The name Skywalker played a major role in the galactic history of Star Wars. Well, the franchise started with the journey of Luke Skywalker and his sister, Princess Leia Organa, in the 1977 Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope. As their line ended with the death of Kylo Ren in the 2019 Star Wars: Episode IX- The Rise of Skywalker, Rey took on the family name and a merch further explained why she did so.
YouTuber Nick Tierce took a video of his Jedi holocron and kyber crystal, a merch from the Disney park Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. The series he got was Rey Skywalker, and as he put the crystal inside the Holocron, it started playing the former scavenger’s voice.
The over-three-minute clip features different quotes from Rey, from voice lines to several explanations about the franchise. And as her elucidations continue, she reveals why she took on the Skywalker family name.
“Luke Skywalker was my Master. So was his sister, Leia, and her son, Ben, gave his life for me,” she said. “I took the Skywalker name to honor them and their legacy.”
You can see the video below:
Is Rey a Skywalker or Palpatine in Star Wars?
In The Rise of Skywalker, Rey learns from Kylo that she is the granddaughter of Emperor Palpatine, as her father is a clone of the Sith Lord. This revelation results in a confrontation between the two, but she ends up being almost swayed to the dark side of the Force. Rey falls into Palpatine’s trap, with the latter transferring his spirit into her body.
Thankfully, Kylo saves him after renouncing the dark side. With the help of the Jedi spirits, Rey manages to conquer Palpatine, but it leads to her death. Kylo then makes the ultimate sacrifice and gives his life to Rey. The two embrace and kiss while Kylo slowly vanishes in her arms. As Kylo is the last of the Skywalker bloodline, Rey assumes the Skywalker name to honor their memory and legacy, refuting her own heritage as Palpatine.
Will Rey Skywalker return to Star Wars?
Four years after the release of The Rise of Skywalker, Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy announced a new Rey Skywalker movie at Star Wars Celebration 2023. Daisy Ridley will return to reprise her role as the Jedi Master, and this time, she’s about to build and train a new Jedi Order.
The film will be set 15 years after The Rise Skywalker, which Kennedy described as “post-war, post-First Order, and the Jedi are in disarray.” Here, Rey will fulfill her promise to Luke to continue the Jedi Order.
“She is attempting to rebuild the Jedi Order, based on the books, based on what she promised Luke, so that’s where we’re going,” Kennedy told IGN.
So far, there are no words yet on when Ridley’s new Star Wars movie will be released, but there are claims that it will hit theaters on December 18, 2026, after The Mandalorian & Grogu. As the film is based on Rey’s promise to Luke, she's about to continue the Skywalker's legacy.
