Did Star Wars 9's Plot Leak? We Explain

A leaked plot description for Star Wars: Episode IX has made its way online, and it’s worth analyzing to determine its validity. As fans await this summer’s Solo: A Star Wars Story in theaters, Lucasfilm is gearing up to begin production on the sequel trilogy finale. J.J. Abrams has a script in place for Episode IX, which is set to start filming in July. Outside of a few casting call descriptions, details concerning the movie are being kept under wraps, which admittedly is nothing new for the studio.

Whenever something as massive as Star Wars is involved, there is bound to be rampant speculation about what’s in store. Most of the time, it’s just wild rumors (as was the case with a Last Jedi “plot leak” from last year), but sometimes there’s fire to the smoke. That could be the case with this piece of Episode IX information, as the source in question has a somewhat mixed track record, but did accurately predict some elements of Episode VIII a couple of years ago. Let’s delve into it.

What is the Star Wars 9 Plot Leak?

The leak comes from Reddit user FOOSLS, who claims to have read an early storyboard for Star Wars 9. It details two separate plot threads that will make up a bulk of the movie. Set five years after The Last Jedi (John Boyega has hinted at a time jump), the main narrative finds the galaxy in some state of peace. New Supreme Leader Kylo Ren is said to be a “benevolent” ruler, and there are those in the Resistance who are questioning why they’re still fighting. The main heroes, including Rey, Leia, and Poe, know the threat of the First Order is real and continue to try to stop them. They then receive a tip from a First Order mole that could change the course of the conflict.

With the intel, the Resistance heads to a planet in the Unknown Regions (a point of emphasis in the books), where they rescue a “female alien prodigy” who is key to navigating the area. Afterwards, they discover an ocean world that houses a manufacturing station “powered by the populations of conquered worlds.” It’s because of this the First Order has so many resources at their disposal. The mission becomes “liberating the captives” and then alerting the galaxy to what is happening in the Unknown Regions. In a plot twist, it’s revealed none other than General Hux is the rat, which is his attempt to turn everyone against his bitter rival Kylo Ren so he can usurp control of the First Order. Hux is known to be cunning, even eliminating his father en route to his post as general, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see him gain control from Kylo.

Speaking of Ren, he’s the focus of the main subplot. He has dispatched the Knights of Ren to hunt Force users across the universe. In turn, many of them have found Rey to be protected. The leak goes on to suggest a continuation of Rey and Kylo Ren’s Force connection, with the two communicating with each other from time to time. Over the course of the movie, it’ll become clear the two are in love with each other. Most shockingly, it’s revealed Rey has a child (the father of whom is unknown), something that makes Kylo Ren so angry, he almost kills Rey in a fit of jealousy. It’s Leia who ends up saving Rey at the end.

One of the reasons why this doesn’t seem completely farfetched is the same Reddit user coincidentally saw an “early storyboard” of The Last Jedi two years ago and outlined the plot in a separate post. While some elements were entirely off-base (Rey being a student at Luke’s training temple, Captain Phasma placing a bounty on Finn’s head), others were very accurate. Well before anyone saw Episode VIII, FOOSLS told us about Kylo Ren killing Snoke and a journey to a casino planet described as the “Las Vegas” of Star Wars. It’s possible FOOSLS is telling the truth, but the complicated story of Episode IX’s development raises a fair amount of questions.

Page 2: Why The Star Wars 9 Plot Leak Isn't Accurate

Star Wars Episode 9 JJ Abrams Colin Trevorrow

Why The Star Wars 9 Plot Leak Isn’t Accurate

FOOSLS admits what he saw essentially amounts to a first draft, but there are holes fans can poke in the leak right away. For starters, since Leia is an integral part of this description, the leak has to be from early on in Colin Trevorrow’s time on the project. Originally, the General was going to be at the forefront of the finale, but Carrie Fisher’s death drastically altered those plans. Additionally, Trevorrow was eventually replaced by J.J. Abrams due to creative differences with Lucasfilm. Upon his hiring, Abrams went to work co-writing a script with Chris Terrio. Since the screenplay was a sticking point in Trevorrow’s departure, it’s reasonable to assume Abrams started from scratch and came up with an entirely new concept.

There are also aspects of this leak that do not add up with the events of The Last Jedi, most notably the idea of Kylo Ren as a benevolent leader. Anyone with a passing familiarity of the character knows he is defined by his rage and emotions, so it’s very difficult to see him settling down as a peaceful man. His last words to Luke were a threat indicating he would make it his life’s mission to destroy Rey and whatever was left of the fledgling Rebellion. As Skywalker said, the war was just beginning after Crait, so it would make for an odd jump for people to be questioning the need to fight (something from the Force Awakens novelization) one movie later. Hux is also bloodthirsty for the Resistance, so he’ll be keen on wiping the heroes off the face of the galaxy. When Star Wars 9 picks up, we should be in an all-out war where our characters have grown weary of the ongoing conflict.

Adam Driver as Kylo Ren and Daisy Ridley as Rey in Star Wars: The Last Jedi

Ever since their debuts in The Force Awakens, fans have been quick to 'ship Rey and Kylo Ren, affectionately dubbing the couple as "Reylo." Episode VIII certainly played into that dynamic with the two's intimate "Force Skype" sessions (which culminated in a tender moment of touching hands), but any chance they had at love seemed to have died by the end of the film. Not only did Kylo vow to Luke he would destroy Rey in his quest to rule over the galaxy, Rey had given up on Ben Solo ever returning, severing their connection by closing the Millennium Falcon ramp. That was a visual representation of her shutting Kylo out of her world as she looks to rebuild the rebellion with her friends. This isn't to say she's not disappointed in Kylo's actions, but to suggest she's harboring romantic feelings for him feels outlandish. The addition of a surprise love child is also curious, as that twist would raise more questions than answers. The sequels have largely bypassed a love angle, and even Daisy Ridley feels it's not necessary for Star Wars 9.

This isn't to completely discard the leak as entirely false. As stated earlier, FOOSLS' info on The Last Jedi was semi-accurate in some places and even matched various stages of Episode VIII development. His Reddit post from two years ago said it was Poe who went with Finn to Canto Bight, which was Rian Johnson's initial plan. So, it's possible certain elements of Episode IX are actually here. Again, it isn't out of the question to think General Hux will try to usurp Kylo Ren as Supreme Leader, and obviously Rey's dynamic with Kylo is going to be an integral part of the storyline. Still, Episode IX has gone through so many different iterations (the script has received at least 4 passes by now), it's hard to put stock in any rumors until the cameras start rolling.

There's honestly no telling where Episode IX will go after Johnson basically gave Abrams a clean slate from which to work. Operating mostly as a standalone of sorts with no obvious cliffhanger to pick up, The Last Jedi re-established the status quo and gave Lucasfilm numerous possibilities to consider. It'll be interesting to see where the creative team goes, and there will surely be no shortage of speculation. But until official details begin to come out next year during promotion, it's best to take everything (no matter how valid it may seem) with a healthy grain of salt.