Fans of the Star Wars sequel trilogy are about to be pulled back into the galaxy far, far away with a fresh sequel to Rian Johnson’s The Last Jedi, and the enigmatic Kylo Ren—otherwise known as Ben Solo—will take center stage.
This December marks five years since Disney wrapped up its polarizing sequel trilogy with Star Wars: Episode IX–The Rise of Skywalker (2019). Directed by J.J. Abrams, who also helmed Star Wars: Episode VII–The Force Awakens (2015), the final installment didn’t quite deliver the epic conclusion many had hoped for. The challenge of wrapping up the saga was immense, and the inconsistent direction throughout the trilogy led to some of the loudest fan outcry in the franchise’s history.
While The Force Awakens was generally well-received (despite being criticized for its similarities to George Lucas’s original Star Wars from 1977), it was Star Wars: Episode VIII–The Last Jedi (2017) that sparked the most intense division. From the exploration of the Force’s mysticism to the shocking demise of Supreme Leader Snoke (Andy Serkis) and the polarizing side adventure to Canto Bight, the film was dissected and debated by the Star Wars fanbase for years.
Since then, Lucasfilm has shifted much of its focus to television, with The Mandalorian—led by Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni—ushering in a new era of live-action Star Wars storytelling on Disney+. However, even the small screen hasn’t been immune to criticism, as recent projects like Ahsoka and The Acolyte have met with mixed reactions.
In fact, The Acolyte was eventually canceled after significant online backlash, with Disney citing low viewership as the cause for its untimely end. As Lucasfilm continues exploring the New Republic era with projects like Skeleton Crew and a second season of Ahsoka, fans are being invited to revisit the sequel trilogy era through a new chapter in Kylo Ren’s saga.
In the sequel trilogy, Kylo Ren, portrayed by Adam Driver, was introduced as the dark Supreme Leader of the First Order, working alongside General Hux (Domhnall Gleeson) to crush the Resistance. Throughout the trilogy, Kylo’s inner conflict between the dark side and his former identity as Ben Solo culminated in his redemption, where he aided Rey (Daisy Ridley) in her battle against Emperor Palpatine. Kylo Ren’s path was complicated, and now Star Wars is looking to further explore his story through a new comic series, “Star Wars: The Legacy of Vader.”
Written by Star Wars author Charles Soule, with artwork by Luke Ross, the comic delves deeper into Kylo Ren’s obsession with his grandfather, Darth Vader, and promises to shed new light on the character’s motivations. According to StarWars.com, “Written by Charles Soule, who previously penned “The Rise of Kylo Ren” and “Darth Vader – Dark Lord of the Sith,” the series begins with Kylo’s descent into Vader’s castle on Mustafar, followed by a journey to the sands of Tatooine.”
Set between The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker, “The Legacy of Vader” will continue the Star Wars tradition of expanding the story through tie-in media. As Soule explained in an interview:
“When fans talk to me about my Star Wars work, two of my Marvel comic runs come up more than almost anything else: my 2017 run on Darth Vader with Giuseppe Camuncoli and my 2019 series *The Rise of Kylo Ren* with Will Sliney. This new series is not just a combination of those two books, but also a chance to explore an extremely rich section of the timeline that’s almost entirely open: Kylo Ren’s time as Supreme Leader of the First Order.”
The new comic series picks up after Kylo Ren’s patricide of Han Solo, his complex relationship with Rey, and the fall of Supreme Leader Snoke. Soule explains that this part of Kylo Ren’s story is marked by deep instability: “He’s deeply unstable, angry, frustrated… dangerous. He’s looking for any form of guidance he can get—even if he won’t admit it—and so he turns to the legacy of his grandfather, Darth Vader.”
The last time fans saw Kylo Ren on screen, he perished on Exegol after a climactic battle alongside Rey against Palpatine and the Knights of Ren. His final moments, where he acknowledges his connection to Rey, divided audiences, much like the entire sequel trilogy. However, this new comic series looks set to provide more depth to the character, potentially altering how fans interpret Kylo Ren’s actions in The Rise of Skywalker.
While Kylo Ren’s story will continue in the comic books, Rey Skywalker will be making her return to the big screen in a new Star Wars movie directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy. The film, reportedly centered on the New Jedi Order, was announced by Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy at last year’s Star Wars Celebration, alongside two other projects helmed by James Mangold and Dave Filoni.
Although details remain scarce, Daisy Ridley has confirmed that Rey’s mission will be to rebuild the Jedi Order, following in the footsteps of Luke Skywalker, though her approach will differ from that of her former mentor.
“Star Wars: The Legacy of Vader #1” hits shelves on February 5, 2025.
Are you excited for the return of Kylo Ren?