The end of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker left audiences debating one brief but loaded moment: Rey, who had been revealed as a descendant of Emperor Palpatine, visits Tatooine, buries Luke and Leia’s lightsabers, and introduces herself as Rey Skywalker. That choice was short on screen but heavy with meaning offscreen, where readers and viewers have argued whether it undercut the trilogy’s earlier themes or honored a mentor’s legacy. Recent material published in an updated companion book offers a clearer, in-universe rationale for why Rey adopted the Skywalker name, reframing the on-screen action as a deliberate decision rooted in duty and remembrance.
The explanation appears in Star Wars: The Secrets of the Jedi: The Chronicles of Luke Skywalker, a tie-in volume written by Marc Sumerak that includes passages presented as Rey’s reflections. In that passage Rey explains that she took the name to carry on a struggle against the return of Palpatine and to honor the sacrifices made by her teacher, Luke Skywalker. The passage leans into the idea that the Skywalker name functions less as a genetic marker and more as an emblem of a philosophy — a reminder of what the Jedi represent rather than who they are related to by blood.
The official rationale
In the book’s voice, Rey recounts her reasons: she felt compelled to finish the work begun by Luke, to prevent Palpatine from rising again, and to mark her role as Luke’s student by adopting his name. This explanation positions Rey Skywalker as a tribute—an intentional act of continuity rather than a literal inheritance. The tie-in material emphasizes that Luke’s life and sacrifice are the motivating forces behind her choice. By presenting the decision as an act of mentorship and gratitude, the book reframes the name as a badge of responsibility tied to Luke’s ideals and the broader mission of rebuilding the Jedi.
Why the scene proved controversial
The reaction among fans was intense because the reveal and the final self-identification seemed at odds with themes that earlier films, particularly The Last Jedi, had foregrounded. In that film, the notion that someone could be a hero without a famous surname—the celebrated “nobody” idea—resonated with many viewers. When Rey was later framed as a Palpatine descendant and then declared herself a Skywalker, critics felt the trilogy both complicated and in some eyes reversed that message. At the same time, Daisy Ridley, who portrayed Rey, endured online critiques that predated the surname scene, including unfairly labeled “Mary Sue” attacks aimed at her character’s rapid competence. The new companion text attempts to respond to those debates by recentering intent: this is an adopted legacy, not a theft of identity.
Legacy versus lineage
The distinction between lineage and legacy is central to understanding the rebuttal offered by Lucasfilm materials. Pablo Hidalgo and other creative figures had previously suggested that being a Skywalker could be metaphorical—an inherited set of values rather than a genetic tie. The updated in-universe reflection reinforces that point: Rey’s choice is a conscious acceptance of Luke’s teachings and a public pledge to uphold them. Framing the name as an ideological inheritance allows the story to claim that anyone who lives by the Jedi virtues can be a Skywalker in spirit, which addresses concerns that only those born into a bloodline can carry forward the saga’s moral center.
What this means for future storytelling
Beyond fan disputes, the reframed explanation opens narrative doors. If Rey is meant to embody the continuity of the Jedi order, then forthcoming projects that involve her rebuilding or teaching can lean on her Skywalker identity as mentorship rather than ancestry. This interpretation also integrates supplemental media—comics and novels that expanded the climactic “all the Jedi” moment—by depicting the moment as a collective passing of wisdom from prior guardians of the Force. In short, the name functions as a storytelling tool that signals a responsibility to uphold a tradition while allowing future writers to explore how that tradition is renewed rather than resurrected.
Whether one accepts the updated reading or prefers the ambiguity of the theatrical cut, the supplemental text from Lucasfilm offers an explicit in-universe motive: Rey adopted the Skywalker name out of gratitude, duty, and a desire to ensure Luke’s dream of a living, compassionate Jedi order endures. For many viewers, that explanation will not erase every objection, but it anchors the brief final scene in a clear, character-driven choice that emphasizes continuity of purpose over questions of bloodline legitimacy.