Despite his best intentions, it seems the jaded Luke Skywalker actually drives Rey toward Kylo Ren in Star Wars: The Last Jedi.
As part of its ongoing coverage, Entertainment Weekly spoke to the sequel’s Jedi trifecta – namely Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver and Star Wars veteran Mark Hamill – to discuss the power dynamics underpinning The Last Jedi, and why the rejected Rey winds up in the company of Snoke’s subordinate.
Remember, Daisy Ridley’s Jakku orphan made tracks for Ahch-To on the belief that Luke will expand her knowledge of the Force and, ultimately, steer her in the right direction. But after Mark Hamill himself described his on-screen character as a “broken warrior,” it’s clear that Rey is in for a rude awakening come December. Never meet your heroes, as the old saying goes.
And at least according to EW’s coverage, this crushing rejection from Luke Skywalker is enough to push Rey toward Kylo Ren. Here’s what Rian Johnson had to share and don’t worry, no spoilers:
This is very much about Rey trying to figure out how she fits into all this, much like any of us as we’re growing up, as we’re transitioning from childhood into adulthood. You’re going meet people who you think are going help who don’t. And help is also going come from unexpected places.
Daisy Ridley, meanwhile, echoed that sentiment by drawing attention to Rey’s lonely past – she was abandoned at a young age, so why on Earth would she feel any loyalty to the Resistance?
She doesn’t really know what she wants. She really is trying to do the right thing and morally, her compass is really pointing north. The Resistance is really not that much to her. I mean, she’s been left her whole life, and very quickly is eager to sort of help other people, which is wonderful. She wants to be part of something. I mean, everyone wants to be part of something.
Kylo Ren and Rey. They’re two sides of the same coin, according to Rian Johnson, and we’ll be able to see that dynamic play out in full when The Last Jedi zooms into theaters on December 15th.
