'Star Wars 9' Leaks: All the Big Spoilers You Missed Over Labor Day Weekend

When it comes to avoiding Star Wars spoilers, it’s best to take a lesson from Master Yoda: “Do. Or do not. There is no try.” In other words, as we get closer to the release of The Rise of Skywalker, the leaks are going to come hard and fast. You basically have two options: block yourself off entirely or enjoy the ride.

If you clicked on this article, it probably means you’re down for spoilers, which is good because a ton of Episode IX leaks just hit the internet. New reports from some of the most trusted Star Wars leakers on the web reveal everything from Rey’s new Jedi Master in The Rise of Skywalker to the scope of Emperor Palpatine’s involvement in the new movie.

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Rey’s Red Lightsaber Has a Dark Backstory

Buried in the latest Star Wars info dump was one shocking bit of information that we’re still processing. You know that wild new double-sided folding lightsaber “Dark” Rey uses in the latest trailer? Well, it turns out the new saber could be even more important than we thought.

According to the well-regarded fansite Making Star Wars, Dark Rey’s new lightsaber could play a key role in The Rise of Skywalker. Apparently, this mysterious murder weapon sets up the plot as Rey, Finn, and Poe set off to find it. Later, C-3PO tries to read some writing on the saber but his programming stops him, and when he reads it anyway, that’s what turns his eyes red. Oh, and touching the red lightsaber is reportedly what gives Rey the vision we saw in that new trailer.

Question: Do you think Dark Rey is real or just another Force vision? Email me your answer at jacob@inverse.com and we’ll feature yourr response in next week’s newsletter.

As exciting as all of this is, MSW saved the biggest leak for last. It turns out the new saber was actually the weapon used to kill Rey’s parents! (That’s HUGE, if true.) I’m not totally sold on this last bit, but if the leak is accurate, it could explain how The Rise of Skywalker will examine Rey’s backstory without totally retconning what we learned in The Last Jedi.

Rey’s New Jedi Master Is Even Better Than Luke

The headline from that Episode IX leak — at least according to Inverse’s resident Star Wars expert Ryan Britt — is that Rey will find a new Jedi Master to replace Luke in The Rise of Skywalker.

Can you guess who it is? That image probably gave it away, but just in case: It’s Leia!

Apparently, General Leia Organa takes some time at the beginning of The Rise of Skywalker to help finish Rey’s training. This includes that one awesome moment from the new trailer where Rey throws her saber like a tomahawk and then uses the Force to retrieve it mid-air.

As Ryan explains, Leia’s father (Darth Vader) made it difficult for her to succeed as a politician in the New Republic after Return of the Jedi, which might explain why she ended up leading the Resistance instead. It also explains why she hid her Jedi powers until she needed to use them in The Last Jedi. And if that’s the case, then we could be getting an awesome new Jedi training with Leia and Rey at the start of The Rise of Skywalker.

Emperor Palpatine Goes Full Darth Vader

What’s scarier than a maniacal Sith Lord shooting lightning out of his fingertips? How about a maniacal Sith Lord with mechanical enhancements?

According to Bespin Bulletin — an Instagram account held in high regard by the Star Wars spoilers community — Sheev Palpatine will play an even bigger role in The Rise of Skywalker than we expected. A post from Monday comes loaded with leaks, including the detail that Palpatine actor Ian McDiarmid was present when Daisy Ridley filmed that Dark Rey “vision” scene from the new trailer. It also reveals that Rey will fight Palpatine; that Rey and Kylo will share Anakin’s blue lightsaber in one epic fight scene; and that Ewoks will play a minor role in Episode IX.

The biggest reveal, however, is of a scene featuring Kylo, Rey, and Palpatine all together. Here’s how Bespin Bulletin describes it:

• Kylo and Rey confront Palpatine. Ian was on set. Palpatine was next to a bunch of mechanical stuff including what looks like some kind of big mechanical arm. He might’ve actually been attached to this mechanical stuff. Rey and Ren are seemingly civil with one another.

There’s a lot to unpack here, but (for me) the big takeaway is that Palpatine could be rocking a big mechanical arm in The Rise of Skywalker. It’s one thing to imagine Palps back to his evil old self in Episode IX, but the idea of Sheev with a bunch of tech enhancements — kinda like Darth Vader in the original trilogy — is even scarier. No wonder Rey and Kylo have to team up to stop the Emperor. Read more.

Thanks for reading Multiverse! If you liked this newsletter, consider sharing it with a friend — as long as they’re not avoiding Star Wars spoilers!

But what if Dark Rey isn’t real at all? Could she be another Force vision instead? Email your thoughts to jacob@inverse.com and we’ll feature them in next week’s Multiverse.

This is a recreation of Inverse’s twice-weekly newsletter, Multiverse. Sign up for free.