Can Disney Transform Rey Skywalker Palpatine from Biggest Liability into a Cinematic Asset?

Disney has been living on its own planet far, far away when it comes to its sequel trilogy of Star Wars movies and the franchise in general. Once a multi-billion dollar money printer, the Star Wars franchise has devolved into a trickling stream of pennies and nickels. A turn of fortune that started with Rey as the main character of the sequel movies. But unlike what mainstream media and feminists screeched, the movies’ ever-dwindling box office had nothing to do with her being a woman. It had everything to do with how poorly written Rey was. Despite this fact, can Disney transform Rey Skywalker Palpatine from being its biggest liability into a “valuable cinematic asset” that can revive the Star Wars movies?

Well, to answer that question Disney needs to stop throwing those Corellian spice binge parties in which, according to an unnamed source speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, says the company believes that,

“She(Rey) is the most valuable cinematic asset, in some ways maybe the only one, Star Wars has right now.”

It’s hard to believe this line of propaganda when Rey appears to mostly be hated by the fandom. Especially after Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker when Rey Palpatine decided to appropriate the Skywalker name for herself and declare that she was Rey Skywalker. A move that probably disincentivized people from watching the movie multiple times in theaters since the final installment of the Star Wars sequel trilogy saw an almost 50% drop in global box office receipts at $1.074 billion compared to The Force Awakens which accrued $2.068 billion.

A downward spiral that was further exacerbated as any valid, legitimate criticisms made by fans about Rey were immediately denounced as being sexist and misogynistic. Even going so far with actress Daisy Ridley stating that calling Rey a Mary Sue was “sexist.” However, earlier this year, Ridley walked back that comment saying that sexism from the fandom was “blown out of proportion.” A change of attitude that one could find convenient as Disney appears determined to keep pushing Rey as their vehicle for additional Star Wars movies.

Without getting into the minutiae of what a Mary Sue is or how Hollywood has demonized the fanbases of established franchises, is it possible that Rey Palpatine could become a driving factor for Star Wars? 

Maybe.

But there are hurdles which include calling her Rey Skywalker. Simply calling Rey a Skywalker is enough to reignite the ire and bitterness of fans. Fans who watched as the sequel trilogy ruined everything they loved about George Lucas’s movies for a character that didn’t work for anything they got – which includes her appropriating the Skywalker name. 

That is Disney’s first hurdle to rehabilitating Rey as a character. However, should Disney consider this, then it automatically brings up the issue that the main movies are about the Skywalker saga. Disney killed off the Skywalkers in the sequel trilogy when they killed off Luke who didn’t have any kids to pass on the name. And the ham-fisted way they had Rey take the name didn’t help the character’s outlook with fans.

So if she goes back to being referred to as Rey Palpatine, what can be done about the Skywalker name? It would be easy to simply do what Disney did with the Expanded Universe when they declared all those books non-canonical (even though the company lifted stories and characters from those books). A similar thing could be done for the Star Wars sequel trilogy though with ramifications.

Stating that Star Wars 7-9 is non-canonical would alienate the fanbase, of which there is some, who enjoyed those movies. It would be easy to simply write off the smaller fanbase in favor of the larger, more established fandom. Doing so would mean that, if Rey is included in a new trilogy, time would have to be spent explaining her presence in those movies and it is highly doubtful that the fandom would want to sit down and watch that.

Now the question to ask is, could there be a way to keep the sequels as canon, or relevant, while re-establishing the Skywalker saga?

As Disney appears to be ramping up its propaganda machine talking about how Rey will be appearing in multiple movies, the House of Mouse needs to realize that the character hasn’t earned that right. That Rey isn’t a beloved character for most of the fandom or even the general audience. That including her in any spinoff Star Wars films will not draw in the audience, but might repel them. 

If Disney wants to try and capitalize on Rey Skywalker Palpatine, it must find a way to make her likable to the fandom and a draw for the general audience. The Sequel Trilogy about her didn’t work, calling her Rey Skywalker is not working, and the idea that she will, allegedly, now take on an Obi-Wan Kenobi-like role for a new Star Wars trilogy is not going to help either.

Rey Skywalker Palpatine has an image problem and Disney needs to fix it. Right now, Disney is throwing Rey’s name around and, like with a handful of spaghetti thrown against the wall, is hoping that something sticks to the fandom and regular moviegoers. However, a new trilogy centered on new characters with Rey being a mentor figure doesn’t sound like it will work. 

So is Rey Skywalker Palpatine Disney’s most “valuable cinematic asset?” 

No, she is not. 

There is no substantial demand or enthusiasm for this character. The toy line for the sequel trilogy didn’t exactly take off and it wouldn’t be surprising if merchandise didn’t bring in the numbers Disney was expecting. Even the Star Wars sequel trilogy couldn’t cover the cost of what Disney paid to George Lucas for his company and intellectual property. In fact, Disney reported a $4 billion loss due to the combined failure of Star Wars, Marvel, and Disney+. 

The Rey character does not have the pull to help spearhead a movie and Disney seems to know this if the rumor that she will be more of a “mentor” figure in the next trilogy is true. But their approach is wrong because, once again, Rey hasn’t earned the role of being a mentor. Just like she didn’t earn the wins and successes through the sequel trilogy. 

So can Disney turn Rey Skywalker Palpatine into a “valuable cinematic asset?”

Maybe.

It all depends on the idea that is pitched and the writing talent to make that idea work. Two things that are sorely lacking in the talent pool over at Disney judging by the performance of Disney Star Wars movies and television. But it is possible to make Rey a likable and bankable character for Disney.

What would you do to make that happen?

And be sure to answer our poll on X!

Do you agree that Rey Palpatine (Skywalker) is Disney’s “most valuable cinematic asset” in Star Wars?#StarWars #ReySkywalker #DisneyStarWars

— Sean D Knight (@SeanDKnight) November 13, 2024

Author’s Note: Support this site by donating via Paypal or even checking out our merchandise on RedBubble where you can find designs that cater to writers and readers. Money donated and
raised goes into paying for this website and equipment.

Interested in posting this article, or another article, on your website? Check out our prices to make that happen – https://tinyurl.com/mrxa56pp