The Skywalker lightsaber made it through most of Star Wars. It survived the Clone Wars, an epic duel with Obi-Wan Kenobi, and even a second amputation to find its way to Rey in The Force Awakens. The saber called to Rey. It was Rey’s lightsaber. Nevertheless, it couldn’t survive Rian Johnson. Thanks to subverted expectations, the Skywalker lightsaber is no more. So what are Rey’s lightsaber options for Episode IX?
There are several distinct possibilities for Rey’s lightsaber in Star Wars: Episode IX. The first, most obvious, and prevailing theory is that she constructs a new one. Rey possesses the Jedi texts from Ahch-To. Presumably, they contain instructions on how to construct a lightsaber. She’ll of course have to locate a kyber crystal. Without the Empire mining them any longer, perhaps they’ll be easier to find. In this case, perhaps she’ll emulate her former Jedi trainer and build a saber like the one that was destroyed.
Luke, after all, built his lightsaber to mimic that of his former Jedi trainer, Obi-Wan Kenobi. You can see Luke doing so in a deleted scene from Return of the Jedi, above. (Compare his to Ob-Wan’s from the original Star Wars, pictured below.)
Obi-Wan Kenobi holds his lightsaber, the basis for Luke Skywalker’s new lightsaber in ‘Return of the Jedi’. (Image: Lucasfilm)
Other Options for Rey’s Lightsaber
There are a few other options for Rey’s lightsaber. If Rey has to find a kyber crystal on the black market in any event, she could also find a Jedi lightsaber to simply replace the one she and Kylo Ren destroyed. There’s plenty of precedence in canon for lightsabers finding their way to the black market. That’s how Grakkus the Hutt came to acquire a collection of the Jedi relics.
Grakkus the Hutt displays his collection of Jedi lightsabers on a necklace. Image: Marvel Comics Star Wars Issue #9 (Aaron/Immonen/Von Grawbadger/Ponsor)
And let’s not forget, Poe Dameron Issue No. 31 made a direct connection to, and inferred an allegiance with, Grakkus. Perhaps Rey’s lightsaber will consequently come directly from Grakkus’s collection.
Poe Dameron confirms a connection to Grakkus the Hutt. Image: Marvel Comics Poe Dameron Issue #31 (Soule/Unzueta/Prianto)
The last option, and a theory I’m sticking to until Lucasfilm tells me otherwise, is that Rey’s lightsaber comes once again from Luke Skywalker. Only this time it’s Mara Jade who delivers it to Rey, and Jade who helps Rey complete her training. The lightsaber to which I’m referring is, of course, Luke’s green lightsaber as seen above.
Ben Solo illuminated by the green glow of Luke’s lightsaber in ‘The Last Jedi’. Image: Lucasfilm
The last time we see that lightsaber is in Luke’s flashback to his moment of weakness with Ben Solo. Luke ignites it to strike down his nephew. When Luke comes to his senses however, it’s too late. Ben drops the house on Luke, and the lightsaber is neither seen nor referenced again. I would not be surprised if Rey’s lightsaber in Episode IX looks awfully familiar.
Time will tell. Star Wars: Episode IX opens December 20, 2019.
Source: MovieWeb
