Star Wars theory predicts Episode 9 title The Rise of Skywalker is about Anakin rather than Luke

Could this character be about to make a grand return to the franchise?

With just four months to go until a new Star Wars film, fans have begun theorising about what JJ Abrams' closing chapter might have in store.

The latest to do the rounds places the spotlight on the film’s title. The Rise of Skywalker was announced as Episode IX‘s official name back in April, with the director saying: “The title feels like it’s the right title for this movie and I know that it’s provocative and asks a bunch of questions, but I think when you see the movie, you’ll see how it’s intended and what it means.”

This didn’t stop fans from immediately assuming the Skywalker referred to in the name to be Luke (Mark Hamill). But, a new theory wonders whether the title could be hinting at the return of Anakin Skywalker.

A Reddit user predicts that the deceased Anakin, who went on to become Darth Vader, will return to “fulfil the Chosen One’s prophecy and actually bring balance to the force”. Many people have claimed that Luke, who dies and becomes one with the Force in The Last Jedi, will return in Episode IX as a “Force spirit”, much like a reformed Anakin did at the end of Return of the Jedi.

New book The Secrets of the Jedi, released in November, confirms that Anakin – alongside Yoda and Obi-Wan Kenobi – returned a few times, and even trained others to become “Force spirits” after death. An excerpt reads: “Their spirits guided me for many years but vanished when I shut myself off from the Force. It’s a relief to feel their presence after all this time.”

What’s to stop Anakin from returning again now that Luke has become one of these Force spirits?

Let’s not forget, Hayden Christensen – who played Anakin in the prequel trilogy – attended this year’s Star Wars Celebration. Has the reveal been hiding in plain sight the whole time?

Inverse also points out that when Kevin Smith visited the set, he claims that one Star Wars actor was delivering “a career best” performance. Sure, this could mean Daisy Ridley or John Boyega, but Christensen received quite a bit of criticism for his previous performances – and his quote made it seem as if it was somebody more unexpected.

“[It’s] somebody I’ve seen in these movies before,” he said, adding: “I rolled a tear, it was so darn powerful.”

Abrams prevented Smith from looking at the film’s “mind-meltingly huge” final shot during the visit, claiming he’s “going to want to see [it] with an audience in the cinema”.

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One character who’s definitely returning in Episode IX is Emperor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid), with one theory questioning if he ever really left the franchise at all.

Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker is released 16 December.