The Circle Is Complete

Every saga has an ending… The Rise Of Skywalker is the conclusion of not just the new trilogy, but the entire nine-episode Star Wars saga. Total Film talks to J.J. Abrams and his cast about endings, emotions, and the return of the Emperor…

- Jack Shepherd

Your journey nears its end..” The familiar, haunting voice of Emperor Palpatine echoes around the D23 convention centre as the teaser for Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker, the final installment in the Skywalker saga, debuts before an elated crowd. The thunderous applause, though, starts a few seconds later – as Rey’s double-sided red lightsaber alights. Fans jump to their feet. Twitter goes ballistic. Has the saviour of a galaxy far, far away turned to the dark side?

“It’s fucking awesome,” Daisy Ridley, who plays Rey, teases of the answer, decidedly not getting any more specific. Total Film meets the British actress at a Beverly Hills Hotel the day after Darth Rey’s public unveiling in August 2019, and Ridley’s giddy with excitement, finally able to speak about a moment that’s been kept top secret. “I already had an amazing emotional story,” she continues. “But, when [Darth Rey] was pitched, I was like, ‘That sounds amazing.’ It’s fun to do something a bit different.”

Will people be shocked by Rey’s arc in TROS? “The whole of Star Wars is about good and evil,” she replies. “With every character, you see some struggle. So, in a way, no. Because it’s the most human thing to see someone struggle with two things within them that are pulling them both ways. If you understand why someone is going on the journey, you will be on the journey regardless. So, hopefully, you’re shocked in a fun way, but you’re also emotionally with her.”