How a fractured production process reshaped the end of the Skywalker saga
In short: Behind the $490.2 million spectacle of The Rise of Skywalker lies a turbulent creative history. From abandoned scripts titled 'Duel of the Fates' to sudden director departures, the path to the final episode was marked by creative differences and a massive structural overhaul.
The development of Episode IX was far from linear. Originally, following the 2015 release of The Force Awakens, Colin Trevorrow and Derek Connolly were set to direct and write. Their early script, titled 'Star Wars: Duel of the Fates,' contained ambitious ideas like a superlaser-equipped Star Destroyer and a scene where Ren finds a Sith holocron on Mustafar. However, by September 2017, Trevorrow left the project due to creative differences with producer Kathleen Kennedy, leaving the director's chair vacant.
When J.J. Abrams returned to direct, the writing process became a collaborative effort to conclude the nine-part saga. While Abrams co-wrote the final script with Chris Terrio, the production faced significant pressure to hit specific narrative beats. According to Terrio, the script had to incorporate requirements from producers Kathleen Kennedy and Michelle Rejont, such as the redemption of Kylo Ren. The story team even consulted George Lucas to help find a way to wrap up the long-running narrative.
Despite the shifting hands in the writers' room—including a period where Jack Thorne was announced to rewrite the script—the final film retained elements from the earlier Trevorrow/Connolly era, such as the concept of transferring Force energy and Lando Calrissian leading a galaxy-wide fleet. The result was a massive production that, while grossing $1.077 billion, became the lowest-grossing entry of the sequel trilogy.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
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