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Star Wars artist reveals the secret origins of Rey and Leia's lightsabers

by Jake Kleinman
Updated: 
Originally Published: 

The Rise of Skywalker surprised fans by giving Rey a brand new yellow lightsaber, but the weapon's backstory is even more interesting.

In May 2020, professional concept artist Matt Savage revealed the unused work he did on Rise of Skywalker.

Matt Savage

"It wasn’t needed in the end but we did design the inner workings and kyber crystal cage for Rey’s lightsaber."

Matt Savage

"Drawn before we knew what colour the blade would be."

Matt Savage

Phil Szostak

On Twitter, Lucasfilm creative art manager Phil Szostak chimed in:

"The lightsaber was going to be in more than just one shot at the end. There was going to be a subplot throughout the film showing Rey working on it at her bench, using the Jedi texts as a guide."

Savage also helped design Leia's lightsaber, which is revealed toward the end of The Rise of Skywalker.

"I was fortunate to be one of the many people involved in the design of Leia's Lightsaber for Rise of Skywalker. The design began as a prototype prop make and bounced between myself and the prop makers until being finalised."

Matt Savage

"The emitter area was inspired by a Walter Von Nessen, Art Deco Lamp that JJ had taken a shine to."

Matt Savage

Check out more of Matt Savage's art here.

Read more about Rey's yellow lightsaber here.

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