Star Wars: The Force Awakens introduced fans to a new generation of heroes and yet another set of mysteries to ponder in between films. If the rumors of Rey's parentage were hot before this past week, they're now turning into full-blown fan theories pinpointing Felicity Jones' Jyn Erso from Rogue One, and while the theory seems a little too simple, it certainly is popular.
Unfortunately for those dreaming of a Luke-meets-Jyn comic book series, actress Daisy Ridley told MTV on the red carpet of the MTV Movie Awards that this particular theory has no legs, and the upcoming saga installment (still known as Star Wars: Episode VIII) is going to take a darker turn, teasing Rey's ongoing journey with the Force in the near future.
While Rogue One's heroine seems as competent and awesome as Rey, Ridley shut the rumors down with a slight jab at their physical similarities. "I’m not being funny you guys, but just because she’s white and got brown hair… doesn't mean she's my mom." Ridley joked, before graciously throwing the theory a bone. "Maybe she is. Oooooh!" Despite her presumed insider knowledge, the actress played coy and elaborated on why she thinks the mystery isn't the most important thing about Rey at all:
"Regardless of where you come from, where you go is the thing. You're moving forward, and you can make a family, you can find people you love ... the relationships that [Rey is] making now are kind of more important than where she comes from, but that's just me."
Speaking of teasing, Ridley was still pretty "mum" about what Rey's relationship with the Force is. After she described Episode VIII as "darker," MTV's Josh Horowitz pushed for information on where Rey's Jedi training will take her in the upcoming film. While fans have been enjoying teaser photos from the set, Ridley managed to keep mum on actual details, and alluded to that particular aspect of Rey's character still being something of a mystery. "I don’t know if I am a Jedi… I don’t think I am."
Star Wars is often a story about the hero's struggle between good and evil; what they choose to do in the most dire of situations determines what's in store for them, which makes this answer especially interesting when concerning Rey's fate. Where some in the Expanded Universe were known as "Grey Jedi," the term has been done away with in the face of Force users who sit in between the light and the dark, such as Star Wars Rebels' Ahsoka Tano. Plus, with no actual Jedi Council around (that we know of) to officiate new Padawan learners, the way one might go about officially becoming a Jedi has probably changed radically, unless the practice has disappeared completely. Time will tell.
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story opens in theaters on December 16, 2016, followed by Star Wars: Episode VIII on December 15, 2017, the Han Solo Star Wars Anthology film on May 25, 2018, Star Wars: Episode IX in 2019, followed by the third Star Wars Anthology film in 2020.
Source: MTV