Star Wars 9 Rise of Skywalker NEW footage ‘arrives Monday’: Rey with Darth Maul lightsaber

Yesterday, Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker director JJ Abrams presented new footage at the Disney D23 Expo. The sizzle reel including moments from previous Star Wars movies, but also unseen clips like a lightsaber battle between Kylo Ren and Rey in the rain. But the biggest shock was one of the latter in a dark cloak wielding a double red lightsaber just like Darth Maul. Has she moved to the Dark Side?

This scene reportedly included Palpatine’s voiceover, which said: “Now your journey nears its end.”

This had some fans speculating that Darth Vader might be back.

However, it’s worth pointing out that back in 2015 the official trailer for Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens included a shot of Darth Vader’s crushed helmet and his breathing could be heard on the audio.

And with the helmet returning, this scene sounds very similar to that one.

Whatever the case, the headgear will have some significance in The Rise of Skywalker seeing as JJ Abrams has chosen to bring it back.

One theory is that Palpatine has somehow survived by latching his soul on to it.

After all, it’s canon now in official Star Wars comics for Sith to live on through Dark Side artefacts like headgear.

Last year the official Darth Vader comic saw the yet-to-be-redeemed Anakin Skywalker given the helmet of a Sith called Lord Momin. Interestingly, this was lent by Palpatine, before the helmet speaks to Vader.

Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker will be released in UK cinemas on December 19, 2019.