'Star Wars: Episode 9': Rey's journey based on deleted scenes

The DVD and Blu-ray of “The Last Jedi” contain an extra twenty minutes of content that will give fans clues about what’s in store in “Star Wars: Episode 9.” Details of two deleted scenes related to Rey (Daisy Ridley) have surfaced online. Meanwhile, Lupita Nyong’o (Max Kanata) has said she will soon know about her role in the upcoming film.

According to a video posted on YouTube, one of the deleted scenes of “The Last Jedi” shows Rey using the Force speed power to run fast towards a celebration bonfire. Prior to this, Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) tells her that the fire is from a group of raiders who sometimes visit to loot. He cautions her not to interfere because as it might make the raiders return with a bigger force next time. She may not be there to always protect the people.

Luke’s lies were meant to educate Rey on the ways of the Jedi, which is to be passive even if it means seeing people get hurt. Rey, however, is still highly emotional and impulsive, so she races to help, only to find that the Jedi Master lied.

Readers should note that Rey’s journey has so far mirrored Luke’s in a lot of ways. In the first movie of the franchise, a young Luke was on a journey to find a place for himself in the galaxy; this is what Rey went through in “Force Awakens.” In the sequel to the original trilogy, Luke took the first true steps to becoming a Jedi, racing to help his friends in the middle of training, even though his master advised against it. The deleted scenes reveal that Rey also had a similar teaching in “The Last Jedi.”

If Rey’s journey were to reflect Luke’s in the next film, fans might find a time jump, and Ridley’s character will emerge as a more confident and powerful Jedi Master, ready to take the threat of the First Order.

Filming of “Star Wars: Episode 9” is yet to begin. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Nyong’o said she doesn’t know if she has a role in the next film yet. The actress has a very brief scene in “The Last Jedi,” so it will be interesting to see how big a role her character will play in the next film, if she is cast.