The Distant Echo

The Distant Echo is a Star Wars fan film by Windstorm Entertainment that also features characters from the old Star Wars Expanded Universe (now Legends). It centers on the parallels between Rey and her Legends counterpart Jaina Solo.
A teaser trailer for the film was released on YouTube on March 5, 2018. The full version was released on December 2, 2017, twelve days before the theatrical premiere of The Last Jedi, with which it shares many plot and thematic elements. 
The film has no relationship to The Clone Wars episode, "A Distant Echo". 
=Selected Cast and Crew= 
*Rey - Hailey Nebeker
*Kylo Ren - Hunter Nelson (unmasked), Deven Davenport (stunt double)
*Jaina Solo - Jaci Twiss
*Jacen Solo - Tye Nelson
*Anakin Skywalker - Andrew Peters
*Young Luke Skywalker - Robbie Damewood
*Mara Jade - Rio Van Zant
Both Nelson and Twiss reprised their roles as Jacen and Jaina Solo from Windstorm Entertainment's previous fan film, Legacy of the Force (2015). 
*Writer, Director, Producer - Tye Nelson
*Associate Producers - Mario DeAngelis, Joshua David McLerran
*Sound Design - David Evanoff
*Visual Effects Supervisor - Zeb Jackson
*Director of Photography - Austin Green 
*Music - Seth Neuffer
In addition, the film boasted a large professional crew, many with preexisting ties to the film industry, that is fully listed in the credits. The Distant Echo: A Star Wars Fan Film (2017) Full Cast & Crew on IMDB
=Opening Crawl=
''
=Synopsis=
The film opens with the arrival of the Millenium Falcon to Ahch-To, as seen in The Force Awakens. As the Falcon zooms over the ocean, Rey looks up to a cloaked and hooded Luke Skywalker standing above her. 
Night falls, and Luke introduces Rey to her final test: a cave strong with the dark side of the Force, similar to the one Luke himself encountered in The Empire Strikes Back. Luke says that although the Force is strong with Rey, her path is uncertain, and she must confront her fears. As Rey confidently strides away, Luke acknowledges to a concerned R2-D2 that he failed his own test and comforts the droid as best he can. 
Rey finds herself in a snowy forest, which she recognizes from her fight against Kylo Ren on Starkiller Base. An unmasked Kylo appears, his weapon drawn, and she ignites her own lightsaber in response. As Kylo shouts "That lightsaber belongs to me!", Rey has visions of others who have laid claim to the weapon, including Anakin Skywalker, a younger version of Luke, and Mara Jade. 
When Rey insists that her opponent is not real, Kylo transforms into Jacen Solo and dons Kylo's mask. When he speaks again, it is in Kylo's voice. Kylo attacks Rey, and Rey defends herself. Although she is eventually disarmed, she is able to use to the Force to call the saber to her hand--only for the scene to cut to a parallel fight between Jacen and his twin sister Jaina Solo. Rey's movements in her duel against Kylo mimic that of Jaina's against Jacen. 
Rey stabs Kylo, though Kylo does not fall. He projects Force lightning, which Rey is able to successfully block. Kylo unmasks, and when Rey asks "Jacen?", Jacen acknowledges her as "Jaina". Jacen begs Jaina to destroy him, claiming it's her destiny. The two switch back and forth between identities, with Jacen becoming Kylo and Rey becoming Jaina at intervals. 
Jacen again asks Rey to destroy him, so she can become the Sword of the Jedi. Rey refuses, claiming it's not her path. A tearful Jaina tells Jacen he will always be her brother, but "this isn't my story". 
Jacen/Kylo disappears and Rey walks away in the snow. As she retreats, she passes a wall of ice where Jaina is mirrored in her reflection. "Who are you?" Rey demands. "Who are you?" Jaina replies cryptically. When Rey demurs, calling herself 'Nobody,' Jaina repeats "Who are you?" 
"Who am I," Rey says in wonder, as she and Jaina mirror each other in raising their hands, so that their reflections appear to touch. Jaina smiles. "Who am I," Rey repeats thoughtfully, as she strides away from the mirror into the snow. 
=Relationship with Canon=
Although the film was released prior to The Last Jedi, it predicted many elements that would later become canon, including a dark side cave, Rey confronting a reflection in a mirror, and her struggles with her own identity. The filmmakers commented on YouTube that "we had no idea what rian johnson was doing, but we're giddy about the similarities".
Director Tye Nelson elaborated in an interview:
The film's music is a combination of John William's leitmotifs and original music from composer Seth Neuffer. Neuffer mixed Jaina Solo's theme from Legacy of the Force with Rey's theme throughout the film, with both playing simultaneously on different instruments. As Jaina and Rey switch places, so do their themes.Behind The Music - Composer Seth Neuffer talks "The Distant Echo"
=Reactions on YouTube=
=Image Gallery=
Image:The_Distant_Echo - Rey_and_Luke.png|Luke and Rey.
Image:The_Distant_Echo - Mara_Jade.png|Mara Jade.
Image:The_Distant_Echo- Jacen_Solo.png|Jacen Solo.
Image:The_Distant_Echo - Jaina.png|Jaina Solo.
Image:The_Distant_Echo - Rey_and_Jaina.png|Jaina speaks to Rey through the mirror. 
=Behind the Scenes=
*The Distant Echo - Star Wars VFX BTS SABER and LIGHTNING w/ Tyrone Thomas
*Behind The Music - Composer Seth Neuffer talks "The Distant Echo"
*Lightsaber sound effects
=References=
Category:Star Wars: Sequel Trilogy
Category:Star Wars: Expanded Universe
Category: 2017 Fan Films