Warning: This article contains spoilers for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Star Wars: The Last Jedi might have revealed Rey (Daisy Ridley) as the daughter of two drunken nobodies, however, fans that weren't too pleased to hear that the lead of Disney's Star Wars sequel trilogy didn't have any ties to any of the franchise's legacy characters.
Hoping to appease the fanbase, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker makes quick work of Rey's origin, revealing that the Jakku Orphan was actually connected to Emperor Palpatine. Speaking in an interview with Indie Wire about the Star Wars film, The Rise of Skywalker co-writer Chris Terrio opens up about the decision to turn Rey into the granddaughter of Darth Sidious.
Denying the accusation that Rey's new origin was meant to retcon her story in The Last Jedi, Terrio tries to explain the twist, saying that the Jakku Orphan's parentage was inspired by an idea that The Rise of Skywalker director J.J. Abrams had always been invested in.
"Rey has finally found a home with Leia and with the Resistance," he said. "She's finally found a family, and what she discovers in the course of the movie, she thinks is going to displace her from the one family that she's ever known, because how could they ever…?" Terrio explains, "How could Leia, who represents the Republic and all that's good in the galaxy, how could Leia possibly take her in as a kind of a daughter, how could she take in the granddaughter of her greatest enemy and the greatest enemy of her family? I think Luke has the answer to that, which is that both Luke and Leia saw her heart and her spirit and said, in spite of midichlorians, that there are things that are stronger than blood."
It's an interesting concept to have explored, though it does seem to be in direct opposition to what Rian Johnson has built in The Last Jedi. Still, whatever her origin, Rey is a great heroine, one who has given hope to the franchise and who's inspired so many little girls around the world to be strong, to be kind, and to do what's right.
What do you think of Rey's new origin? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section below.
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is currently screening in cinemas.
Read: Star Wars: Ming-Na Wen Shares Adorable Crochet Baby Yoda to Thank The Mandalorian Fans
Explore new topics and discover content that's right for you!
Star Wars: Episode IX