The Rise of Skywalker: Heirs to the Throne (WIP) — Page 11

After watching SherlockPotter’s wonderful Rey Nobody edit, I wanted to respond to a few ideas people mentioned might translate well into other edits (including this one).

1. Delaying Palpatine’s reveal until the mid-point of the movie
While this idea works great in Sherlock’s edit, it’s antithetical to the stated goals I have for this project. Those being that we see Kylo positioning himself against Palpatine early in the film (via the Vader duel) and that Palpatine is a looming influence over Rey throughout the first and second acts. As the audience, we know that Palpatine wants them to fight each other so the most powerful wins, and yet Rey still chooses to engage in conflict with Kylo again and again. Kylo is the only one that rejects this trap. This is a great role reversal and further demonstrates Rey’s flirtation with the dark, while giving Kylo further autonomy that the audience can feel. In Kylo’s case, him defeating a vision of Vader/Palpatine and accepting that he isn’t a Sith leads well into him re-constructing his Ren mask.

2. Kylo Ren visiting the Falcon
Ignoring the costume change for Ren, I also feel that this scene just works better in TFA: Starlight. It creates the impression that Kylo may end up actually going home with his father later on, making that betrayal all the more devastating. Additionally, the scene I’m making between Luke and Kylo in my edit accomplishes a similar thing to this scene - showing us that Kylo is inching his way toward the light.

3. Leia being involved in healing Ben
This works very well on an emotional level in Sherlock’s edit and I agree that it could work well in just about any other edit of TROS. If I were to use this, I would likely cut back on the amount of lines from Leia, and replace a few of the more obviously stitched together ones with AI / different wording. All of that being said, my nerd brain has a hard time accepting the logistics of this. As I said, this moment works very well on an emotional level, but I personally struggle a bit with the mechanics of how this would work within the rules the film establishes for Force healing. This film already introduces the Force healing ability, and this maneuver further complicates how exactly it works - i.e. now you can use somebody else as a conduit from across the galaxy. I also feel that Rey alone being the one to show mercy and sacrifice leads better into Ben’s sacrifice for her later on. It says more about Rey’s character if she chooses to heal Ben without being told to. In fact, this is likely why I’ll not have Luke say anything to Ben on Exegol before healing Rey. TL;DR - this movie definitely relies more on emotional beats than logic already, but I might want to try avoid introducing additional Force mechanics beyond what the film already asks the audience to accept.

I should clarify that none of these things should be taken as criticisms of Sherlock’s edit. Go watch it if you haven’t already! He did a really good job. That’s exactly why I’m posting these responses here and not on his thread, because we are ultimately dealing with completely different beasts here. And I’m still planning to incorporate several ideas from his edit that I highlighted in the OP.

I personally prefer when fan edits don’t all feel the same or just follow someone else’s version. It’s more interesting when everyone has their own way of telling/editing the story. That’s what makes each edit stand out. 💪👍

Is this edit still happening? It’s 2026?

The main reason for delays on this project is that the scope / premise of the edit have changed substantially over the past couple of years. Initially, this was going to be an edit that radically changed Rey’s backstory and that of the whole Skywalker bloodline. I’ve instead opted for a version of her canon origins that makes more sense, and backed away from the idea planted by ROTS / The Acolyte that the Skywalker bloodline was spawned by the Sith.

Another reason is that I simply wanted to see what Lucasfilm would end up doing in the aftermath of the sequels, and also what fellow editors like SherlockPotter could come up with for this movie. At this point, I don’t anticipate the changelog shifting much at all. Even so, there are some things that I will be requiring outside help with, which will result in this project still being worked on for the next year or so. In the meantime, feel free to check out Sherlock’s aforementioned edit if you’re looking for a new take on TROS.

So the more I think about it, I think it makes more sense to leave the Rey in the desert PTSD moment audio-only instead of visual. Here’s a rough test of what I’m envisioning:

https://youtu.be/acLSd0mMun8?si=HNlGJqSSq2HsgZ9l

I suppose that goes in-line with most of the other changes in this project being audio-only.

Here’s a more fine-tuned version of what I was thinking:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/13CRtN_VWGDZjd7LMaiJIyYtVtmU7Bs7W/view?usp=sharing

I’ve added in a bit more audio throughout the sequence and shifted it around a tad. I think it’s subtle enough to add more meaning to the moment without taking away from any of it.

So I’ve just had another stroke of inspiration. There is a long sequence of the Star Destroyers rising out of Exegol’s surface where we can easily insert a Palpatine AI voice saying whatever we want. This would ideally further tie in with Poe’s AI voice explanation of the Sith fleet from later in the movie. Here is how this looks in Ascendant:

Kylo: “You’re just a ghost. In a rotting clone. What could you, give me?”

