The "Art of" book for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker recently went on sale, and it includes some very interesting reveals about the sequel trilogy. Since the final chapter of the Skywalker Saga arrived in theaters, we've been treated to a lot of new details which the movie itself didn't cover, but no one has really elaborated on that divisive final scene...until now.
According to Screen Rant, the book contains details on a Lucasfilm story group meeting which took place in May 2014 (eighteen months before the release of The Force Awakens in 2015).
Pablo Hidalgo reflects on that, and explained that even then, the idea of Rey being a "Skywalker" - in name only - was discussed. "I like the idea that she's going to be our Skywalker, but she's not a Skywalker," he says. "Then, for our purposes, 'the Skywalker' is really a metaphor. It doesn't have to be something that's directly connected to blood."
That's a decision which hasn't sat very well with a lot of fans, especially as Rey's true identity as the daughter of a failed Emperor Palpatine clone (making him her father and grandfather?) essentially turns the "Skywalker Saga" into the "Palpatine Saga." It also means that if we meet any Skywalkers in the future, they will actually be the descendants of the Galaxy's greatest villain.
It was a weird creative decision on Lucasfilm's parts, and not one that's likely to be forgiven by many longtime fans of the franchise, especially as the actual Skywalker bloodline ended with Ben Solo's demise.
How did you guys feel about the Rey Skywalker twist?