The biggest takeaway from the D23 Expo special look at Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker was Rey sporting a black robe and wielding a crimson-red double-sided lightsaber, apparently teasing her turn to the Dark Side. However, as the debate over her true allegiances rages on, other fans have moved on to more pressing matters.
On Reddit, a fan posted a clip from the teaser that sees Kylo Ren and Rey engaged in a heated lightsaber duel atop a ship as waves crash around them. As the fan points out, though, Kylo's cape in this scene is clearly full CGI, as it doesn't appear in the reflection from the small puddle of water behind him.
Considering co-writer/director J.J. Abrams' heavy use of practical effects in The Force Awakens, one can imagine he had a particularly good reason for using CGI in this shot. After all, judging by the epic scope of such an otherwise small-scale battle, this is likely the climax of the film.
Directed and co-written by J.J. Abrams, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalkerstars Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Domhnall Gleeson, Kelly Marie Tran, Joonas Suotamo, Billie Lourd, Keri Russell, Matt Smith, Anthony Daniels, Mark Hamill, Billy Dee Williams and Carrie Fisher, with Naomi Ackie and Richard E. Grant. The film arrives on Dec. 20.