Palpatine: “Everything. A new Empire… (huge silence as ships rise). The might of the Final Order will soon be ready. It will be yours, if you do as I ask…”

Those final two lines are said from off-screen anyways. So anything really could go before it. I’m thinking of something like the following, since Poe will already be explaining where these ships came from later on:

“Everything. A new Empire. The Sith Eternal has cloned an army, bred for obedience. The might of the Final Order will soon be ready. It will be yours, if you do as I ask…”

I find it quite ridiculous that the canon answer is that cult families are living on Exegol and give their children to be part of the army. It just makes me think of Elijah Woods’ hilarious Twitter response to this fun fact. People can’t really survive on Exegol at all, just look at the place! So at least this way we get a rhyme with the prequels and further clarification that Palpatine’s cloning project extended beyond just himself.

The Sith Eternal is also never name dropped in TROS, so this also helps with worldbuilding. The Final Order is just the fleet, whereas the Sith Eternal cultists are supplying the clone troopers to man it.

I didn’t seem to get the reverb and volume settings right, but it would definitely work after some more tinkering!

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hkBiEbD1FEMemfZFAI77yAo-aY1SBvg-/view?usp=sharing

Jar Jar Bricks said:

I didn’t seem to get the reverb and volume settings right, but it would definitely work after some more tinkering!

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hkBiEbD1FEMemfZFAI77yAo-aY1SBvg-/view?usp=sharing

Holy crap!It’s perfect! I really liked, it doesn’t feel like Palpatine is saying random words buut rather manipulating Kylo which it is really cool! Excited to see the end results, my friend! (PS: Can I use it in my own reedit, when yours it’s realised?)

Cool! I did realize that there is a slight conflict later on when a First Order officer states: “We’ll need to increase recruitment. Harvest more of the galaxy’s young.”

But honestly that can be explained away as needing ground forces and officers to occupy planets, as the clones would remain on the Star Destroyers as crew and defense. Plus, there is the plot hole in the original movie that they haven’t yet harvested the galaxy’s young, so who exactly is operating the thousands that are taking off from Exegol in the final battle?

Rors said:

Holy crap!It’s perfect! I really liked, it doesn’t feel like Palpatine is saying random words buut rather manipulating Kylo which it is really cool! Excited to see the end results, my friend! (PS: Can I use it in my own reedit, when yours it’s realised?)

Yeah, I’m down to share the audio. I just need to get the wording right, still. In order to better foreshadow the idea in this edit that Palpatine wants his most worthy Sith heir to take it all, we can better utilize the final sentence:

“A new Empire. Manned by legions of clones. Bred for obedience. Awaiting a worthy heir. The might of the Final Order will soon be ready. It will be yours, if you do as I ask. Kill the girl. End the Jedi. And become what your grandfather Vader could not. You will rule all the galaxy as the new Emperor. But beware, she is not who you think she is…”

This way Kylo’s later dialogue to Rey about Palpatine wanting the two of them to fight over the inheritance doesn’t come out of nowhere.

Yup, I think I cracked it! 😃

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1va1Xh58-C-GSTULYLhCpYdoARLBf1UHY/view?usp=sharing

Wow, incredible! The thing that comes to mind is the line “A new Empire. Manned by legions of clones. Bred for obedience." seems begging for a shot of some Sith Troopers…

I did think of that. Unfortunately, spare footage for this movie is hard to come by.

Does anybody know if there were shots of the Sith troopers in the documentary that weren’t used in the movie?

EDIT: Just watched it, there’s only one brief shot that’s usable, and they used some weird speed up effect as they were moving.

The only other thing I can come up with is strategically re-using the interior shot of the Kijimi destruction scene, but the officers are clearly different people so that might be too confusing.

I think it’s great!! Absolutely looks like it’s from the film.

On a different note, I’ve probably asked this before, sorry, if you’ve already answered but I know we we’re discussing this in Sherlockpotter’s TROS Untold edit about the Kylo/Rey romance/kiss. Are you keeping that in this edit? (I do hope so.)

arabian said:

I think it’s great!! Absolutely looks like it’s from the film.

On a different note, I’ve probably asked this before, sorry, if you’ve already answered but I know we we’re discussing this in Sherlockpotter’s TROS Untold edit about the Kylo/Rey romance/kiss. Are you keeping that in this edit? (I do hope so.)

I’m keeping it. The only reason I considered removing the kiss in earlier versions was that I was exploring the idea that Palpatine created Anakin first and then Rey, which would have made Rey and Kylo related. I have since moved away from that. I prefer the idea that Palpatine cannot truly create life. He can only corrupt, clone, and make a mockery of it, borrowing from Tolkien’s view of evil.

