It’s just been revealed that the very first planet that Kylo Ren goes to in Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker is one from the Prequel Trilogy.
Specifically, the lava-filled planet that Kylo Ren is seen on before finding the Wayfinder that will lead him to what’s left of Emperor Palpatine is none other than Mustafar, the lava planet first seen in Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith. Entertainment Weekly has relayed this information from the recently-released source book, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker – The Visual Dictionary. The scene itself takes place on Darth Vader’s castle grounds, although the castle itself is not seen. Mustafar was last seen in the films with the Star Wars spin-off Rogue One.
More importantly, Mustafar is where Darth Vader lost his remaining limbs to Obi-Wan Kenobi in their fateful duel, before he caught on fire. The resulting injuries nearly killed him and necessitated that he wear a life-supporting suit at all times. Darth Vader later built a castle there as a way of reflecting on his own failures and to meditate. It’s only fitting, then that Kylo Ren’s journey in the film starts on this location, as the villain has idolized his grandfather and would have plenty of reason to want to head to his castle, regardless of the current threat.
So why are there trees now on Mustafar? The Visual Dictionary states that, in the decades after the Galactic Civil War, the planet started to “heal” in a sense, meaning that the rivers of lava began to cool for reasons that the local populace believe to be spiritual in nature, and vegetation started growing on the surface of the planet. The death of Darth Vader is suggested to be a reason for this, although it’s also attracted a number of cultists to the planet – the very same people we see Kylo Ren cutting down on his way to the Wayfinder in the opening scene.
Directed by J. J. Abrams, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker stars Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Domhnall Gleeson, Kelly Marie Tran, Joonas Suotamo, Billie Lourd, Naomi Ackie, Richard E. Grant, Keri Russell, Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, Ian McDiarmid, and Billy Dee Williams. Carrie Fisher also appears as General Leia Organa through the use of previously unreleased footage shot for previous Star Wars films.
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is now playing in theaters.
Source: Entertainment Weekly
