Earlier in the week I reported on what I thought was Colin Trevorrow and Derek Connolly’s script for Star Wars: Episode IX. I was mistaken (my apologies to Trevorrow and Connolly). The Rey backstory I reported on was for Jack Thorne’s script that was intended to be directed by Colin Trevorrow. When my informants described the story to me, they would say things like “for the Trevorrow film.” I had honestly forgot that Jack Thorne was brought in and I can say I honestly feel that I would have made the assumption it was still Colin Trevorrow’s version.

This happened to during Rogue One: A Star Wars Story as well. I was told the last writer was directing the reshoots and the last known writer was Christopher McQuarrie at that time. However, it was Tony Gilroy. These are the methodological mistakes I make because I cannot reach out for comment due to NDAs.

I hope this clears up any confusion.

Colin Trevorrow denied the contents of this article as being correct on Twitter this morning:

This article may contain spoilers from Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker!

The Star Wars that never was

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is not too far off. Those who read spoilers and watch all the TV spots and promotion are weighing in with their first takes on the choices J.J. Abrams and Lucasfilm made to bring the ninth episode to the screen. As arguments break out and hot takes are expressed, Colin Trevorrow’s name will come up because the fired director would have handled the movie very differently. In this article, I can provide some insight into the Star Wars film that never was.

While Colin Trevorrow and Derek Connolly were working on their movie, I received a lot of key moments that were going to take place in the film, if the duo were left to their own devices. The details are somewhat murky but they’re solid. Meaning I was not given in-depth explanations of what his entire story held at that time, but I do know some of the bigger details. (Edit: These details pertain to the Jack Thorne script which was intended to be directed by Trevorrow)

The video:

Leia’s servant was Rey’s mother

In the unmade Trevorrow/Connolly Star Wars: Episode IX story, Rey had a rather interesting backstory. No, she wasn’t a Solo or a Skywalker. Rey was going to be the daughter of a woman who was a cook, housemaid, and once nanny to Ben Solo. Rey and Ben were to have grown up together and she was like his little sister, living in the Solo household together.

It is not clear if Rey’s mom was let go because she was a drunkard, but I do know that Colin Trevorrow was continuing with the idea that Rey’s parents were nobodies. It was implied at one time that the father and mother of Rey fought at the Battle of Jakku before taking up domestic duties in the Solo family home. So for whatever reason, they returned to that world.

The confrontation at the Solo family home

The end of Colin Trevorrow’s Star Wars: Episode IX was going to take place in a rather interesting place. The end duel was not in some classic location or some badass new world. Colin Trevorrow’s Star Wars: Episode IX had the duel take place inside the Solo family home. Ben was redeemed amongst family memories and he saved Rey from her injuries in their fight in that moment.

Differences and similarities to The Rise of Skywalker

There was also going to be a rather strange subplot where First Order villains are erasing people’s memories and reprogramming them. It sounded like there was going to be some Manchurian Candidate type stuff going on in the background of the story.

I believe that Lando was in this unmade version of Episode IX, but Emperor Palpatine did not make a return. Leia died in the story because Carrie Fisher passed. However, Leia did get a lightsaber in this iteration of the story as well. The movie was also going to have Red Stormtroopers, but they were not Sith Stormtroopers. The film apparently consisted of Kylo chasing Rey around the galaxy, he wanted her to be evil and she wanted him to be good. There were no romantic ties between the characters, and Rey was Ben’s sister in essence. There was a snow planet with a frozen Millennium Falcon but it was in no way Kijimi from the concept art I was shown.

There’s still so many mysteries left

If that stuff sounds rad to you, I’m sorry to tell you that’s not going to be in The Rise of Skywalker. If those bold details sound bad to you, then be happy that Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is a completely different film with superficial commonalities at best.

Hopefully with Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker hitting heavy press season soon, some details emerge that explain more of the choices Trevorrow/Connolly made in their version. Are there any more links to J.J. Abrams’ version of the final installment of the Skywalker saga? We can hope. I would love to get more of a glimpse into the Star Wars film that was never to be.