Ever since we first met Rey in The Force Awakens, fans have wondered just where the talented proto-Jedi comes from. There’ve been a ridiculous amount of theories that have accumulated over the past couple of years – is she Luke’s daughter? Obi-Wan Kenobi’s? Snoke’s? – and after many teases, we now know that we’ll find out about Rey’s background when Star Wars: The Last Jedi rolls around on December 15th.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, director Rian Johnson had this to say on the matter, explaining that the importance of the answers comes down to how they impact the character:
“To me, it’s important insofar as it’s important to her. And I think it’s important to her in terms of what is her place in all of this? What’s going to define her in this story? She was told in the last movie that the answer’s not in the past; it’s looking forward. But she’s showing up on this island to talk to this hero from the past.
“You can be told [‘the answer’s not in the past’], but I think she still has a lingering hope that she’s going to find the thing that’s going to say: This is where you belong. This is where you are. I think she still holds onto the thought that where she comes from will help define where she’s going.”
Though you might think that finding out her origins would be a major deal, Daisy Ridley also questioned how much it would actually affect the character’s view of herself and her journey:
“You can always look for answers and that doesn’t mean that the rest of your life is so easy. It’s not like, oh, I know who my parents are so now everything falls into shape, especially in the Star Wars world. Yes, it would potentially change her mind, or at least give her a little bit more peace in moving forward. But ultimately what’s coming is coming, and whatever abilities she has are there. So, I think it’s less important than even she may think.”
Whatever answers are revealed in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, it sounds like it’ll lead to some fascinating character drama and development, which we can’t wait to see play out once the flick hits theatres later this year.
