The color of Rey’s lightsaber in the Star Wars sequel trilogy has been a topic of much debate among fans. In some scenes, it appears yellow, while in others, it looks more orange. This has led to confusion over whether the blade is intended to be yellow or orange. In this article, we will examine evidence from the films, merchandise, and official Lucasfilm sources to try to definitively answer whether Rey’s saber color is yellow or orange.
Evidence from the Films
Rey first constructs her lightsaber at the end of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. In this scene, the blade appears to be a vibrant yellow:
The Rise of Skywalker
When Rey ignites her new lightsaber for the first time after defeating Emperor Palpatine on Exegol, the blade produces a bright, golden yellow glow. This seems to clearly establish the color as yellow.
However, later scenes in the film appear to show the blade as more of an orange hue:
The Rise of Skywalker
In the celebration scene on Bespin following the Battle of Exegol, when Rey ignites her lightsaber to honor the spirits of past Jedi, the blade appears more orange in color, leading some to question if the original yellow color was just a trick of the lighting on Exegol.
The Last Jedi
Adding to the confusion, Rey’s new lightsaber actually first appears briefly in a vision scene in The Last Jedi before she has even constructed it. In this scene, the lightsaber glows orange when she touches it, suggesting the finished saber would also be orange.
So within the films themselves, there is conflicting evidence, with scenes depicting the blade as both yellow and orange. More clues are needed to solve this mystery.
Merchandise
Official Star Wars merchandise featuring Rey’s lightsaber provides some additional hints about the intended color. Most products with Rey’s lightsaber, including toys and novelizations, show the blade as yellow:
Hasbro Lightsaber Toy
The Hasbro Force FX lightsaber toy replicating Rey’s saber produces a yellow plasma blade when activated, matching the yellow color seen in The Rise of Skywalker.
The Visual Dictionary
According to the Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Visual Dictionary guidebook, Rey’s lightsaber has a “yellow plasma blade.” This official Lucasfilm publication explicitly states the blade is yellow.
However, a few merchandise items depict the blade as orange:
Lego Minifigure
In some Lego Star Wars sets featuring Rey, the minifigure version shows her wielding an orange-bladed lightsaber instead of yellow.
Galaxy’s Edge Lightsaber
At Disney’s Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge theme parks, the replica of Rey’s lightsaber sold in the parks glows orange when ignited, rather than the yellow most merchandise uses.
So again, merchandise provides a mix of both yellow and orange, though yellow seems to be more common overall.
Official Lucasfilm Sources
Statements from official Lucasfilm representatives could provide a conclusive answer straight from the source on the intended color. However, even here there is some ambiguity.
In an interview with Slashfilm shortly after the release of The Rise of Skywalker, Kathleen Kennedy, president of Lucasfilm, stated:
Kathleen Kennedy Quote
“Rey’s lightsaber is yellow. That’s what we all think of as Rey’s lightsaber color after seeing The Rise of Skywalker.”
This seems to be a definitive confirmation that yellow is the intended color from the head of Lucasfilm herself.
However, the StarWars.com Databank entry for Rey lists her lightsaber color as “yellow-orange”:
StarWars.com Databank
“Rey wields a yellow-orange lightsaber she built herself.”
The “yellow-orange” description muddles the issue, making it unclear if Lucasfilm officially considers the blade to be strictly yellow or a mix of yellow and orange.
Conclusion
After looking at all the available evidence from the films, merchandise, and Lucasfilm, a definitive answer on whether Rey’s lightsaber blade color is yellow or orange remains elusive. Plenty of sources point to it being yellow, yet orange persists in some significant appearances.
Ultimately, the best explanation seems to be that the lightsaber color was intended by the filmmakers to be yellow, but it skews a bit more orange or “yellow-orange” in some lighting conditions and interpretations. The original vision was likely a vibrant yellow, but shades of orange have crept in as others have replicated the lightsaber in various media.
Until Lucasfilm makes an unambiguous declaration on the issue, the debate over the hue of Rey’s blade will continue between those who insist it is yellow and those who see orange. But the overwhelming weight of evidence points to yellow being the “official” color on the original prop lightsaber, even if it does not always appear consistently yellow on screen or on merchandise.
So in conclusion, while some shades of orange may sneak in, Rey’s lightsaber is most likely intended to be yellow at its core. But the X-wing lightsaber color debate continues…
| Evidence Type | Yellow | Orange |
|---|---|---|
| Films | The Rise of Skywalker ignition scene | Some Rise of Skywalker scenes, The Last Jedi vision |
| Merchandise | Hasbro toy, Visual Dictionary | Some Lego, Galaxy’s Edge lightsaber |
| Lucasfilm Sources | Kathleen Kennedy quote | StarWars.com Databank |
