A Star Wars theory suggests that Rey Skywalker’s Jedi in Star Wars: New Jedi Order could make a radical lightsaber change, and George Lucas would support it. While not much is known about the story of Rey’s Star Wars return, one thing that has been revealed is that it will explore whether the galaxy wants or needs the Jedi. This is an interesting premise that is unique for Star Wars.
After decades of war, oppression, and corrupt governments and the failure of the Jedi to stop it, the people of a galaxy far, far away are in crisis. The Jedi were supposed to be peacekeepers and paragons of justice. Yet, during the Clone Wars, they became warriors and pawns of the Republic. When the First Order was rising, Luke Skywalker abandoned the people. As such, Rey’s Jedi Order will likely need to make some big changes to adapt to the needs of the galaxy and prove that she has returned to the original mission of the Jedi.
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Rey’s New Jedi Order Could Face A Lightsaber Ban
While this may seem ludicrous, it’s not as out there as it appears at first glance. Both Jedha and Ilum have been destroyed. The Empire and the First Order took most of the remaining kyber crystals to build their superweapons, thus kyber crystals are now rare. This makes building lightsabers much harder. The new Jedi Order may have to branch out and use other weapons to compensate.
Lightsabers are the most identifying item that Jedi possess. Every single person within Republic/Empire space can identify a Jedi by their lightsaber. It is a symbol of the old Order and its traditions. It was the weapon of choice used by the Jedi during the Clone Wars – a time that caused a lot of people to lose faith in the Jedi. As such, it now has a more negative connotation.
It would also serve a narrative purpose. Banning lightsabers would be a rejection of the traditional Jedi symbol of authority and power. It would signify a galaxy wanting to move on from light versus dark cycles. It would fit with the movie’s theme of questioning the necessity of the Jedi and examining their legacy in a more critical light.
The Lightsaber Ban Would Mirror Lucas’ Own Inspiration
George Lucas was inspired by katanas when creating lightsabers, which is why katanas and lightsabers have some striking similarities. The Darksaber in particular looks very similar to a katana. According to Katana Sword, katanas were first created during the Japanese Heian period and were mostly used by Samurai. Much like lightsabers, they quickly became a symbol of status. However, in 1876, the Meiji government put forward the Sword Abolishment Edict, a law that intended to bring Japan in line with the Western world. This law banned the carrying of all swords in public spaces.
However, katana production persisted in Japan, and they became popular collectors items. In the 1950s, the Japanese government once again tightened the laws around possessing swords. Katanas are now illegal in Japan, with the only exceptions being for military use and, in special cases, being used as art objects and important cultural items. In the latter case, katanas can be owned and put on display but never used. Importing and exporting katanas is also illegal without special documentation and permission.
George Lucas has been open about the fact that he is interested in social science. He often pulled from the real world for inspiration when creating Star Wars. Given Lucas’ love of political commentary and how much he was inspired by katanas when designing lightsabers, Lucas would likely support the idea of at least a temporary lightsaber ban in the Star Wars universe. Not only could it be used to comment on the real-life katana ban and explore its implications, but it would be a nice nod to the origins of the lightsaber.
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What Would The Jedi Be Without Their Lightsabers?
In a sense, this question has rumbled beneath the surface for years. The original mission of the Jedi was peacekeeping, yet their symbol is an incredibly powerful weapon with a blade hotter than the surface of the sun. Lightsabers are some of the most powerful hand-held weapons in the Star Wars universe. They are, by nature, not peaceful – and still, the Jedi insisted they were peacekeepers, even though their symbol has always been a weapon.
Despite it being demonstrably untrue, they even claimed to still be humble keepers of the peace during the Clone Wars. This was shown in Star Wars: The Clone Wars when Obi-Wan Kenobi fought with Duchess Satine Kryze about the ethics of the Jedi getting involved in the war and if they could still call themselves peacekeepers. Obi-Wan argued that they were because sometimes the best defense is a swift and decisive offense, which Satine rejected. While it can be argued that Satine went too far in her pacifism, she had a point. The Jedi had become warriors in people’s eyes.
This tension between what the Jedi perceive themselves as and say they are and how people see them is likely part of what will be causing the galaxy to question their necessity in Star Wars: New Jedi Order. If Rey and her Jedi Order follow the same patterns, the people will reject them. A lightsaber ban could be the first major step in the galaxy deciding they want to move on from the Jedi, or at least explore a galaxy without them.
It will be interesting to see what happens to Rey’s Jedi in New Jedi Order. While Star Wars: The Clone Wars showed individuals questioning the morality and necessity of the Jedi, it has never been done on this scale before. Time will tell if Rey’s New Jedi Order movie will show the Jedi adapting to the pressures of a galaxy in turmoil or if they will fail like their predecessors.
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Star Wars: New Jedi Order
- Director
- Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy
- Studio(s)
- Lucasfilm
- Distributor(s)
- Disney
- Writers
- Steven Knight
- Cast
- Daisy Ridley
- Franchise(s)
- Star Wars
