Since the release of Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker, Star Wars fans have speculated about the deeper meaning behind Rey inheriting Leia Organa's lightsaber. Now, a recent comic officially canonizes a widely popular theory, shedding new light on Rey's pivotal role in the Skywalker saga and her deep connection to Leia.

In Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker #4, written by Jody Ho with art by Will Sliney, Luke Skywalker, in his Force ghost form, recounts Leia's final day of Jedi training to Rey, and Leia's decision to set aside her lightsaber.

Luke explains that Leia sensed that her son would die at the end of her Jedi path, and laid her lightsaber aside with the certain knowledge that it would be picked up again by someone who would finish her journey. This confirms the long-held fan belief that Rey's inheritance of Leia’s lightsaber was not mere coincidence, but a preordained action.

The Symbolic Inheritance of Leia's Unfinished Path

The Rise of Skywalker #4, Written By Jodie Ho With Art By Will Sliney

For many fans, Rey's seemingly inherent connection to the Force and her rapid progress as a Jedi felt like a natural continuation of the Skywalker legacy, even before her lineage as a Palpatine was explicitly revealed. The popular theory was that Rey would use kyber crystals from both Luke and Leia’s lightsabers to create her own. This would create a symbolic fusion of the Skywalker legacy held within Rey’s lightsaber; a true ing of the torch from Luke and Leia to the next generation, represented by Rey. Though that does not explicitly happen in The Rise of Skywalker #4, the theory still holds water.

The revelation that Rey takes up Leia’s lightsaber as an heirloom with a preordained purpose reflects a moment of profound destiny that does in fact show that the Skywalker legacy is continued through her. It cements her as the spiritual successor to Leia's unrealized Jedi potential, suggesting that Rey isn't just carrying on Luke's fight, but fulfilling a mission that has been decades in the making. Though not through the fusion of Luke and Leia’s kyber crystals, Rey continued the unfinished threads left behind by both Skywalker twins.

Rey's Destiny Intertwined With Leia's Legacy Before Rey Was Even Born

The Revelation Underscores That Legacy Is Not Only Genetic

The confirmation of this theory solidifies Rey's place within the Skywalker saga in a meaningful way, extending beyond her biological connections. It establishes a powerful link between her journey and Leia's, portraying Rey not just as a new hero, but as the culmination of Leia's unfinished work. This adds a layer of depth to Rey's character, suggesting that her destiny was intertwined with not just Luke’s, but Leia’s as well, long before their paths physically crossed.

The idea that Leia was aware of a future person completing her Jedi path resonates with the idea of a lineage not solely defined by blood, but by purpose and the continuation of a noble fight.

Leia recognized in Rey the person she had foreseen all those years ago; the one destined to pick up the saber she had set aside.

Rey's immediate connection with Leia, their unspoken understanding, and Leia's role as a mentor now feel even more poignant. It suggests that Leia recognized in Rey the person she had foreseen all those years ago; the one destined to pick up the saber she had set aside. This deepens the emotional impact of their bond and underscores the weight of the legacy Rey carries. Ultimately, The Rise of Skywalker #4 provides a satisfying answer to a long-standing fan question, enriching the Star Wars lore and cementing Rey's role as the Skywalker torchbearer of hope and the ultimate inheritor of the Jedi way.