Disney Has Remade the Ending of Controversial ‘The Rise of Skywalker’ ‘Star Wars’ Movie
More than five years after Star Wars: Episode IX–The Rise of Skywalker (2019) brought the Skywalker saga to its cinematic close, Lucasfilm has returned to the polarizing finale—this time through a new medium and with expanded storytelling that seeks to answer lingering questions.
Directed by J.J. Abrams, The Rise of Skywalker capped off the sequel trilogy with Rey (Daisy Ridley), Finn (John Boyega), and Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) leading the Resistance in a last stand against a mysteriously resurrected Emperor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid). Alongside revelations of Rey’s shocking heritage and Kylo Ren’s (Adam Driver) redemption arc, the film was packed with revelations and reversals, many of which sparked intense debate.
The dense narrative and breakneck pacing left critics and fans split, especially as the film appeared to course-correct several plot threads from Rian Johnson’s Star Wars: Episode VIII–The Last Jedi (2017). Despite the grandeur of its final battle and sweeping emotional stakes, the trilogy’s end left major gaps in character and plot development.
That conclusion also marked the beginning of a theatrical hiatus for the franchise. No new Star Wars film has hit theaters since. But that’s about to change. On May 22, 2026, Jon Favreau’s The Mandalorian and Grogu will usher in a new phase of storytelling. One year later, Shawn Levy’s Star Wars: Starfighter, featuring Ryan Gosling and Mia Goth, will debut in May 2027.
Interestingly, Favreau’s film wasn’t revealed during Lucasfilm’s 2023 Star Wars Celebration, where President Kathleen Kennedy announced three separate projects from directors James Mangold, Dave Filoni, and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy. Mangold was set to direct Dawn of the Jedi, an origin story for the Force. Filoni would handle a New Republic-centric crossover event. Obaid-Chinoy, meanwhile, was tapped to lead a post-Skywalker story starring Ridley’s Rey in New Jedi Order.
However, progress on those titles has been quiet. Rumors continue to circulate around the Ridley-led film’s status, especially as the actress has hinted that Rey is evolving into a mentor figure, drawing comparisons to Luke Skywalker. Still, Lucasfilm’s track record of mid-development changes casts doubt on what form these projects will ultimately take.
Adding to the evolving landscape, Kennedy recently confirmed that Simon Kinberg will produce a new Star Wars trilogy. While unconfirmed, insiders speculate this could be Episodes X through XII—a move that may intersect with the ongoing development of New Jedi Order.
That potential overlap raises the question: Could Rey’s story shift from Obaid-Chinoy’s vision into Kinberg’s new trilogy? A source close to the studio added weight to that theory, describing Rey as “the most important cinematic asset the franchise has…”
Ridley originally rose to prominence with Star Wars: Episode VII–The Force Awakens (2015), becoming the face of a new generation of Star Wars. But The Rise of Skywalker saw Rey’s arc complicated by her lineage as a Palpatine. The surprise resurrection of the Emperor, the brief use of the Knights of Ren, the romantic beat between Rey and Kylo, and the last-minute inclusion of the Sith Eternal were all cited as story beats that left many fans scratching their heads.
In the years since, Lucasfilm has looked to comics, novels, and animation to fill in the blanks. Books like Marc Sumerak’s “Star Wars: The Secrets of the Sith” (2021) expanded on Snoke’s origins. Dave Filoni’s The Bad Batch explored Palpatine’s obsession with cloning Force-sensitive beings.
Now, Marvel has stepped in with what may be the most ambitious reexamination yet. “Written by Jody Houser and drawn by artist Will Sliney, the previously-announced five-issue limited series brings 2019’s Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker film to the page at last,” Marvel.com wrote late last year. “In addition to retelling the Resistance’s desperate last stand, the shocking return of Emperor Palpatine, and more, the series will include all-new scenes not in the final film.”
Debuting in February 2025 and concluding in June, the adaptation adds clarity to key moments. Alongside it, Charles Soule returned with “Star Wars: The Legacy of Vader,” which follows Kylo Ren’s deepening fixation on Darth Vader in the time between The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker.
A pivotal moment in the film’s climax—when Rey is bolstered by the voices of past Jedi—has been reimagined. While the original movie only featured voice cameos, Issue 5 of the comic actually depicts Jedi like Obi-Wan (Ewan McGregor), Ahsoka Tano (Ashley Eckstein), Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson), and Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) as Force ghosts.
It’s a major shift—one that might have altered the emotional resonance of the film’s ending had it been included onscreen. For now, fans can witness that visual payoff on the page.
“THE LAST HOPE OF THE RESISTANCE! REY races to confront PALPATINE, but can she stop him before the FINAL ORDER devastates the galaxy?” the issue’s synopsis reads. “Hope comes from unexpected places as the RESISTANCE makes its last stand!”
This marks the second time The Rise of Skywalker has been expanded upon in written form. Rae Carson penned the film’s official novelization in 2020.
Outside the comics, Star Wars recently wrapped Season 2 of Tony Gilroy’s Andor and Skeleton Crew, helmed by Jon Watts and Christopher Ford. These two series, one prequel to 2016’s Rogue One and the other set in the New Republic era, landed after a stormy summer in 2024.
The Acolyte became a flashpoint in 2024 discourse, ultimately canceled after one season. Despite starring Amandla Stenberg, Jodie Turner-Smith, and Lee Jung-jae, the show was met with heavy online criticism—criticism that many of its stars addressed directly in public forums.
With theatrical releases finally returning and expanded universe stories continuing to evolve, Star Wars may be on the verge of rewriting more than just its own history.
How do you feel about this big change to the ending of The Rise of Skywalker? Let us know in the comments down below!
