Could Rey Have a New Lightsaber by 'Star Wars: Episode IX'?

Since Rey was first depicted brandishing a staff as a weapon in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, fans have been clamoring for her to become the first double-bladed lightsaber-wielding Jedi we see in the movies. We know that Rey will wield the blue Skywalker lightsaber in The Last Jedi, but what might happen in Episode IX?

Rey’s got a strong connection to the Force, and as such, could follow the traditional path of a Jedi building her own lightsaber. Luke is poised to mentor her in the ways of the Force after he figures out who. Much has been said about Rey not becoming a Jedi, particularly with the naming of Episode VIII as The Last Jedi. It’s led many to believe that despite wielding the trademark weapon of the Jedi order, she’ll become something entirely new. But whether or not she goes the path of the Jedi Knight, acquiring a lightsaber would undoubtedly remain the same.

But what does that process look like?

Traditionally, Jedi in training would find a kyber crystal and use it as the power core for their own lightsaber that they’d build by way of the Force. It happened offscreen for Luke before Return of the Jedi, but it might just happen to Rey sometime during the next two films.

We saw a bit of the process in The Clone Wars with some younglings:

Traditionally — and this isn’t quite canon anymore — Jedi utilized various Forms or lightsaber combat styles that were loosely associated with one’s role in the Jedi order, and that role also factored into the color of their lightsaber. Blue lightsabers were for Jedi Guardians who defended the Force with swordplay. Green lightsabers — like that used by Qui-Gon Jinn, Yoda, and later Luke — were used by Consulars, who pursued peace through negotiation and meditation. But Jedi Sentinels were a sect of the order focused on eliminating the Dark side, driven by intrigue and proficient in various technological specialties (sound like anybody we know?).

The most famous Sentinel was Bastila Shan. In the extended universe of Star Wars lore, Darth Maul is the most famous wielder of a dual-bladed lightsaber, and Exar Kun. But Shan is always part of that same conversation, and as a Jedi Sentinel, her saber is yellow-orange in color:

Beyond being a veritable badass in her own right, able to turn the tide in any battle with Force-fueled battle meditation, Bastila Shan’s look is remarkably similar to that of Rey’s.

While Rey certainly has great aptitude with the classic blue Skywalker lightsaber in her duel with Kylo Ren, fighting in a fencer-like style not unlike that of Obi-Wan (let that fuel your Rey’s parentage theories), she has arguably even greater skill with her walking staff she used on Jakku as a scavenger, deftly defending herself time and time again.

Does that mean she might modify that staff as a lightsaber if or when she builds her own lightsaber model?

Whether or not Rey embarks down the path of the Jedi, she might wind up needing a lightsaber of her own one day. We’ll find out more when we finally learn what Rey and Luke talk about in their first meeting.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi hits theaters December 17, 2017.