J.J. Abrams says there’s more to the story of Rey’s parents in Episode IX

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

One of several mysteries which audiences were left with at the conclusion of STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS was the identity of Rey's (Daisy Ridley) parents. Was she a Skywalker? A Kenobi? A Palpatine? That mystery was seemingly solved in STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI when Rey admitted to Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) that her parents were nobodies, with Kylo adding that they were filthy junk traders who sold her off for drinking money.

This revelation didn't sit well with everyone, but it seems that there's still more to uncover regarding Rey's lineage. While speaking with ABC News, STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER co-writer/director J.J. Abrams teased that there's "more to the story" of Rey's parents.

I will say that we knew, going into this, that this movie, it had to be a satisfying conclusion. And we were well aware that that’s one of the things that’s been out there. I don’t want to say that what happens in Episode 8 [didn’t happen]. We have honored that. But I will say that there’s more to the story than you’ve seen.

Shortly after the release of THE LAST JEDI, writer/director Rian Johnson explained that the reveal was "the most difficult thing dramatically for Rey in this movie to hear." Johnson added, "The easy thing would be, ‘Yes, your parents are so and so and here’s your place in the world. There you go.’ The hardest thing she could hear would be […] ‘No, you’re not going to get the answer. This is not going to define you. You’re going to have to find your own place in this world. Kylo is going to use that even as leverage to try and make you feel insecure, and you’re going to have to stand on your own two feet.'" However, the director also said that there was still wiggle room for Rey's origins to change. "Anything’s still open, and I’m not writing the next film. [J.J. Abrams and Chris Terrio] are doing it," Johnson said. "With all of these movies, Obi-Wan’s whole speech about a certain point of view always applies, so I think that you have to always think about the context of how information is given. But for me, dramatically, that’s why that reveal at that moment made sense." Do you think THE RISE OF SKYWALKER will provide a satisfactory answer to Rey's parents?

STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER will hit theaters on December 20, 2019.