"The Day of the Sith": Star Wars Is Making One of Its Fortnite Events Canon and Yes, We're Serious
Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker #1! Every fan knows how expansive the Star Wars universe is, and - weirdly enough - that includes Fortnite. This admittedly bizarre assertion was proven true before the release of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, when a Fortnite event included an integral piece of information for the movie’s plot that the main canon itself didn’t even include. That is, until now, as Star Wars is finally including that Fortnite-exclusive moment into the series’ main canon.
In a preview for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker #1 by Jody Houser and Will Sliney (with “Story By” credit to the writers of the original film), readers are taken back to the events of Episode IX, with Kylo Ren marching across the galaxy, looking for the Sith Wayfinder to Exegol. Just like in the movie, Kylo Ren finds the Wayfinder, tracks down Emperor Palpatine, and ultimately joins him in his mission to conquer the galaxy (though Kylo Ren has his own hidden agenda). However, there is one notable difference between this comic preview and the movie.
In the film version of The Rise of Skywalker, fans are told in the opening crawl that Emperor Palpatine broadcast a message to the entire galaxy announcing his return from the grave, and his insidious intentions - but, fans never actually heard that message. In this preview, however, Palpatine’s message is brought to readers in the form of narration boxes hanging over Kylo Ren as he searches for the Sith Wayfinder. Since this comic is official Star Wars canon, that would make this the first time Star Wars fans have officially heard Palpatine’s message.
Star Wars Fans Heard Palpatine’s Message for the First Time… in Fortnite
This Happened During a 2019 Fortnite Star Wars Gala Event Based Around Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
As bizarre as it may seem, Emperor Palpatine’s message to the galaxy announcing his return was released for the first time not in Star Wars canon, but in Fortnite. In a way, that makes Fortnite (at least, a corner of it) an honorary part of the Star Wars universe. However, for obvious reasons, that doesn’t mean it's canon, which means Palpatine’s message - as it was heard in Fortnite - was never officially a canonical part of Star Wars. Now (thankfully), that has changed.
This canon Star Wars comic takes the message that was first heard in the 2019 Fortnite Star Wars Gala Event (which was held as an interactive promo for The Rise of Skywalker) and actually brings it into the world of Star Wars. Sure, this message has always technically existed in Star Wars canon, which was revealed in Episode IX’s opening crawl, but this is the first time fans have actually seen/heard it in canon - even if Fortnite players have already heard it.
Star Wars Comics Continue to Flesh Out the Original Films
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is the Latest Comic to Fill in Some Gaps from the Movies
This isn’t the first time the Star Wars comics have fleshed out certain plot points from the original movies, as this comic continues a trend that makes these Star Wars comic book retellings/continuations worthwhile for fans. While the story in this comic is the same as the original film, the inclusion of Palpatine’s message alone proves that the comic has more to offer - and this comic isn’t alone. Every Star Wars comic - film-retelling or otherwise - has something to offer that makes the original movies even better, and this latest example is a brilliant continuation of that trend.
What Scares the Jedi? Star Wars Is Ready to Answer the Question Once and For All
The Jedi are some of the most powerful warriors in the Star Wars galaxy. So, what could they possibly be SCARED of? Star Wars finally has the answer!
More than anything, this preview is a hilarious reminder that Fortnite gave fans an integral piece of information to the plot of Star Wars canon that the actual canon itself didn’t offer until now - roughly five years later. And so, with the inclusion of Palpatine’s “Day of the Sith” message to the galaxy, Star Wars is finally making one of its Fortnite events canon.
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker #1 by Marvel Comics is available February 26, 2025.
- Created by
- George Lucas
- First Film
- Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope
- Cast
- Mark Hamill, James Earl Jones, David Prowse, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Ian McDiarmid, Ewan McGregor, Rosario Dawson, Lars Mikkelsen, Rupert Friend, Moses Ingram, Frank Oz, Pedro Pascal
- TV Show(s)
- The Mandalorian, Andor, Obi-Wan Kenobi, The Book of Boba Fett, Ahsoka, The Acolyte, Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, Lando, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels, Star Wars: The Bad Batch, Star Wars: Resistance, Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures, Star Wars: Visions
- Movie(s)
- Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones, Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope, Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi, Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens, Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi, Star Wars: Episode IX- The Rise of Skywalker, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Solo: A Star Wars Story, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi, Star Wars: New Jedi Order
- Character(s)
- Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Rey Skywalker, Emperor Palpatine / Darth Sidious, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ahsoka Tano, Grand Admiral Thrawn, Grand Inquisitor, Reva (The Third Sister), The Fifth Brother, The Seventh Sister, The Eighth Brother, Yoda, Din Djarin, Grogu, Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader, Leia Organa, Ben Solo/Kylo Ren
