STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER Comic Shows the Force Ghost Army Moment We Never Got in the Movie

For years, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker fans have debated what could’ve made that climactic final battle hit harder. Now, thanks to the final issue of Marvel Comics’ adaptation of the film, we finally get to see a powerful scene that was cut from the film… Rey standing side by side with an army of Jedi Force Ghosts.The moment in the movie where Rey declares herself “all the Jedi”? It hits differently when you can actually see those Jedi with her.Back in 2019, the film ended with Rey facing off against Emperor Palpatine, bolstered only by the voices of Jedi from the past including Yoda, Obi-Wan, Mace Windu, Ahsoka Tano, and more. And while hearing those familiar voices gave longtime fans a chill, the comic takes it one step further. Writer Jody Houser and artist Will Sliney go all in, putting those Jedi right there with Rey, fully visible as a Force Ghost army. The scene delivers a visual representation of generations of Jedi standing behind the young Jedi warrior.This is a moment Lucasfilm once considered including in the film, but for a variety of reasons, it never made it to screen.Interestingly, its omission may have benefitted other Star Wars stories down the road. Seeing Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson) return in Obi-Wan Kenobi, or Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) appear as a Force Ghost in Ahsoka, likely wouldn’t have had the same weight if they'd already popped up alongside Rey.Chris Terrio, who co-wrote the film with J.J. Abrams, once touched on this exact subject. Regarding the film’s ending, he said:“We absolutely discussed who would be there at the end. It’s not as though those Force ghosts will never appear to Rey now that she really is the first of the new Jedi. “I think she has all of those Jedi behind her. J.J. was pretty clear about the idea that he didn’t want to take away from the moment of Leia finally appearing as a Force ghost and the twins finally being together.”In regard to that final scene on Tatooine, he added:“This might be in the novelization, but we talked a lot about how Leia lost her home. Alderaan is gone. So, she could never take Luke to see where she grew up as a princess, but Luke could’ve taken Leia to see where he grew up as a farmer. “But, the twins never got to Tatooine together (to visit Luke’s childhood farm). So, the idea of seeing the twins together after the sabers are laid to rest felt like it was something that was very moving to me and J.J.”That emotional thread certainly had merit. But from a fan perspective, seeing Rey, flanked by the spirits of Obi-Wan, Aayla Secura, Kanan Jarrus, Mace Windu, Yoda, and more, standing against Palpatine, is the kind of Star Wars moment fans live for.So while The Rise of Skywalker might never get a "special edition" to bring this to screen, the comic book fills in the gap. At least we get to see it visually brought to life in comic book art form. “THE LAST HOPE OF THE RESISTANCE! REY races to confront PALPATINE, but can she stop him before the FINAL ORDER devastates the galaxy? Hope comes from unexpected places as the RESISTANCE makes its last stand!” View fullsize

Jun 12, 2025 - 16:10

STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER Comic Shows the Force Ghost Army Moment We Never Got in the Movie

For years, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker fans have debated what could’ve made that climactic final battle hit harder. Now, thanks to the final issue of Marvel Comics’ adaptation of the film, we finally get to see a powerful scene that was cut from the film… Rey standing side by side with an army of Jedi Force Ghosts.

The moment in the movie where Rey declares herself “all the Jedi”? It hits differently when you can actually see those Jedi with her.

Back in 2019, the film ended with Rey facing off against Emperor Palpatine, bolstered only by the voices of Jedi from the past including Yoda, Obi-Wan, Mace Windu, Ahsoka Tano, and more. And while hearing those familiar voices gave longtime fans a chill, the comic takes it one step further.

Writer Jody Houser and artist Will Sliney go all in, putting those Jedi right there with Rey, fully visible as a Force Ghost army. The scene delivers a visual representation of generations of Jedi standing behind the young Jedi warrior.

This is a moment Lucasfilm once considered including in the film, but for a variety of reasons, it never made it to screen.

Interestingly, its omission may have benefitted other Star Wars stories down the road. Seeing Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson) return in Obi-Wan Kenobi, or Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) appear as a Force Ghost in Ahsoka, likely wouldn’t have had the same weight if they'd already popped up alongside Rey.

Chris Terrio, who co-wrote the film with J.J. Abrams, once touched on this exact subject. Regarding the film’s ending, he said:

“We absolutely discussed who would be there at the end. It’s not as though those Force ghosts will never appear to Rey now that she really is the first of the new Jedi.
“I think she has all of those Jedi behind her. J.J. was pretty clear about the idea that he didn’t want to take away from the moment of Leia finally appearing as a Force ghost and the twins finally being together.”

In regard to that final scene on Tatooine, he added:

“This might be in the novelization, but we talked a lot about how Leia lost her home. Alderaan is gone. So, she could never take Luke to see where she grew up as a princess, but Luke could’ve taken Leia to see where he grew up as a farmer.
“But, the twins never got to Tatooine together (to visit Luke’s childhood farm). So, the idea of seeing the twins together after the sabers are laid to rest felt like it was something that was very moving to me and J.J.”

That emotional thread certainly had merit. But from a fan perspective, seeing Rey, flanked by the spirits of Obi-Wan, Aayla Secura, Kanan Jarrus, Mace Windu, Yoda, and more, standing against Palpatine, is the kind of Star Wars moment fans live for.

So while The Rise of Skywalker might never get a "special edition" to bring this to screen, the comic book fills in the gap. At least we get to see it visually brought to life in comic book art form.

“THE LAST HOPE OF THE RESISTANCE! REY races to confront PALPATINE, but can she stop him before the FINAL ORDER devastates the galaxy? Hope comes from unexpected places as the RESISTANCE makes its last stand!”