‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ theories: Rey as Luke or Han Solo’s daughter, Obi-Wan Kenobi’s grandchild and Anakin Skywalker’s reincarnation

Rey, arguably the lead star of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” is Darth Vader himself, according to a popular theory. Online speculations on Rey’s (Daisy Ridley) true identity claim she may be Luke Skywalker’s daughter or his dad. Some claim she may be Han Solo’s (Harrison Ford) child or even somehow related to Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Spoilers ahead for ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’

In the latest megahit “Star Wars” instalment, fans were introduced to Rey, a nifty and compassionate scavenger longing to reunite with her family. She becomes involved with the Resistance’s fight against the First Order upon encountering the droid BB-8 and Finn (John Boyega), a rebel Stormtrooper.

Rey’s parentage and identity were not revealed in the film, but it was somehow implied that she’s a Skywalker or, for a bolder claim, she’s Luke’s daughter. And because the film just dropped hints and not outright announced who Rey is, the issue is open to interpretations and speculations. Here are the most popular theories about Rey online.

Rey Skywalker, Luke’s daughter

This is the natural conclusion of many who have watched the film. And why not, the film all but said she’s a Skywalker. Like Anakin and Luke (Mark Hamill), Rey started in the film alone in the desert. A more telling clue is when Darth Vader’s lightsabre called out to her. Her visions when she touched the lightsabre and her use of the force even without training could mean that being a Jedi comes naturally to her. And not just any Jedi, it’s her being a Skywalker that allowed her to do all those things.

When Rey was also told in the film that no one was coming back for her, it could mean that it’s because no one knew she was on Jakku. Luke might not know that he had a daughter so he did not collect her. Perhaps, like Luke and Leia’s mother, Padmé Amidala, Rey’s mother also died without telling Luke about Rey.

And why else would Leia send Rey to look for Luke? If there’s anyone who could convince Luke to return, it’s his twin sister. Maybe Leia was too busy being the Resistance leader or maybe Leia knew that Luke could be persuaded by someone else other than herself: Luke’s daughter.

There were also notable parallels between Luke’s life and Rey’s life. Both never knew their parents and were abandoned on desert plants at an early age. They were both led by droids (C-3PO and R2-D2 for Luke, and BB-8 for Rey) into the Rebellion conflict, and both learnt of their force sensitivity during battle.

Rey being Luke’s daughter would also be a good counterpart to Ben Solo being Leia’s son. One is (most probably) going to become a Jedi Master like her dad, and the other one joined the dark side like his grandfather. As the film series is all about the Skywalkers, it’s only fitting that Rey is also a Skywalker, and that the battle between good and evil is all about the Skywalkers having a family fight.

But the theory about Rey being a Skywalker could also go other ways. She could also be Leia’s daughter with Han Solo or she could be the Skywalker granddad himself: Anakin Skywalker.

Rey as Anakin Skywalker’s incarnation

When Anakin’s lightsabre called out to Rey and gave her powerful visions of the past after she wandered in Maz Kanata’s (Lupita Nyong’o) basement, viewers assumed it’s because she’s Luke’s daughter and therefore the rightful owner of the lightsabre. But maybe the lightsabre called out to her because it is hers originally.

The theory, laid out on joke site 9gag, claims Anakin was reincarnated as Rey so he could finally redeem himself for all the bad things he had done as Darth Vader. Yes, Anakin was able to obtain that redemption when he killed Emperor Palpatine and got fatally wounded in the process to save Luke in the end of “Return of the Jedi.” However, three decades later, the First Order is still a strong force, and the Jedis are only known as a myth. Balance is still not achieved, and the only way Anakin could truly redeem himself is by continuing what he started before he got distracted and became a Sith lord. Anakin, as Rey, would also save his grandson (Kylo Ren) from the darkness in the process.

Like Anakin, Rey is a skilled mechanic. She was able to fly and fix the Millennium Falcon without as much as a previous try. Her visions when she touched Anakin’s lightsabre were apparently so vivid because they were her memories. And that’s also why she was able to command the lightsabre to come to her during her fight with Kylo Ren. Kylo, as Leia’s son, would have as much right to the lightsabre as Rey if Rey was Luke’s daughter. But the lightsabre clearly responded more to Rey, perhaps because Rey is its original owner.

And when Kylo tried to tempt Rey into joining the dark side and mentioned “the force,” she went into a trance before defeating Kylo using “the force” without previous training.

The theory concluded that the Chosen One is a reincarnated being. It was Anakin at first, but when he was not able to bring balance to the force, the Chosen One was reincarnated into Rey.

Rey Solo, Han’s daughter

Ben Solo, a.k.a. Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) before he turned to the dark side, is undeniably Han and Leia’s (Carrie Fisher) son. The question is his relationship with Rey. According to YouTube vloggers Super Carlin Brothers, Rey may be Ben’s sister and Han Solo’s daughter, and here are their reasons:

First, Rey ending up with the Millennium Falcon at the end of the film somehow only feels right if she’s the direct descendant of Han.

Second, when Kylo Ren was looking at Rey’s memory, he told her, “Do you see Han Solo as the father you never had?” Rey does not have memories of her father, which could mean it was her mother who left her on Jakku. And while Han and Leia openly talked about their son, they did not mention anything about a daughter. As the vloggers surmised, maybe Han left Leia without knowing she was pregnant with Rey. And when their son turned to the dark side, Leia, who knew Kylo Ren would be threatened by a force-sensitive sister, hid Rey on Jakku.

“Star Wars” novels, which are not canon anymore as the new movie took a different route, also said Han and Leia had twins: a son who was seduced to the dark side and a Jedi master daughter. The names aren’t the same (Jacen and Jaina), but director/writer/producer JJ Abrahams was allowed creative license.

It could also be Rey is Leia’s daughter but not Han’s. After Ben turned against them, Han and General Leia Organa spent a long time apart. Rey could be the product of Leia’s relationship with another man.

Rey Kenobi, Obi-Wan’s daughter/family

This theory has got some fans thrilled, probably because Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor, appearing only in voice cameo in the film) is somehow still connected with the new Star Wars generation. While Rey being Obi-Wan’s daughter or even just a distant family seems a far-fetched notion, there are clues that might prove it true.

First is a rumour in January 2014 about Abrams looking for an actress to play Obi-Wan’s daughter or granddaughter, according to the Hollywood Reporter. That character did not appear in the film, or maybe she was hidden in another identity (Rey). Both Obi-Wan and Rey’s accents are distinctly English as well, which couldn’t mean anything if that’s the only basis. However, Boyega, who is also English, has an American accent in the film. There’s also the fact that when Rey touched Darth Vader’s lightsabre, it was Obi-Wan’s voice that called out to her. Obi-Wan also held onto the lightsabre for decades before he passed it on to Luke.

Rey’s young age could mean she is more likely Obi-Wan’s granddaughter than daughter, though.