r/StarWarsTheories

[EDIT: When I mention Ren, I specifically mean the one that Kylo Ren will go on to kill, the one that is seen in the comics.]

Alright, I'm gonna call this now while I can. This thought at first came to me as just a "haha what if" but the more I think about it there's not really anything I can think of that contradicts it. The first time chronologically we see Ren is after the current last time we see Cal. Some fans are already speculating Cal could turn to the Dark Side and it's not like he's going to join the Empire after they murdered so many people close to him. And just look at the facial structure, they are very similar and have the same eye color. Cal would be old enough to have gray hair by the time we see Ren's face.

This wouldn't ruin Cal as a character either, since directly linking him to the ST like that makes a much bigger impact than him dying or going into hiding (let's be honest, a lot of modern Star Wars stuff is really just trying to eventually make you like the ST). I think it would also give you a reason to care about the Ren character. I think this elevates both the Cal side and Ren side if this is true. It wouldn't at all make Cal look like a joke as Ren losing to Luke and later Ben is fine, one is literally Luke Skywalker and the other is someone also with Skywalker blood killing a 60-year-old man (Cal being born around 32 BBY and dying in 28 ABY)

They also have similar things they do. Both of them will sneak into places to commit heists. Cal encountering Vader gives Ren a way of knowing about Vader (since he does), and it would explain why Ren is the only member of the Knights of Ren to own a lightsaber.

It's said in the comics that Ren got the title from killing the actual original (or maybe not even the original) Ren, so I don't see it impossible for that Ren to be a boss in the third Jedi game.

Lastly, this might be a reach but the game where Cal debuted and the comic where Ren debuted only released 33 days apart. This means either I am completely wrong (no way they'd make it a retcon as they would surely have narrative plans for Cal) or it was planned from the start (doesn't even need to be a hyper-specific plan, both teams could have just been given a few details to work with and that's why they keep Ren's origins vague).

I only saw one other person make this speculation when I googled it and it was also on Reddit so hopefully it's taken well

Here’s my theory for how Disney could create a new Star Wars sequel saga WITHOUT hard-retconning Episodes 7/8/9 and actually make the Kathleen Kennedy trilogy MORE important instead of less important.
Ahsoka Season 2 sets up the deeper Mortis/World Between Worlds mythology, but the actual branch happens in a new theatrical Episode VII so casual audiences don’t need to watch every Disney+ show to understand it.
At the beginning of the new Episode VII, Ben Solo’s Force ghost from Episode 9 awakens within the World Between Worlds after sacrificing himself for Rey. Because of the dyad, Ben didn’t fully become one with the Force normally. The dyad was actually a once-in-history convergence capable of altering destiny itself, which is why Palpatine feared it so much. Through the WBW and guidance from Anakin, Ben realizes Palpatine’s survival through Exegol, Snoke, and cloning corrupted the future itself and poisoned the Skywalker bloodline across generations.
The sequel trilogy still completely happened. Han still dies. Luke still dies. Leia still dies. Rey still mattered. Ben’s redemption still mattered. In fact, watching 7/8/9 becomes MORE important because those movies become the tragic future Ben sacrifices himself to prevent. Instead of deleting the sequels, they become the emotional foundation for the new saga.
Ben then makes the ultimate sacrifice. He enters the World Between Worlds one final time and goes back during the Thrawn/Mando era to stop Palpatine’s resurrection plan before Exegol fully succeeds. This creates a branched timeline instead of a reboot. Ben as we knew him ceases to exist after changing destiny, but his younger self still exists because Leia and Han still have him in the new timeline. Now he grows up in a galaxy where Luke’s Jedi Academy survives and Palpatine never returns.
Rey could still exist somewhere because her parents survive and Ochi never kills them, but she never becomes tied to Palpatine’s resurrection plan or abandoned on Jakku. She simply lives a different life in the healthier timeline.
This opens up a completely fresh but still connected sequel saga:
Sebastian Stan as Luke Skywalker in his 40s

Mara Jade introduced naturally

Recast Han and Leia

Young Ben Solo at Luke’s Jedi Academy

Grogu training with the new Jedi

Jacen Syndulla becoming Force sensitive

Ezra Bridger and Ahsoka involved in the larger mythology

A recast Thrawn as the main political/military villain instead of another Sith Emperor

A functioning New Republic and Jedi Order instead of another instant collapse

It also fixes a lot of underdeveloped sequel concepts retroactively:
the dyad finally has real mythological importance

Ben’s redemption arc becomes the completion of the Skywalker saga

Anakin’s role as the Chosen One matters again

the World Between Worlds becomes sacred Force architecture instead of random time travel

the sequel trilogy becomes a tragic “fallen future” instead of meaningless canon baggage

The best part is that Ben unknowingly creates a NEW problem when he heals the timeline. By fracturing/collapsing the World Between Worlds and disrupting the ancient Force balance tied to Mortis, he weakens the containment holding back Abeloth. So Episodes VII–IX become the grounded Thrawn/Jedi Academy saga, while Episodes X–XII slowly escalate into full cosmic Force mythology involving Mortis, the Whills, and Abeloth as the ultimate consequence of tampering with destiny itself.
It feels mythological, generational, hopeful, and emotionally connected to ALL the movies instead of just trying to erase the past.

Okay not trying to get flammed up but hear me out, why is palpie always top 2 on every list. Always vitiate or palpie. Yes i understand he destroyed the jedi, created the galactic empiire and mastered life and death. The power of manipulation over the weak isnt everything and i think there are plenty of other sith lords well versed in manipulation, force control, lightsaber fighting (some know multiple styles) etc etc. If someone could give me a solid reason as to why hes always top 2........and p.s not a nihilus fanboy or anything but just saying, he didnt need a space station to destroy a planet, he did that shit with his bare hands

&gt;!With Lawson only disappearing into the fog (not a definitive confirmation, especially in a show about Maul of all people), could we see him return in season 2 to divulge how Maul left Daki for dead, specifically pushing him into Vader.!<

&gt;!This would fuel a conflict between Devon and Maul that could be the catalyst for the season or a jumping off point for another tie in. !<

&gt;!Though I know ‘somehow Lawson returned’ is an easy sentiment, there’s little reason to show him taking that moment in without any intent to use it down the line.!<