Star Wars: The Force Awakens left fans with a lot of questions, but perhaps the most important mystery has been that of Rey's parentage. Rey, the kickass female hero of TFA, is an orphan who also happens to have the Force, suggesting ties to the Skywalker family. Many have already pegged her as either the daughter of Luke or granddaughter of Obi-Wan. But even if one of those two theories turns out to be right, that only opens the door to a whole new batch of questions, like, who is Rey's mother? Well, that answer might be in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story , the first in a new wave of anthology films meant to expand the Star Wars universe. After the first trailer for Rogue One dropped in April, fans have been obsessing over a new theory that the movie's protagonist Jyn Erso is actually Rey's mom.
It's very possible that Rey's mother is Jyn Erso, the rebel fighter who led a team to steal plans for the Death Star. After all, awesomeness is a genetic trait, right? But, there's also a chance that Jyn and Rey aren't related at all. If you're on the fence, here are seven reasons Rogue One 's Jyn Erso is totally Rey's mom.
1. The Accent
Rey basically raised herself on Jakku, and yet still has a Coruscanti accent, suggesting it was something she learned when she was young and still living with her parents. As we know from previous films, not everyone in the galaxy speaks with a Coruscanti accent, but both Rey and Jyn do.
2. The Family Resemblance
Seriously, Felicity Jones (Jyn) and Daisy Ridley (Rey) could easily be cast as sisters in another film.
3. The Denial
At the MTV Movie Awards, Ridley said that fans shouldn't just assume Jyn Erso is Rey's mom. "I'm not being funny you guys, but just because she's white and got brown hair... it doesn't mean she's my mom," Ridley told MTV. Though she makes a good point, it would be foolish to take this statement as a flat out dismissal of the theory. For one thing, Ridley didn't absolutely rule out the possibility, and, for another, you should know never to trust anyone when it comes to spoilers such as these — celebs have been known to lie if the truth is already out there.
4. The Timeline
Jyn Erso's exact age during the events of Rogue One has not yet been confirmed, and based on looks alone, Jones could play anywhere from mid-to-late twenties to early thirties (Jones herself is 32). According to official stats, Rey was born 15 years after Rogue One, which would mean Jyn was somewhere in her 40s when she gave birth, a totally reasonable timeline.
5. The Sacrifice
Jyn Erso is a rebel soldier, so she knows a thing or two about the cost of war. Whoever Rey's parents are, one can assume that if they are good people who left Rey for her own protection, they clearly made an enormous sacrifice leaving their daughter on Jakku. Who would be better prepared to make that kind of sacrifice than a soldier who fought against Darth Vader?
6. Kylo Ren Recognized Rey
There have been a lot of theories about Kylo Ren's relationship to Rey. Did he actually abandon her on Jakku after being unable to kill her when he massacred the mini Jedis in training? Are they related, perhaps? Whatever the connection, there's no doubt that the film does suggest Kylo knew of Rey before they met in the film. If Rey was Jyn Erso's daughter, it would make sense that Kylo, as obsessed as he is with his grandfather's legacy and downfall, would have heard about her.
7. Rey's Parentage Is Important
Filmmakers have basically already confirmed that whoever Rey's parents are, they will be important to Rey's story and that of coming Star Wars films. Colin Trevorrow, who is set to direct Episode IX, recently told ET that the reveal of Rey's parents was important to "the entire galaxy." That could mean any number of things, but what it tells me is that the reveal is going to be major. What's more important than tying in new characters from an anthology film?
If it turns out that Jyn Erso is Rey's mother, then I for one would love to see Rey's dad be someone we've never heard of before. Just because Rey has the Force doesn't mean she's necessarily of the Skywalker bloodline. And, since TFA was light on the romance, Rogue One could be the perfect place to add a small love story into the mix.
Images: Walt Disney Studios; Giphy (7)
