More than six years after the theatrical release of "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker," Marvel Comics has completed its adaptation of the final Skywalker Saga film. While "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Adaptation" arrives late (the series was first announced in 2020 and later canceled during the COVID-19 pandemic), it strives to offer something new. This adaptation incorporates scenes and dialogue absent from the original film, including a crucial alteration fans have long requested.
Continue reading to discover the pivotal moment reimagined in the final issue and why this change introduces some intriguing questions.
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The Biggest Change in The Rise of Skywalker Adaptation
Similar to the earlier novelization, Marvel's adaptation aims to expand the film's story, not merely replicate it. Issue #5 alone introduces several significant additions. Readers witness the message Lando transmits galaxy-wide to rally a fleet against the Sith Eternal armada. It also depicts Rey and Ben Solo communicating psychically through their strengthening Force dyad bond.
The most substantial change, however, occurs during the critical confrontation between a weary yet defiant Rey and her restored grandfather, Palpatine, in the Sith temple on Exegol. In the film, Rey draws strength from hearing the voices of past Jedi—from Skywalkers like Anakin and Luke to legends such as Obi-Wan Kenobi, Luminara Unduli, Mace Windu, Ahsoka Tano, and Kanan Jarrus.
While that scene honors the Jedi legacy, many fans criticized the disembodied voice cameos. The film shows Rey with space for an array of Force Ghosts behind her, yet none visibly appear. The comic directly addresses this disappointment. Here, Rey is physically joined by the manifested Force Ghosts on Exegol:
This creates a more cinematic moment. It's unfortunate the film didn't take this approach, though coordinating all the actors for a brief group shot would have been logistically challenging.
This isn't the only instance where Issue #5 inserts Force Ghosts. During the post-battle celebration on Ajan Kloss, Luke and Leia materialize to watch their friends with pride and share a moment of sibling banter.
Director J.J. Abrams faced limitations with Leia's role following Carrie Fisher's passing in 2016. Both the novelization and the comic, free from those constraints, add new scenes to expand Leia's part in the Sequel Trilogy's finale.
The Mystery of Ahsoka Tano
While the Force Ghost scene is a welcome addition, it raises perplexing questions. Primarily, how can so many Jedi from the Prequel era manifest? The franchise established that appearing as a Force Ghost requires specific training, passed from Qui-Gon Jinn to Yoda and Obi-Wan. Why can Jedi like Mace Windu, Luminara Unduli, Aayla Secura, and Ki-Adi-Mundi now appear? Is the Force making an exception for this special occasion?
The depiction of ages also causes confusion. Why do Anakin and Obi-Wan appear in their Clone Wars-era prime, while Luke looks aged and weary from his time on Ahch-To? When has Obi-Wan's Force Ghost ever taken Ewan McGregor's form instead of Alec Guinness's?
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The most pressing question involves Ahsoka Tano, whose fate during the Sequel Trilogy era remains ambiguous. Ashley Eckstein recorded a voice line for the film (before Rosario Dawson's live-action casting), but it was unclear if this meant Ahsoka was deceased. Dave Filoni has previously cast doubt on that notion.
Does her inclusion on this page confirm her death? Or is she Force-projecting, similar to Luke in "The Last Jedi"? Lucasfilm may not resolve this soon. Ahsoka's story post-"Return of the Jedi" is still unfolding. Dawson will return in the upcoming second season of "Star Wars: Ahsoka" and is expected to feature in Filoni's live-action Star Wars movie.
What are your thoughts on the changes in "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Adaptation"? Do they enhance the story? Share your opinions in the comments. Also, be sure to catch up on every Star Wars movie and series currently in development.
