After the Star Wars Saga was revived in 2015 with The Force Awakens, it was announced that a series of movies independent of the main characters would be released in the years between the major movies of the new trilogy. Rogue One is the first of this series, set in between Episode III and IV as it focuses on the capture of the Empire’s plans for the Death Star. The early reviews for the movie are some of the highest in recent movie history, with critics giving nothing but high praise to the film. The trailers also show the outstanding graphic quality of the movie, and can be found here. After watching Episode VII, The Force Awakens, many fan theories have sprouted, especially surrounding Rey’s parents. Below is our take on who Rey descends from.

One of the most common, and most believable theories is that Rey is the granddaughter of Emperor Palpatine. Rey’s force sensitivity and technique with a lightsaber are large hints at who she could possibly descend from. Rey uses stabbing thrusts with a saber almost identical to the technique that Palpatine uses in Episode III. Due to her natural force ability and quick learning she is clearly the descendant of someone very powerful and perhaps very evil. More evidence to this theory is brought to light in Rey’s force vision. During the vision she is seen freezing and confronted by Kylo and the nights of Ren. In this moment she hears the scream of Palpatine when he is caught in Episode III along with murmurs of conversation between Palpatine and Anakin. Finally Rey’s fight with Kylo at the end of Episode VII you can see the anger within her while she fights back. In the novelization she hears a voice in her head saying to strike him down and kill him, but she pauses and thinks “she realized she was standing on the edge, not the edge of right or wrong, but the edge of the darkside and the light.An extended take on this theory can also be found here.

Personally, the two of us will be attending the opening night premiere of Rogue One, where we hope our theory is validated.