The kiss and Ben’s sacrifice are also central to the larger message of the edit. Luke’s added lines build toward the idea that love is not control, but a choice to give freely. He tells Kylo that he can still choose love for his family and turn away from the hatred that is failing him. He tells Rey that Leia knew her heritage, yet chose to love and train her as a daughter rather than hate her for representing Palpatine’s legacy. Then, when Ben is holding Rey after her death, Luke tells him that love does not control outcomes, but gives freely nonetheless.

That is what completes the contrast with Anakin and Padme. Anakin tried to control death because he could not bear to lose the person he loved, and that fear destroyed them both. Ben finally does the opposite: he gives himself freely to save Rey without trying to possess her or demand anything in return. The point is that bloodline, fear, and power do not determine who you are. The dark side seeks control and reduces people to their bloodline, power, and inherited labels. Love chooses compassion, freedom, forgiveness, and sacrifice.

Yes, exactly, that’s beautifully put, and what I was arguing for in the other thread. I’m so glad you’re doing this. And I didn’t mention before but I love how you’re using that acting bit of Adam’s where he’s like looking around to insert Luke speaking to him. I love that so much.

Naturally I’d prefer a Ben lives version, LOL! Even wrote up a version/way to make it work, but I can’t do the AI stuff to save my life.

As it is, I’m looking very forward to your finished version. 😃

I absolutely love the palpatine voice, is it too cheeky to ask for the model and index file?

xxx said:

I absolutely love the palpatine voice, is it too cheeky to ask for the model and index file?

ElevenLabs. I’ll send you the source audio in a PM.

I’ve brainstormed a way for the “Palpatine created Rey/Anakin” backstory to have logistical limits, inspired by The Acolyte. This new explanation also prevents Palpatine from becoming a creator-god, instead only corrupting what is natural and trying to claim it for himself. So, I’m going to try something that I didn’t do a couple years ago when I unilaterally decided to make this into an Ascendant+ style edit: a poll! Please vote on which option you think is better.

Here is the reveal dialogue sequence for the Rey Palpatine+ edit:

K: I pushed you in the desert because I needed to see it. I needed you to see it. Who you are.
R: You’re lying.
K: You were right. Your parents were no one. They chose to be. To keep you safe.
R: Don’t!
K: You remember more than you say. I’ve been inside your head.
R: I don’t want this!
K: Remember them. See them!
Flashback of Rey and her parents in the tent then the ship taking off
K: They paid for your protection. In more than one way.
R: Stop talking!
K: Rey, I know what happened to them…
K: Tell me where you are. You don’t know the whole story. Your father stole Ochi’s ship to escape from Exegol. He took your lightsaber from there, too. But he sold it, because he was powerless in the Force. So Palpatine gave Ochi his revenge.
Flashback of Ochi killing Rey’s father and then approaching her mother with the knife
R: No!
Vader’s charred mask falls to the ground
K: So that’s where you are. The Emperor wants one of us on his throne.
R: No…
K: I’ll come tell you why.
Later in the hangar
K: Rey, please listen to me. I know why Palpatine wants us to fight over the Sith throne.
R: Tell me.
K: Because he saw what you would become. You don’t just have power. You have his power. You’re his granddaughter… My mother was the daughter of Vader. Your father was the son of the Emperor. What Palpatine doesn’t know is we’re a dyad in the Force, Rey. Two that are one. We’ll kill him. Together. And end the Sith.

And here is a possible version of the same dialogue in the Rey Nobody+ version:

K: I pushed you in the desert because I needed to see it. I needed you to see it. The memory you buried.
R: You’re lying.
K: You lie to yourself. Your parents were no one. Junk traders who sold the child they feared…
R: Don’t!
K: You remember more than you say. I’ve been inside your head.
R: I don’t want this!
K: Accept the truth. See what you did!
Brief flashback of her parents’ ship being jolted by lightning and shutting down / plummeting with Falcon shutdown SFX
K: You caused their deaths. And became the monster they feared.
R: Stop talking!
K: Rey, you’ll get your friends killed, too…
transition to brief scene of Pryde ordering Finn and Poe to be executed
K: Tell me where you are. You don’t know the whole story. Your mother couldn’t explain your birth. The man you called father came after. You were never their choice. Born of no father… just like Vader.
Anakin igniting his saber on Tuskens, kneeling before Shmi’s grave, behind shot of Anakin + Palps at the opera, igniting saber on younglings, slaughtering Separatists, hooded Sith-eyes Anakin shot intercut rapidly with dark Rey on the throne and finally the mask being lowered on Vader.
R: No!
Vader’s charred mask falls to the ground
K: So that’s where you are. Palpatine wants one of us on his throne.
R: No…
K: I’ll come tell you why.
Later in the hangar
K: Rey, please listen to me. I know why the Emperor sees us both as his heirs.
R: Tell me.
K: He learned to drain a vergence in the Force… and have it take form. First, my grandfather. Then you. Both, marked by Palpatine… Bodies strong enough to host his spirit, born with potential far beyond his own. Now, he wants to test which of us is stronger. But there’s still time to let old things die. Together, we can trap his spirit. And end the Sith.

