‘Star Wars : The Last Jedi’: Rian Johnson Didn’t Go With J.J. Abrams’s Plan About Rey’s Parents
There has been much talk about Rey's parentage. Now, it seems that, originally, she was meant to be from an important bloodline.
The Hard Path For Rey
J.J. Abrams' Star Wars: The Force Awakens first broached the question of Rey's lineage. Many fans speculated that the new protagonist might be related to Luke Skywalker, or even be a secret daughter of Han and Leia.
The controversial follow up, The Last Jedi, revealed Rey's parents were nobodies.
Although this came as a shock to those questioning how some random girl could be so strong in the Force without familial connections, it was a welcome respite from the series's usual, lazy retcon of key characters' identities.
Johnson previously confirmed that this was the only option for the character, from his perspective.
"We're not here to give Rey an easy time; we're here to put her on the hard path so that she has to. Because that's the path of a hero," he explained.
A Different Path For Rey
It now seems that this wasn't the only path for Rey. Apparently, Abrams had his own ideas about Rey's lineage following The Force Awakens.
Star Wars nut Simon Pegg, who appeared in the movie as junk trader Unkar Plutt, revealed in a recent chat on the Happy Sad Confused podcast that Rey's parentage could have been very different if Johnson hadn't taken the reins for part two.
"Well, I know what JJ kind of intended, or at least what was sort of being chucked around. I think that's kind of been undone slightly by [The Last Jedi]. There was some talk about, you know, a kind of relevant lineage for her. ... We shall see," he said.
Abrams is closing the trilogy with the, as yet untitled, Episode IX. So, he could decide to make Rey somebody after all. However, it will be a while before fans find out, as the movie isn't set to hit theaters until December 20, 2019. After that comes Johnson's brand-new trilogy outside of the current plane.
That Star Wars Magic
Abrams is looking to replicate some of the original saga magic for the new installments.
"The only goal I have is to think about how Star Wars made me feel as a kid. And that's it. ... It's getting back to the very fundamental questions of what makes this what it is," he said recently.
He's also wary of hardcore super-fans who are quick to criticize any changes to the format, including the increase of female characters and people of color.
Abrams, for his part, defended Johnson's choices with the last movie. Whether that extends to Rey is anyone's guess.
Simon Pegg confirms what I’ve long heard, JJ had a much different plan for Rey’s parentage. “I know what JJ kind of intended or at least was being chucked around. I think that’s kind of been undone slightly by the last one. There was some talk of a relevant lineage for her.” https://t.co/AksaUK35PQ— Josh Horowitz (@joshuahorowitz) April 4, 2018
