Just a couple of quick notes before we get started here….

Why did I write this?

I want to be very crystal clear on this point: The Rise of Skywalker is a good movie. Is it the worthy summit of the Star Wars saga? Ah… I’ll let you, dear reader, answer that question for yourself.

Writing Star Wars stories is something I enjoy. It’s my strange hobby. In March 2019, I began writing a 10 part / 10 hour epic about what happened to Luke Skywalker prior to the events of The Force Awakens. I had completed the first five episodes, but was forced to abandon the project due to some personal issues. In late 2020 (...about a year after The Rise of Skywalker was released), I asked myself… “If I had been asked to re-write the script to The Rise of Skywalker, what would I come up with?” The question was too tantalizing to pass up and what you are about to read is my best effort in answering that question.

Please understand, the revision presented here has the advantage of time and hindsight that the writers of the original story did not have. I also do not have the pressures and expectations from a global box office audience nor do I have any production budgetary restraints imposed upon me by a studio. This is not a critical response to the film; I mean no disrespect to anyone. Rather, I am using the framework of the original story to stretch my own creativity. Please enjoy my work for what it is and do not read anything additional into it.

Formatting Note

I’ve read numerous scripts both online and in print. While they all follow the same general guidelines, no two have the exact same formatting.

Since what follows is not a formal script, and in consideration to how it is presented, I have chosen to use the following formatting:

EXT. MICKEY’S FARM - DAY (1)

[MICKEY and MINNEY are enjoying a picnic out in the field, under a big OAK TREE.] (2)

MICKEY (3)

(smiling)

This apple juice sure is yummy, isn’t it Minney?

MINNEY

It sure is!

(1) Location headers will be in all capital letters and usually begin with INT or EXT to denote an interior or exterior location. Please note that I don’t always specify a location if two or more characters are communicating with each other over long distances. I do this because A) it gets tedious to read/write location headers during a back-and-forth conversation and B) the editing process will usually determine if you see the speaking character or if you only hear them.

(2) Descriptive text will have brackets at the start and end of the text block. If you are accustom to reading novels, descriptive text in a script is much more “dry” in comparison. Also, key subjects are emphasized with all capital letters. Also note that, to avoid any ambiguity, some characters will have their full name spelled out so as not to be confused with other characters with similar names (for example: to avoid confusing KYLO REN with the KNIGHTS OF REN.)

(3) The speaking character’s name will be in all capital letters with their dialogue on the following line. A parenthetical may be added between the character’s name and the dialogue as a means to emphasize how the dialogue is to be delivered or to clarify to whom the character is speaking.

++ And sometimes I don’t follow the rules and will insert a note to add additional insight. These notes are not technically part of the script but I feel are necessary to clarify things for the reader. Notes will begin and end with a double plus sign ++

It is also true that location headers should be bold and ship names (such as Millennium Falcon) should be italicized. While I have done this with the other scripts here on thefoolscrusade.com, I'm choosing not to with this script - mostly because the copy & paste process wipes out the native text format and it's such a hassle to go through line by line to bold and italicize text.

Me Am Arteest

Please forgive any egregious spelling, punctuation or grammar errors on my part. After all, I don’t work with an editor who can catch every little mistake I make. If you do find a mistake, please do your very best to keep it to yourself….as I don’t really care ‘bout such things.

I’m also something of a “lexdysic” writer and often cannot type as fast as I think. Accuracy is a struggle that even Mrs. Stelter’s typing class couldn’t solve (a; a; a; a; a; a; a; a;a <- see?).

If you’re a “If it is not perfect, it ain’t no good” kind of person… I pity you.

And now for the main event….

The Revise of Nine :: Part One