‘Star Wars: Episode VIII’ Star Daisy Ridley Leaks Parentage And Fires Back At Rey’s Critics

When Star Wars: The Force Awakens ended, it left with it a number of unanswered questions and one of the film’s greatest mysteries has to be the issue of Rey’s (Daisy Ridley) parentage. The very fact that the identity of Rey’s mother and father was carefully skirted around throughout the film drew greater attention to the mystery, so, if Star Wars: Episode VIII does nothing else, it must certainly answer that one question. While Episode VIII is still some time away from its premiere, Star Wars star Daisy Ridley is as eager as any fan to help flesh out the solution to this enigma.

Star Wars: Episode VIII Star Reveals Her Thoughts On Rey’s Family

Finding out who Rey’s parents are and what significance that holds in the Star Wars universe is one of the biggest draws for the new generation of Star Wars fans, but, while some may suspect that the mystery might be drawn out to maintain fan interest, Independent reports that Daisy Ridley has finally opened up about her character’s upbringing. While Ridley hasn’t spelled out the answers for eager Star Wars fans, she has promised that all will be discovered in Episode VIII.

Daisy felt compelled to say something, when she was pressed with the latest fan theory. It has been suggested to the Star Wars actress that Obi Wan Kenobi is, in some way, related to Daisy Ridley. The favorited theory points to Daisy’s knack for performing jedi mind tricks and for living the life of a hermit, suggesting that Ridley’s Rey is possibly the daughter of Obi Wan.

“We will see in a year,” Ridley responded to the idea. “Just sit tight on that question.”

Another theory connects the first Star Wars stand alone film, Rogue One, with Star Wars: Episode VIII by suggesting that Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones) of Rogue One is the mother of Rey, even though logistics would seemingly make this impossible. As Ridley points out, however, anything is possible in the sci-fi world.

“I mean, I think historically it wouldn’t work, because she is… Darth Vader is there… so she would ultimately be my great-grandma; no, she would be my grandma,” suggests Daisy. “I mean it could happen, especially in a galaxy far, far away.”

Star Wars: Episode VIII Star Daisy Ridley Says Rey Is No Mary Sue

Star Wars star Daisy Ridley fired back recently, upon learning that her character was being criticized as a Mary Sue. For those unaware, Yahoo! Movies explains that a Mary Sue is a character inserted into a franchise as an instant prodigy, exhibiting the skills and gifts of other characters, though without having to have spent the time learning to develop those skills. A Mary Sue beats the odds without breaking a real sweat and seems to achieve victory without ever really facing the possibility of defeat.

There can be no denying that Rey’s journey in The Force Awakens fits the criteria of a Mary Sue, with critics pointing to Rey’s use of the force, sudden piloting skills, and unnatural abilities in overcoming Adam Driver’s Kylo Ren as proof that the character is a classic Mary Sue. However, Rey isn’t the only Star Wars character exhibiting such gifts.

In response, Daisy Ridley suggests that Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) meets those same conditions and to single out The Force Awakens‘ Rey is mere misogynistic bias. The Star Wars: Episode VIII star says criticizing Rey is just an attempt to disparage one of today’s greatest female heroes.

“The Mary Sue thing, I was just confused by… The Mary Sue thing I just didn’t get, because it wasn’t true. But for the most part whenever anyone is mean — and I’m not saying whenever anyone has genuine criticism about something, but when anyone’s being mean — it’s irrational and it doesn’t make sense,” says Ridley.

Daisy Ridley goes on to explain why she feels that the Mary Sue term itself is inherently sexist and tends to disqualify any criticism that may seek to incorporate the term.

“The Mary Sue thing in itself is sexist. Because it’s a name of a woman. And everyone was saying that Luke had the exact same thing. I think Rey is incredibly vulnerable, and nothing she’s doing is for the greater good,” says the Star Wars: Episode VIII actress. “She’s just doing what she thinks is the right thing. And she doesn’t want to do some of it, but she feels compelled to do it.”

Star Wars: Episode VIII is scheduled to hit theaters on December 15, 2017.

[Featured Image by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images]