An often overlooked villain from the Star Wars universe made a prediction about Rey establishing a new Jedi Order a decade ago, and it comes with an intriguing twist. The sequel trilogy rebooted key elements of the franchise, reshaping both its legacy and its fanbase’s reception. While the trilogy drew mixed reactions, standout moments and personajes emerged—most notably, Rey as a symbol of a new Jedi generation and Kylo Ren as one of the series’ most multifaceted adversaries. But, the narrative also faced scrutiny, particularly concerning the unexpected return of Emperor Palpatine.
One character whose arc deserved more depth was Supreme Leader Snoke. His demise in Star Wars: The Last Jedi was memorable and pivotal, altering the dynamics between Rey and Kylo Ren. However, his death felt abrupt and did not honor the complexity of his character as portrayed by Andy Serkis. Despite the brevity of his role in the Skywalker saga, it’s important to recognize that Snoke accurately foresaw the direction of both the Jedi and the franchise itself, albeit in a somewhat unintentional manner.
Snoke’s Prediction: The Return of the Jedi
While Star Wars: The Force Awakens revisited elements from A New Hope, it also paved the way for new characters equipped with intriguing potential for growth. Regrettably, not every character was fully developed—John Boyega’s Finn, for example, never saw his Force-sensitivity explored beyond his initial revelation. However, Daisy Ridley’s Rey received the character development she needed.
As the narrative progressed past The Force Awakens, Rey emerged as the story’s focal point, much like Luke and Anakin Skywalker had in earlier trilogies. Remarkably, Snoke anticipated Rey’s rise within the Jedi ranks, although he seemed to misinterpret the focus of his own prediction.In the movie, Snoke states: “If Skywalker returns, the new Jedi will rise.” This statement, although directed at Luke who was absent during much of the film, still held a kernel of truth regarding Rey’s destiny.
Luke Skywalker Was Not the Last Jedi
As a creation of Palpatine’s manipulations, Snoke viewed Luke’s potential return as a catalyst for a new generation of Jedi. Palpatine himself had reasons to be wary, considering Luke’s pivotal role in his previous demise at the hands of his own apprentice, Darth Vader. However, their focus narrowly centered on Luke himself, overlooking how he might inspire a new generation of Jedi—especially without directly commanding them.
The events in The Last Jedi made it evident that Luke was never intended to be the final Jedi. His narrative was to revitalize the idea of the Jedi—having taken on that mantle throughout the original saga, he intended to foster a new cadre of Jedi during the New Republic period, only to watch his aspirations crumble due to family betrayal.
Rey’s arrival on Ahch-To confirmed the notion that Luke’s story was not one of absolute closure but rather a segue into a new journey. Despite a faltering path that led him to seclusion, Luke’s legacy clearly persisted.
Although there was ongoing speculation regarding Rey’s potential turn to the dark side—an unlikely scenario given the established themes of the franchise—her destiny as the next Jedi was solidified. Both audiences and Snoke failed to comprehend that she would be the new standard-bearer of the Jedi legacy.
Skywalkers: The Revival of the Jedi Order
In Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Rey’s decision to adopt the Skywalker name encapsulated a poignant moment on Tatooine, where she interred the lightsabers of her mentors, Luke and Leia. This line of lineage was crucial for her—what she sought all along was family and belonging, a connection cemented through her bond with Luke and Leia, even as she briefly found companionship with Ben Solo, post-Kylo Ren.
Nevertheless, the controversy surrounding Rey’s newfound identity sparked significant debate within the fanbase. Critics argued that her claim to the Skywalker name felt undeserved, interpreting it as a nostalgic ploy by the filmmakers to cash in on established lore. Regardless of the diverse opinions, Rey’s new identity indirectly realized Snoke’s prediction, as articulated in The Force Awakens.
Now, the Star Wars universe is poised to expand further with Rey at the helm. Not only has she become a Jedi herself, but she is also set to lead the revival of the Jedi Order in the eagerly anticipated film titled tentatively as Star Wars: New Jedi Order, scheduled to be directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, with Daisy Ridley reprising her iconic role.
While details remain sparse about the forthcoming movie, Snoke’s anxiety over a Skywalker rising to lead a new generation of Jedi appears prophetic. Luke’s realization that the old structures of the Jedi Order were obsolete reveals a critical narrative evolution. Their rigid doctrines and inflexible traditions were largely responsible for the Jedi’s downfall post-Order 66.
There’s hope that Rey will establish a genuinely “new”Jedi Order—one that embraces flexibility and reevaluates notions of morality. Given her experiences with both light and dark elements of the Force, alongside her connection with Luke and Leia and the insights gleaned from the ancient texts she acquired from Ahch-To, Rey possesses unique qualifications to craft a Jedi identity unlike any seen previously in the galaxy.
The ultimate shape this new Jedi Order will take is uncertain. Yet, it’s indubitable that Supreme Leader Snoke’s concerns about the Skywalker legacy were well-founded. He merely seemed unaware of which Skywalker would be responsible for bringing forth the rise of the new Jedi Order. Anticipation is high for what lies ahead for Rey in her upcoming Star Wars film.
| Upcoming Star Wars Movies | Release Date |
| The Mandalorian and Grogu | May 22, 2026 |
| Shawn Levy’s Star Wars movie | TBD |
| Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s “New Jedi Order” | TBD |
| James Mangold’s “Dawn of the Jedi” | TBD |
| Dave Filoni’s untitled Mandalorian movie | TBD |
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