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Star Wars Director Rian Johnson Wanted Kylo Ren and Rey to be in a Romantic Pairing


Fans of the trilogy might be aware of some clips on YouTube showcasing the ‘Reylo' ship. It's the romantic pairing of Rey and Kylo Ren. Many fans hoped that they could have been involved romantically. Unfortunately, the end for these two characters ended with one sacrificing his life for the other.

As it turns out, the director himself intended Kylo Ren and Rey to be in a romantic relationship. Star Wars: The Last Jedi director Rian Johnson saw the two characters in a romantic pairing, more than what they ended up in the sequel trilogy.

Author Sariah Wilson spoke with Johnson and made a tweet regarding the Reylo ship. She mentioned that if people are wondering if Reylo is meant to be romantic, they should stop speculating. She said that Johnson saw the two characters as romantic. There was more to their growth, story, and arcs, but the director saw them becoming more intimate and romantic.

Reylo scene
click to enlarge
Credit: Lucasfilm

In The Last Jedi, Supreme Leader Snoke was able to establish a connection between Kylo and Rey, allowing them to communicate. Rey and Kylo's connection became deeper as The Rise of Skywalker seemed to have laid down the groundwork for some romance to blossom.

Reylo shippers became ecstatic after Rey and Kylo shared a kiss, before Kylo aka Ben Solo became one with the Force. Unfortunately, after the novelization of The Rise of Skywalker by Rae Carson, the kiss was implied to be only done out of friendship instead of being romantic in nature.

Johnson did not direct the follow-up to The Last Jedi but it was previously announced that he was tapped to develop a new trilogy. The status of the project hasn't been updated and little information is revealed. However, Johnson recently confirmed that the trilogy is still in the works, although there are no exact set dates.

In the meantime, Star Wars fans can still watch some Disney+ shows until 2023, the scheduled release for the big-screen project, Rogue Squadron.

Related: Rian Johnson's Own Star Wars Trilogy is Pushing Forward According to Director

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