6 ‘Star Wars’ Sequel Theories That Were Better Than ‘The Force Awakens’

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It’s been a decade since The Force Awakens came out, but the current era of Star Wars at Disney actually started a year earlier with Star Wars Rebels. That’s when Disney established a new official timeline for Star Wars, including new comics and books, and released the first teaser trailer for The Force Awakens. The period surrounding the sequel trilogy was especially known for wild fan speculation. Fans came up with all sorts of theories, from Rey being the child of almost any character in the Star Wars universe to Luke Skywalker becoming a villain.

The Last Jedi received a lot of criticism because it surprised fans by going in an unexpected direction, even though that direction was hinted at in The Force Awakens. The sequel trilogy ended with The Rise of Skywalker, which many found disappointing. Looking back, it’s easy to imagine how things could have gone differently. While not all fan theories were well-thought-out, that didn’t stop some surprising reveals, like Rey’s connection to Palpatine. Here are some of the best fan theories for the Star Wars sequel trilogy that many believe would have resulted in a stronger story.

Snoke Was Actually a Giant


Walt Disney Pictures

Supreme Leader Snoke, the leader of the First Order in the sequel trilogy, generated a huge amount of speculation. Fans guessed he could be almost anyone from the Star Wars universe, like Mace Windu or even Boba Fett, and some thought he might be connected to Darth Plagueis. While the actual explanation – that he was a clone created by Palpatine – was disappointing, it’s debatable whether revealing him as a familiar character would have been much better. Still, it would have been really interesting if Snoke had turned out to be a giant!

In The Force Awakens, we only see Snoke as a hologram – a massive projection designed to intimidate Kylo Ren and Admiral Hux. His appearance was intentionally reminiscent of a colossal statue like Zeus in Hercules, meant to emphasize his power. Some fans hoped this wasn’t just a visual trick, but that Snoke was genuinely enormous. Given that the legendary Jedi Master Yoda was so small, a giant villain would have created an interesting contrast. Furthermore, the Star Wars universe has never featured giants, and many felt it was time to introduce one.

Kylo Ren Built BB-8


Walt Disney Pictures

Back in 2016, video essayist Jenny Nicholson jokingly suggested that Kylo Ren (Ben Solo) actually built BB-8. In a humorous video called “BB-Gate,” she pointed out some interesting connections. Since Ben Solo admired his grandfather, Darth Vader (Anakin Skywalker), he might have recreated Anakin’s experience of building a droid, like C3PO. A key piece of evidence is Poe Dameron saying BB-8 is “one of a kind,” implying only one BB unit of that specific model was ever made—and Nicholson theorizes Ben Solo was the one who built it.

Interestingly, Kylo Ren and BB-8 never appear in a scene together throughout the sequel trilogy. This missed an opportunity to mirror the dynamic between Anakin and R2-D2 – a connection that also wasn’t directly shown with Vader and R2-D2 in the original trilogy. While it might have felt too similar to past films and made the Star Wars universe seem smaller, a scene between Kylo and BB-8 could have deepened both characters and shed more light on Ben Solo’s life before he became Kylo Ren.

Finn and Poe Romance


Walt Disney Pictures

When The Force Awakens was released, a lot of viewers hoped Poe Dameron and Finn would become a couple. The film portrays a developing friendship between them, and it’s easy to see why fans imagined something more. Oscar Isaac has great on-screen chemistry with everyone he works with, and a romance between the two men would have been a fresh take on the usual Star Wars love story. With a new set of leads – one woman and two men – it would have been a compelling twist to have the romance blossom between the men, offering a new generation a Star Wars story with openly queer representation.

Unfortunately, a gay romance between Finn and Poe never made it into the film, as Oscar Isaac explained Disney became hesitant about the idea. In The Rise of Skywalker, both characters are given heterosexual love interests – Finn with Zori Bliss and Poe with Jannah – seemingly to emphasize their straight identities. Unlike the original and prequel trilogies, which centered around romantic relationships, the sequel trilogy focuses on platonic friendships. While there’s nothing inherently wrong with that approach, and it seemed promising initially, many fans found it disappointing.

The Knights of Ren Don’t Exist (Yet)


Walt Disney Pictures

The Knights of Ren, a group of warriors serving Kylo Ren, feel like a missed opportunity in the sequel trilogy. Though hinted at in The Force Awakens, they’re completely missing from The Last Jedi. While they appear a bit more in The Rise of Skywalker as Kylo’s enforcers, their role feels underdeveloped. Their absence in The Last Jedi frustrated many fans, and one Reddit user, AviviaStorm, proposed a fascinating idea: perhaps the Knights of Ren weren’t actually a real, established group at all.

The Knights of Ren were first seen in The Force Awakens during a vision Rey experienced, which many initially believed showed them attacking Luke Skywalker’s Jedi temple. However, a popular theory proposes that Rey actually saw a glimpse of the future. This vision may have inspired Kylo Ren after he touched Darth Vader’s helmet, leading him to adopt his persona and create his own dark order. The Force has shown visions of the future before, as seen with Anakin Skywalker’s premonition of Padme’s death. If the sequel trilogy had clarified that Rey’s vision was of the future, the Knights of Ren could have logically formed in The Rise of Skywalker as Kylo Ren rose to power, mirroring the Knights of the Round Table but with a dark twist. Unfortunately, this wasn’t the direction the story took. Later Star Wars comics revealed that the Knights of Ren have existed for centuries.

Skywalker Becomes a Title


Disney

The ending of The Rise of Skywalker, where Rey takes the name Skywalker, has sparked a lot of discussion. It ties into the larger idea throughout the sequel trilogy about defining who you are. But an intriguing thought arose when the movie’s title was revealed: could “Skywalker” be less of a family name and more of a role or destiny for the Jedi, representing what they ultimately become?

The film felt like a continuation of the idea introduced in The Last Jedi: that the time of the Jedi was over, not in terms of disappearing completely, but in evolving into something different – much like the Empire became the First Order, or the Rebellion transformed into the Resistance. Given the legendary status of the Skywalker name, it felt natural for members of a new organization, like Rey, to adopt it. This would have given The Rise of Skywalker a more meaningful and satisfying context than the actual storyline provided.

Finn Leads a Stormtropper Rebellion


Disney

From the moment John Boyega was revealed as a Stormtrooper in the first trailer for The Force Awakens, fans speculated that his character would spark a rebellion among his fellow troopers. The finished film reinforced this idea, showing Finn escaping the First Order and revealing a heartbreaking truth: these Stormtroopers were all kidnapped as children and brainwashed to serve, meaning they never had a real choice. This added a layer of tragedy to his actions. It would have made sense for Finn to become a symbol of hope for other Stormtroopers, inspiring them to revolt and ultimately weakening the First Order’s forces.

This concept first appeared in early plans for Duel of the Fates, the initial story for Episode IX. Unfortunately, it was cut when The Rise of Skywalker was made, and Finn’s role was significantly reduced. The final film hints at Finn inspiring Stormtroopers to defect, as seen with Jennah’s group of former First Order soldiers. However, it feels like a lost chance to give Finn a powerful, revolutionary moment – like a ‘Spartacus’ scene where he leads Stormtroopers to rebel against the First Order, essentially a reverse of the infamous Order 66. This would have allowed Finn to become a legendary hero without relying on Jedi powers.

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2025-12-19 02:05