What is The Force Collector’s connection to The Rise of Skywalker?

The strangest, yet arguably most intriguing book in the Star Wars: Journey to The Rise of Skywalker announcement is The Force Collector.

The Force Collector stands out for several reasons, the most notable being that it focuses on a brand new character before Star Wars: The Force Awakens. The other stories in the Journey to The Rise of Skywalker focus on familiar characters such as Leia, Rey, and Poe, and the Resistance’s struggles and adventures after The Last Jedi.

This begs the question of why this teenager’s story is being released leading up to the movie.

In Lucasfilm’s official announcement, the following synopsis was provided for The Force Collector:

"“In this Journey to Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker young adult novel set just before The Force Awakens, a restless teenager sets out to discover what connection his mysterious Force powers have to the fabled Jedi and what the Force has in store for him.”"

It’s important to remember that the stories released in the Journey to The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi didn’t give away major plot points and in some instances didn’t tie in all that much to the actual movies.

Without knowing anything other than the title, cover, and description in the announcement, here are a few theories on what The Force Collector‘s connection could be to The Rise of Skywalker.

Setting the stage for Palpatine’s return

From the stormtrooper helmet to what appears be a lightsaber hilt, The Force Collector‘s protagonist is certainly a collector of artifacts. Now focused on finding artifacts related to his mysterious Force powers and the fabled Jedi, perhaps he will discover an artifact related to a powerful Force user and one of the Jedi’s greatest enemies — Darth Sidious.

An artifact connected to Palpatine could help explain or even just hint at what the villain’s mysterious role will be in The Rise of Skywalker.

The cover of the book looks to be on a desert planet. Whether it’s Jakku, Tatooine, or a new location for the films, it could definitely be the same planet Rey is on at the beginning of The Rise of Skywalker teaser trailer. Perhaps the artifact found in The Force Collector is also what has brought Rey to this planet, and leads to Palpatine’s return in the Skywalker saga.

Rey (Daisy Ridley) in STAR WARS: EPISODE IX. Photo credit: LucasFilm

A Force-sensitive ally for Rey

Part of what brought Rey and Kylo Ren together in The Last Jedi is how isolated they both feel on their journeys. Most don’t understand what it’s like to have such raw power within, and to constantly feel like they’re at a crossroads, and how the direction they take will forever reshape the galaxy. Now that Rey and Kylo have chosen opposite sides — at least for the time being — they could use a Force-sensitive ally who understands what they’re going through.

The Force Collector‘s protagonist could definitely be that kind of ally. His background sounds incredibly similar to Rey’s, something that would surely allow them to connect.

Like Rey, he is choosing to explore his connection to the Force through the “fabled Jedi” rather than through the dark side. Perhaps an artifact he discovers leads Rey on the quest to the Death Star ruins in the teaser trailer. As such, this book could be setting up an essential character and plotline for The Rise of Skywalker.

Setting up a post-Skywalker saga protagonist

Just because the Skywalker saga is ending with The Rise of Skywalker doesn’t mean Star Wars stories won’t be told past that point in the timeline. The second season of Star Wars Resistance will certainly tell post-Skywalker saga stories as the season will still be airing after The Rise of Skywalker has been released.

While new Star Wars stories at this point on the timeline will likely involve characters who survive The Rise of Skywalker, they will feature new characters as well. The protagonist of The Force Collector could end up being one of the leading characters, with fans already becoming familiar with him and his journey prior to The Rise of Skywalker.

However it ends up connecting to the movie, The Force Collector is definitely one of the most intriguing books in the Journey to The Rise of Skywalker.

How do you think The Force Collector will connect to The Rise of Skywalker? Let us know in the comments!