'Rise of Skywalker' Leaks: Concept Art May Reveal Where Kylo and Rey Battle

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is definitely setting up a final showdown between Rey and Kylo Ren. They’ve been at odds ever since The Force Awakens and a lightsaber duel is proving to be one of the film’s most highly anticipated moments. Where they would fight, however, is the big mystery, but leaked Episode IX concept art teases this planet as the location of their next battle.

The planet of Mustafar is a volatile one that’s nearly inhabitable, but it’s still an important location considering its history and ties to the Galactic Empire. Making Star Wars recently acquired some new concept art that may provide a glimpse at the planet. The concept art is presumably from Episode IX and, though it’s very blurry and generally indistinguishable, there are splashes of orange and yellow in some of the images that might indicate lava.

After all, Mustafar is known as an incredibly hot and gaseous planet and for its volcanoes. The concept art apparently depicts the “location where work on Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is in full swing”, so it’s highly likely it’ll appear in the film. There are also a couple of images that seem to include towers, possibly alluding to the appearance of Fortress Vader. It would be an intriguing addition to the film, especially since concept art was created to include the intimidating structure in The Force Awakens (though it didn’t make its movie debut until Rogue One: A Star Wars Story).

Daisy Ridley and Adam Driver have both hinted at their characters’ Force-connection and how it will carry into The Rise of Skywalker. It could be their connection that leads Rey to Mustafar in search of Kylo, who may already be there seeking more information about his dear old grandad, Darth Vader.

There’s no doubt that Kylo and Rey’s tense relationship will ultimately lead to a major confrontation, especially considering all of their unresolved issues from the last film. Additionally, this fight would be a nice callback to Anakin and Obi-Wan Kenobi’s lightsaber duel back in Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith and might draw similar parallels between the Light and Dark Sides of the Force.

Tensions are high after Kylo’s attempts to manipulate Rey failed and she escaped his influence in The Last Jedi. Another battle looms on the horizon. And while we previously wondered if Rey and Kylo’s lightsaber fight would take place on top of the Millennium Falcon, Mustafar is just as likely — if not more so.

Since Mustafar does have close ties to Darth Vader and the Galactic Empire, Kylo Ren may find solace there. Much like his grandfather, Kylo could be hiding out there or setting up his own base. There’s also a chance he might be in search of something else, though what that could be is anyone’s guess. Perhaps Mustafar also serves as the base for the Knights of Ren and Kylo is headed back to Mustafar to brief them about what’s happened to Snoke and the First Order. The possibilities are endless, and including Mustafar as the location for Rey and Kylo’s final battle would raise the stakes and reaffirm the planet’s (and by extension Fortress Vader) importance to the new trilogy and the Skywalker saga in general.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker hits theaters December 20, 2019.