a staff. Rey’s yellow lightsaber would truly distinguish her from the other Skywalkers in color, style, and importance.
7 Rey’s New Jedi Order Movie Can Better Explore Her Palpatine Lineage
The sequel trilogy waited to reveal that Palpatine was alive until The Rise of Skywalker, which then waited until the third act to bring him and Rey together. This left very little time to explain Palpatine’s return, the history of Rey’s parents, and how these revelations affected her in the long term. Rey’s New Jedi Order can address all these questions, having Rey learn more about her family’s past and showing how the events of The Rise of Skywalker still haunt her after 15 years. Rey will likely struggle with crippling doubt, asking if it was right for a Palpatine to take the Skywalker name and lead the Jedi.
6 The New Jedi Order Movie Can Give Greater Meaning To “Rey Skywalker”
The New Jedi Order movie can also explore what “Rey Skywalker” really means. This was another of the sequel trilogy’s controversial decisions, as some viewers thought it best for Rey to forge her own path rather than taking the Skywalker name. Rey’s New Jedi Order movie can tackle this dilemma by showing what the name means to Rey. She may view it as a way to pay respect to her teachers, a title that anyone can aspire to, or an indication that she’s truly part of the Skywalker family line. Whatever she decides, the New Jedi Order movie can turn a hotly debated plot point into an engaging new story.
5 Rey’s New Jedi Order Movie Can Bring Back (& Improve) Finn & Poe
Aside from Rey, the New Jedi Order movie can bring back Finn and Poe Dameron, making them better characters in the process. Finn’s arc started strong in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, but his story became somewhat sidelined in the sequels, while Poe Dameron essentially went through the same character arc twice. The Rise of Skywalker left room for their characters to grow, hinting at Finn’s Force-sensitivity and establishing Poe as the new leader of the Resistance. Rey will certainly need help rebuilding the Jedi Order, and the galaxy will need new leaders, roles that Finn and Poe are highly qualified for.
4 Rey’s New Jedi Order Movie Can Offer Ben Solo Further Redemption
The Rise of Skywalker gave Ben Solo a great moment of redemption but made the mistake of killing him off. This was too similar to Darth Vader’s death in Return of the Jedi, and it would have been more interesting to see Ben live with his mistakes and actively work to make amends. Even so, Ben can return as a Force Ghost in Rey’s New Jedi Order movie, offering her aid and guidance as Luke Skywalker did. It’s also possible for the New Jedi Order movie to continue exploring their Force dyad, a bond that likely transcends the boundaries of the physical world, giving Ben a chance for further redemption.
3 Rey’s New Jedi Order Movie Can Create A Better Galactic Government (Or Avoid One Altogether)
The Resistance vowed to restore the Republic, but that may not be what’s best for the galaxy. The New Republic fell after only 30 years, and Star Wars canon has shown that it was just as flawed as the Old Republic, so it’s imperative for the galaxy to do better. In the Star Wars Legends continuity, the New Republic fell and was reorganized as the Galactic Federation of Free Alliances (a nod to “Galaxy Far, Far Away”). Perhaps the New Jedi Order movie will do the same, or it could avoid a federal government altogether, with the galaxy wanting to prevent the rise of another corrupt bureaucracy or totalitarian regime.
2 Rey’s New Jedi Order Movie Can Give Supporting Characters More Screen Time
The sequel trilogy introduced great supporting characters but was inconsistent in giving them screen time. Snap Wexley wasn’t present in The Last Jedi, Rose Tico’s role was reduced in The Rise of Skywalker, and legends like Wedge Antilles only returned for a brief cameo. Rey’s New Jedi Order movie has a chance to change this pattern by giving these characters a bigger role in the story. If the runtime won’t allow that, then the New Jedi Order movie can at least bring them back for a small role, giving additional screen time and showing how Rose and the others have changed during the 15-year time gap.
1 Rey’s New Jedi Order Movie Can Have New, Exciting Villains
The biggest problem with The Rise of Skywalker was its lack of originality, especially in regard to the villains. With Palpatine and the Sith gone for good, the new villains of Rey’s New Jedi Order movie can break the typical Sith/Imperial mold. The Star Wars Expanded Universe has excelled at creating new villains, from the Yuuzhan Vong to the Nihil, and it’s long past time for the movies to do the same. The sequel trilogy may be imperfect, but Rey’s New Jedi Order movie has a chance to fix Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker and offer some redemption to the Disney-era Star Wars movies.
