Thread by @MatthewKadish

Legit theory for #StarWars #EpisodeIX #TheRiseOfSkywalker. This is going to be a substantial thread so bear with me here. But after reading some of JJ Abram's comments, I think it's clear what the "twist" is and what the title means.

Rey is Darth Vader's daughter.

I think this makes sense, because even though there was no "plan" for the sequel trilogy, it seems clear that JJ Abrams had a solid concept for what he wanted the character of Rey to be, and he's laid a TON of clues in #TheForceAwakens as to what that concept is.

First, the theory that Rey is Luke's daughter or Leia's daughter doesn't make much sense. There's no way Leia would not know she had a child out there somewhere, and Luke wouldn't abandon his own kid. Them being unaware of Rey until TFA just isn't feasible or believable.

But if you look at connections between the characters of Annakin Skywalker and Rey, there are LOTS OF THEM. Firstly, like Annakin, Rey is raised on a harsh desert planet, so there's that. Admittedly, it's not the strongest connection, but it's the right set-up for the character.

The reason a desert planet is significant is because The Force thrives in places that are full of life. Being on a desert planet mutes The Force and inhibits the abilities of those who are Force Sensitive. That is why characters like Annakin & Rey can be so powerful once they

leave their home planet. Once they are among lush life-filled planets, their powers sort-of emerge in unexpected and powerful ways. (This is a *bit* of a cop-out to explain Rey's overwpoweredness, but it at least makes sense within established continuity.)

The next clue is that Annakin's lightsaber "called" to Rey from within Maz's cantina on Tokodana. Just like Luke had a bond with his father's lightsaber, so does Rey. Once Luke built his own lightsaber, Annakin's was free to pass to the next in the bloodline.

Annakin's lightsaber did something to help "unlock" Rey's powers, and her draw to it is because it's her birthright (at least as set up by JJ Abrams). This is also why she's able to wield it on Starkiller base over Kylo when they both try to pull it to them.

An even bigger clue is Rey's crazy talent with electronics and engineering. Though this is explained by her years working as a scavenger, it also alludes to Annakin's natural skill with mechanics. Young Annakin could build a podracer and droid from scratch.

Young Annakin was also a slave in a junk yard. Rey grew up around salvaged junk and has a natural ability to build things, just like Annakin. This is a trait she inherited from her father. Another trait she inherited is her skill as a pilot.

Annakin was known for his natural ability as a starfighter pilot (and podracer when he was younger). This explains Rey's natural ability as a pilot as well. She's tech savvy, a skilled pilot, & strong in the force, exactly like Annakin.

According to #ThePhantomMenace, Annakin was the result of an immaculate conception by The Force (presumably orchestrated by Palpatine as Darth Sideous). We know that Vader had designs to unite with Luke to overthrow the Emperor and rule the galaxy as father/son.

I think that it's possible, in the JJ Abrams version of #StarWars, that Vader somehow learned how to use The Force to create life, just as Sideous did it to create him. There may have been an effort for Vader to create an heir to help with his plans before he knew of Luke.

Rey may have been the result of Vader using the Force to create an heir, one he expected to train. But after his death, Rey's mother may have abandoned her on Jaku for her own protection. Essentially hiding Rey from either the Rebellion or the ghost of Palpatine. (who knows?)

But Rey was essentially abandoned on Jaku for her own safety, and all contact cut off. I believe the woman who is Rey's mother & Vader's "concubine", in a sense, is the character played by Keri Russel in #TheRiseOfSkywalker. She may have escaped from Vader with Rey at some point

Or did so while she was pregnant and needed to separate herself from Rey as a child to protect Rey from discovery, or from fear that she would be another villain like Darth Vader. Abrams might even try to reconcile this with #TheLastJedi by having Rey's mother

become a space junker who drinks herself to death over abandoning her child, so that Kylo's revelation in #TheLastJedi holds true while still advancing the idea that Rey is Vader's child. Being born of The Force would also explain Rey's natural & powerful connection to it.

JJ Abrams had layered in a lot of Darth Vader subtext into #TheForceAwakens, specifically with Kylo & Vader's melted helmet. There's this "specter" of Vader throughout the sequel trilogy, & in this sense, there are two aspects to Vader that are opposite, yet connected.

You have Kylo, who is the "Dark Side" & representative of Darth Vader. Then you have Rey, who is the "Light Side" & representative of Annakin Skywalker. In recent interviews during #SWCC, JJ has alluded to the notion that the title #RiseOfTheSkywalker will make sense upon

seeing the movie. I think in #EpisodeIXTheRiseOfSkywalker, Rey will somehow discover she is Annakin's daughter & Luke & Leia's younger sister. Upon discovering her origins, she'll embrace her lineage & become the next generation of Skywalker to lead the Jedi...

while Kylo embraces his Skywalker lineage to become a full-blown Sith & lead the next generation of Dark Side users to oppose Rey. Thus, both Skywalkers "rise" to oppose the other. Connected, the same, but opposite - just like the duality of Vader/Annakin.

I also believe this ties in with the notion that the #StarWars saga is really about Annakin. Episodes 1-3 were Annakin's rise & fall. Episodes 4-6 were his redemption. And episodes 7-9 are about his legacy. In a sense, the prophesy that Annakin would bring

"Balance to the Force" becomes true, because he is responsible for both Rey & Kylo becoming who they are and "balancing the scales" between the light & dark side. (Again, this is from JJ Abram's perspective.) But this notion can be used to "end" Annakin's story/prophesy.

I think this is a pretty solid theory & JJ Abrams has set the stage for this big reveal. I don't know if it's right or not, but it's my favorite theory regarding Rey, her parentage, & how #TheRiseOfSkywalker title ties everything together.

What do you think? Am I on the mark? Way off base? Let me know in the replies what you think of my theory and what yours might be. And if you think I'm right, feel free to share this around. /rant

Okay, gotta add an addendum to this because lots of people are saying "Rey is too young! She was born 10 years after Vader died!" They're pointing to a visual encyclopedia of The Force Awakens to say Rey was only 19 in TFA, thus it's impossible Vader was her father.

I have a few answers to this. First, anything NOT in the movies is Expanded Universe, and not officially canon. Only the movies & TV shows establish canon. The books can be overlooked, changed, amended, etc. JJ has NEVER been concerned with EU material. Just look at...

...how he treated Star Trek and LOST. All their EU material was disregarded constantly. I doubt JJ knew of or referred to this book in writing his stories. He's also not the type to concern himself with details like chronological continuity. He never thinks these things out.

That aside, Rey's age is NEVER established in the films. No one who hasn't read the books knows how old she is. If Rey were conceived right before the Battle of Endor, & born 9 months after the destruction of Death Star 2.0, she'd be 29/30 during the events of The Force Awakens.

I feel this works, not only because it would be entirely plausible for a younger Daisy Ridley to play a slightly older character, but it would align Rey's age with that of Kylo Ren's, who is 30 at the time of The Force Awakens.

This age similarity would further the "equal yet opposite" concept I laid out originally. They're both Skywalkers, the same age, but one is light and one is dark. Balance.

So if you think my theory is wrong based strictly on Rey's age, that's my answer to you. It's never established what age Rey is, so she could conceivably be 30 - the same age as Kylo - in these movies. It's entirely plausible, & totally something JJ would do.