It’s a strange time for Star Wars fans right now. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker closed a chapter of the main series in a way that divided critics, and now the future of the movie side of the franchise is in a bit of limbo. (Although, according to some, it could involve Taika Waititi, which would be nice.) Meanwhile, The Mandalorian has finished its run on Disney+, so there’s not as much Star Wars TV out there, either. Does that mean there’s nothing going on in the galaxy far, far away? Well, not exactly. Read on.
Who Was Actually Responsible for The Rise of Skywalker, Anyway?
The Source: All manner of online leaks
Probability of Accuracy: That’s an entirely open question at this point, to be honest.
The Real Deal: So, what happened to Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker? Since the movie’s release and uneven reception, there have been a number of somewhat suspicious leaks about the behind-the-scenes struggles that made the movie exactly what it is, including suggestions that JJ Abrams didn’t have full control of the finished movie, with the writer-director surprised by what he saw onscreen during the premiere. That seems fairly unlikely, to say the least, but it oddly dovetails with an interview with a stuntman on the movie who claims that, a week before the premiere, there was an entirely different cut with an entirely different ending that killed off Rey but left Kylo Ren alive—and claims that Lucasfilm was pushing for some of the more controversial elements of the movie, including the kiss between Rey and Kylo. As strange and unlikely as that might seem, it’s borne out slightly by the fact that co-writer Chris Terrio has said in interviews that Kathleen Kennedy and Lucasfilm had some specific ideas about what should be included in the final cut. But surely that doesn’t mean that Lucasfilm and K.K. are entirely responsible for everything fans hated about the movie, right? That would just be … odd.
Release the Abrams Cut, Maybe
The Source: An online petition from, well, keep reading
Probability of Accuracy: It’s certainly accurate that the petition exists, even if what it is asking for probably doesn’t.
The Real Deal: For those feeling compelled to see the mythical, might-not-exist JJ Cut/Abrams Cut of Rise of Skywalker—it’s like the Snyder Cut of Justice League, but with less rain, probably—don’t worry; you can make your voice heard with this new online petition. “In a nutshell, JJ Abrams had a much longer cut of the film and even recommended that it be split into two films at one point,” writes the person behind the petition, sensibly named “Darth Sand the Irritating.” “While Disney … promised JJ more creative control over the story, they blindsided him and cut crucial scenes to please investors.” The source for this rumormongering? That would be a website with the URL “DisneyStarWarsIsDumb.wordpress.com.” Sure. Sounds legit. (Like, OK. The website is really there. Its content and the content of the petition are questionable to say the least.) As of this writing, more than 5,000 people have signed. Why not join their ranks, aside from the fact that this is clearly not going anywhere?
Colin Trevorrow’s Episode IX Plans Were Quite Good, Actually
The Source: An online leak, and a confirmation from the man who’d know
Probability of Accuracy: Shockingly, it apparently is accurate.
