The most surprising reveal in the Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker “D23 Special Look” wasn’t C-3PO’s red eyes or that the footage the editor picked from The Phantom Menace didn’t involve Watto — it’s Rey, clad in a dark hood and wielding a red two-bladed lightsaber, looking Sith-y. Is Rey turning to the dark side? Or is it a vision, or maybe a classic bit of misdirection from director J.J. “Mystery Box” Adams? To paraphrase a famous line from that *other* science-fiction franchise, speculation is futile, but it’s still fun, even for the cast.
While appearing at D23, John Boyega (Finn) was asked about his reaction to Rey’s reveal. “That’s the first time I’ve seen her like that and I was actually supposed to come on set while she was dressed like that and I didn’t get a chance,” he said. “So I’m seeing it for the first time, just with the full look. She looks very evil. It’s a mad plot point for the movie… Bringing out all the cards on this one.” Ian McDiarmid (Palpatine) added, “What, of course, is fascinating for all of us is when we see a teaser trailer like today, it doesn’t look like that when we are on the set. So we’re all going, wow, look what they did to that shot!”
Billy Dee Williams (Lando) kept it brief: “Spectacular. Epic.” As for Daisy Ridley, who plays Rey, she responded the way the rest of the internet did:
Daisy Ridley and @JohnBoyega react to Rey’s new red lightsaber and jacket that was revealed at #D23Expo for #RiseOfSkywalker pic.twitter.com/aJXmXTB1cP
— Fandango (@Fandango) August 25, 2019
Same.
Dark Rey, showing off her Motorola flip-saber: pic.twitter.com/Ricob589KO
— Alex Zalben (@azalben) August 26, 2019
GOOD MORNING TO DARK REY AND DARK REY ONLY pic.twitter.com/o2l5Ygq4pr
— Rachel Heine ✨ (@RachelHeine) August 26, 2019
https://twitter.com/villainkylo/status/1165969581594353666
Me in 2016 versus me in 2020 #darkRey pic.twitter.com/f2ypMWgckS
— Brianna Wu (@BriannaWu) August 26, 2019
Ben Solo, after finding out about Darth Rey: pic.twitter.com/25tWDD0pmt
— Charlie Ashby (@CMWAshby) August 26, 2019
https://twitter.com/cirifreya/status/1165964278492536832
(Via Fandango)