J.J. Abrams On Rey’s Parents: “There’s More To The Story” In ‘The Rise Of Skywalker’
It’s the question that’s been plaguing a section ofStar Warsfans sinceThe Force Awakens: who are Rey’s parents? And while it seemed as if writer/director Rian Johnson provided an answer to that question inStar Wars: The Last Jedi, it turns out that we don’t have the full picture quite yet. According to co-writer/directorJ.J. Abrams, “there’s more to the story” about Rey’s parents that will be revealed in this year’sStar Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Read his new quotes below.
In a new interview withABC News, Abrams was asked point blank if we’re going to find out who Rey’s parents are in the new film, and his response was pure Abrams, answering the question with a provocative tease:
“I will say that we knew, going into this, that this movie, it had to be a satisfying conclusion. And we were well aware that that’s one of the things that’s been out there. I don’t want to say that what happens inEpisode 8[didn’t happen]. We have honored that. But I will say that there’s more to the story than you’ve seen.”
Inan in-depth article we published this morning, /Film’s Peter Sciretta puts forth several theories about Rey’s lineage based on Abrams' quotes. I’ve been a staunch supporter of the “Rey’s parents are nobodies” reveal fromThe Last Jedisince the moment I heard it – I’m one of those people who loved how that idea opens up theStar Warssaga instead of keeping its narrative contained to a few significant families. But reading Abrams' comments, diving into Peter’s theories, and looking at the over-arching nine-film saga on a macro level, I’m now mostly convinced that this story is ultimately going to be smaller than the one I wanted and the oneThe Last Jediindicated.
But while I myself have regularly pointed out the fact that it was Rey who said her parents were no one inThe Last Jedi, not Kylo Ren, this video from before that film came out gives me some pause. Watch how Johnson almost reveals more information, which could easily align with what Abrams is talking about today:
EXCLUSIVE:@StarWarsdirector@rianjohnsonsays Rey’s parentage will absolutely be addressed in#TheLastJedi.#SWCOpic.twitter.com/wgupPzYDkB
— Good Morning America (@GMA)August 16, 2025
Theories have abounded about Rey’s true parentage, ranging fromher mother being Emilia Clarke’s Qi’ra fromSolo: A Star Wars Story(an option which doesn’t seem likely, since Daisy Ridleyseems to have thought that Rey’s parents were actually revealed inThe Force Awakensand there was no hint about Qi’ra in that film) to Adam Driverreferring to Rey as a “princess,“potentially revealing the truth about her lineage by accident in an interview. Simon Pegg, who played Unkar Plutt inThe Force Awakens, alsoonce revealed that Abrams had a different plan for Rey’s parentagethan what ended up being in the movies (so far): “I know what J.J. 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.”
And finally, look at how Disney has treated the property thus far, with its insistence on making side movies with familiar characters fans know and love. That practice, thankfully, seems to finally be slowing down with stories likeThe Mandaloriancoming up, but this is the capper of the Skywalker saga, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see the franchise close in on itself one last time before it opens up again with new trilogies and streaming adventures.
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalkerarrives in theaters onDecember 20, 2019.
