Star Wars rumor: Another original trilogy character headed to Episode IX

If you thought Palpatine was the only original trilogy character headed to Star Wars: Episode IX, you might be wrong. A new rumor suggests another familiar face could return. Warning: Potential spoilers ahead.

Emperor Palpatine is potentially headed back to Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, but given this movie is about wrapping up the nine-episode Skywalker Saga, there could be other surprises in store – including the return of another familiar face.

As with any rumor, take it with a grain of salt. There’s also potential spoilers ahead, so if you don’t want to know about Episode IX, head back now.

The latest rumor comes from Making Star Wars, which has a reputation of being legit. Many of Jason Ward’s leaks have come to fruition or have been confirmed by another source, which is why we are taking this one a bit more seriously.

The rumor involves Kylo Ren and who he winds up seeing his in The Rise of Skywalker. He sees his father, Han Solo. How the scene exactly plays out hasn’t been laid out, but it doesn’t seem it would be as a force ghost. Perhaps it’s in a flashback, memory or something else, but it certainly seemed legitimate that Han Solo would be making an appearance.

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There have been theories on how Solo could return with plenty of fans guessing how it could happen. Whether Harrison Ford decides to reprise his role or J.J. Abrams includes him in previously shot footage with Carrie Fisher, we still don’t know. But there are possibilities that would include seeing Han Solo again.

The other point Jason makes from his sources is it seems the tone of the scene is letting Kylo Ren know he can redeem himself. This part is really tough because Kylo Ren has done a lot of bad, including killing Han Solo.

If Solo is the one telling him that redemption is a possibility, perhaps that’s the road Abrams chose for Kylo Ren. Darth Vader was a horrible person, killing without abandon and yet we allowed his redemption story when he saved his son over Palpatine.

There are a lot of fans who may want to see Kylo Ren redeemed, but then there are the Reylo shippers who would love for that to happen so that they could see him wind up with Rey.

Personally, I don’t have an issue if Harrison Ford would return. Regardless of who is in the movie, I am just hoping for a good story.

Read the full report at Making Star Wars here.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker premieres December 20.