As fans prepare for the latest “Star Wars” film to hit theaters, one question is on everyone’s mind: Who are Rey’s parents?
“I’d have to guess Han and Leia,” said Ty Lydic, a graduate student at Seton Hill University who has been a “Star Wars” fan since he was a toddler. “But, that does seem a little obvious.”
“Obviously it’s Luke, I mean come on,” said Jake Kaylor, a junior at Westminster University.
The third trilogy of “Star Wars” returns on Dec. 15 with “Episode VIII: The Last Jedi,” the second of this trilogy. Star Wars/Lucasfilm was bought by Disney in 2012 for $4.05 billion. Since then, Disney has produced three movies, a TV show and plans to produce at least six more movies and a live-action TV show in the next four years.
“Star Wars” returned to the big screen in December 2015 for the first time in 10 years with “Episode VII: The Force Awakens.”
“It was a great way to bring the saga back in a new fashion,” said Sean Peacock, a senior at SUNY Brockport College in New York. “I’m glad that they could keep the feel and style of the old movies and bring it to a new age with new characters.”
“The Force Awakens” is the fastest film to gross $1 billion and it took just 12 days. It was, at the time, the largest grossing film worldwide for a single opening weekend with $529 million. It is the highest grossing “Star Wars” film thus far.
“The Force Awakens” left audiences with a lot of questions. The big question at the beginning of the film was, “Where’s Luke?” Now, the big question is, “Who are Rey’s parents?” The internet filled with theories and speculation. The top three possibilities of who are most likely to be Rey’s parents are Luke Skywalker, Han and Leia Solo or Obi Wan Kenobi, who possibly had kids and would then be her grandfather.
“I’m leaning toward Han and Leia,” Peacock said. “I base that on how things were presented in ‘The Force Awakens’ and how the characters reacted to each other in the film.”
In the scripted interactions with Leia and Rey, there were words used that may point toward that being true. When Leia hugs Rey, the script reads, “She embraces Rey. A mother embrace.” Also, in the film, Leia’s son, Kylo Ren, says to Rey when they first meet, “You still want to kill me don’t you?” This leads to the question, are they related? Are they cousins? Siblings, or possibly twins?
“As a writer myself, making Luke Rey’s father is the easiest option because it makes sense and plays into the whole ‘Star Wars’ story,” Kaylor said. “But, if I had to throw a wildcard in, I would say that Rey’s father, or grandfather, is Obi Wan Kenobi. It’s going to be Luke though.”
One of Disney’s biggest upcoming projects is Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, a theme park that is being built in Disney World, which is scheduled to open in 2019.
Mitch Anzovino, a student at Saint Vincent College, has an internship with Disney where he works at the park during the summer. Anzovino was one of 7,000 to get the internship out of over 50,000 applicants. Students at SHU have also participated in the program in the past.
“I’ve known about the internship since I was about 17,” Anzovino said. “It has always been a dream of mine to work at Disney. It was a difficult application process, but I fit into the company well.”
“Star Wars” has been a part of Disney before they bought the rights, but now that Disney owns “Star Wars,” it has changed a lot in Disney World itself.
“It’s changed the culture of one park, Hollywood Studios,” Anzovino said. “They are doing so much with the movies and the parks. It’s crazy how much people love the franchise and Disney is doing a lot to make the parks look and feel like the visitors are in the movies themselves.”
Kids are able to meet their favorite characters and they even get a chance to have a lightsaber battle with Darth Vader or Kylo Ren. The park is continuing to grow and improve.
“Disney is basically construction land right now,” Anzovino said. “They are building so much hotels, transportation systems, new themed lands in the park and more. With all the technology being added, it truly does make you feel like you’re in the movie. It’s incredible… tough to describe it any other way.”
Disney has truly changed the world of “Star Wars.”
Fans are anxious for “The Last Jedi.” It’s been two years of waiting and wondering. “The Last Jedi” opens worldwide on Dec. 15.
“I saw ‘The Force Awakens’ opening night, and it was a great time,” Lydic said. “I plan on seeing ‘The Last Jedi’ on opening night as well. I’m very excited.”
Published By: Paige Parise