Rian Johnson says the mystery of Rey’s parents is still open for Episode IX

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

Be warned of MAJOR SPOILERS for STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI below. When STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS was released, one of several questions left dangling was just who Rey's (Daisy Ridley) parents were. Fans imagined plenty of possibilities, ranging from Luke Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and even Emperor Palpatine, but as promised, Rian Johnson delivered the answer in STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI, or did he?

In STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI, the truth of Rey's parentage is revealed to her by Kylo Ren (Adam Driver), who told her that her parents were nobodies who sold her off for drinking money and are long dead. Certainly not the illustrious background the audience, and Rey herself, was expecting. In an interview with The Huffington Post, STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI writer/director Rian Johnson explained that the reveal was "the most difficult thing dramatically for Rey in this movie to hear." Comparing the scene to the twist in THE EMPIRE STRIKES back, Johnson explained that Luke Skywalker learning that Darth Vader is his father was "the hardest thing the character could possibly hear in that moment."

And same thing with Rey and her parentage. 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, there's still room for Rey's simple origins to change, as Rian Johnson added that "Anything’s still open, and I’m not writing the next film. [J.J. Abrams and Chris Terrio] are doing it. 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." Just as Johnson wrapped up several plot-points and mysteries from J.J. Abrams' THE FORCE AWAKENS, it's entirely possibly that Abrams could pull the 'ol switcheroo and reveal the "real" truth behind Rey's parents in STAR WARS: EPISODE IX. Will it happen? I doubt it, but it does give those who weren't pleased with the reveal another two years worth of theorizing, but don't get your hopes up.

Do you think J.J. Abrams will add further revelations on Rey's parentage in STAR WARS: EPISODE IX or will Rian Johnson's explanation stick?