Some other line changes:
Rey - “I killed my mother… and my father… I’m going to find Palpatine. And destroy him.” (no lipsync required)

Ahch-To Sequence:
Rey - “I killed my parents. People will be safer without me. I’m never leaving this place. I’m doing what you did.”
Luke - “I was wrong. Failure reveals where you still need to grow. What are you most afraid of?”
Rey: “Myself.”
Luke - "Because Palpatine marked you? Leia sensed how much you’re like Vader.”
Rey: “She never told me. She still trained me!”
Luke - “Because she saw your spirit. Your heart. Rey, some things are stronger than blood. Confronting fear is the destiny of a Jedi. Your destiny. If you don’t face Palpatine, it will mean the end of the Jedi. And the war will be lost.”

Palpatine: “It is your birthright to rule. Here. It is in your blood. Exegol’s blood.”
Palpatine: “The life force of your bond. A dyad in the Force. A power like life itself. Two that are one. And now the power of two restores the one true Emperor.”

It’s clear that Rey as a character needs to have an explanation for her ease of quickly mastering the Force. Her being a descendant of Palpatine makes some sense - he’s very powerful in the Force. But, if you think about it logically, Palpatine himself was born with his own powers by pure chance. So why couldn’t a random nobody be, as well? So the Rey Palpatine explanation falls apart in that way since it’s technically not even a necessary explanation for a strong Force-user.

To take it a step further, I’m not actually sure if Rey Palpatine on its own adequately explains how quickly she gains power. Because even somebody like Palpatine had to train for decades to attain his mastery of the Force. This is likely why they threw the dyad on top to hand wave all that away. I think this new explanation makes the most sense without making Rey special in 2 separate ways. Osha and Mae were what happens when a vergence is used to divide one life in two. Anakin and Rey are what happens when an entire vergence is redirected into one new life. Vergences are extremely rare throughout the galaxy and limited in number, so this has logistical limits. It also makes sense that this life would appear in a random location via this method, since everything in the Force is connected.

But it’s still a deviation from canon, so I can understand if we’d prefer something that is more future-proof. And it’s also unfortunate to lose out on the Anakin/Padme mirroring via Reylo. Nevertheless, I had a lot of fun thinking through this mental puzzle! Interested in any and all feedback before I commit.

idir_hh said:

Palpatine did not create Anakin, the force did in response to Darth Plagieus’s attempt to manipulate the medichlorians

Correct. As I said in my original post, this is a strong deviation from canon no matter how you slice it. That being said, it was an idea that GL himself toyed around with in ROTS before ultimately deciding to just hint at in the opera scene. And it’s an idea that fits well into the sequel trilogy we received for a number of reasons:

1. If Anakin were made by the Force (the light) as a Chosen One, this doesn’t make much sense because the balance he finally manages to bring (after 20 years of atrocities mind you) by throwing Palpatine down a reactor shaft doesn’t last. It seems that Ahsoka season 2 will be patching this / retconning it so that Anakin fulfills this lasting balance by mantling the Father on Mortis, but this explanation wouldn’t even be necessary if the Chosen One prophecy was simply something Palpatine was taking advantage of, knowing that the Jedi in their hubris would want to take in his Trojan Horse.
2. Why does the Skywalker family so consistently struggle with the dark side? Luke is tempted to kill his own nephew, said nephew becomes complicit in the deaths of billions, and in Ascendant Leia gives up her Jedi training because she is also struggling with it. Once you link Rey’s character into that same exact struggle, all of a sudden everything sort of clicks into place. Speaking of which…
3. Finally a satisfying rationale to Rey Skywalker. In a way, this new backstory makes Rey actually related to the Skywalker family. It’s up to viewer interpretation just how related they all are genetically but the thematic messaging is clear: a Skywalker is simply an heir of Palpatine that refused the dark side.
4. It makes Palpatine’s death(s) satisfyingly ironic in a funny way. He wanted to claim the Force for himself and cheat prophecy, but in doing so he is killed by it.
5. It wouldn’t be much of a twist if it didn’t subvert what we already know about the story, now would it? 😃 If George had avoided disrupting canon, then Vader never would have been Luke’s father, for one thing.

That being said, there are plenty of merits to how Ascendant handles things. With Leia having been adopted herself, it makes sense that she would be willing to adopt a genetic Palpatine into the Skywalker family. I just know that some people still don’t find this super satisfying, as it ultimately leaves the Skywalker Saga’s ending in the hands of its greatest rival family.