Star Wars Last Jedi: ‘Reylo’ explained – Rian Johnson opens up on Rey and Kylo partnership

Warning: spoilers ahead for Episode 8.

Viewers were stunned in the latest Star Wars instalment when Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) led Rey (Daisy Ridley) to Supreme Leader Snoke (Andy Serkis) – before killing him and teaming up with her to defeat nearby guards.

Kylo then asked Rey to join him and begin a new partnership, which she ultimately rejected.

The showdown, which saw Rey wield the red lightsaber and come to her nemesis’ aid, has been a big talking point – and led to some fans wishing the pair would become a couple.

“That was a big moment I was looking forward to,” Johnson told The Hollywood Reporter. “But that was also a moment where the deck is pretty stacked. 

“I wasn’t holding my breath, ‘Is this going to play?’ I felt like, ‘I can’t wait to see an audience reaction to this.’ I was pretty confident in that moment.”

Johnson said he was also anxious to see how viewers responded to Vice Admiral Holdo’s (Laura Dern) ultimate sacrifice.

“The [sacrifice] moment with Holdo was something I was holding my breath to see how the audience reacted and I could not have been more thrilled with how the theatre reacted to that big moment,” he said.

“And honestly, Kelly’s [Rose] final little moment with John [Finn], and then she passes out… There were so many moments I was holding my breath to see how the audience was going to react to it.“

Kylo Ren and Rey have been referred to as “Reylo” within the fandom, although some have expressed concern that Kylo demonstrated abusive behaviour during his attempt to win her round in Episode 8.

How their relationship plays out is something we’ll have to wait two more years to find out.

Star Wars 8: The Last Jedi is out now.