Yes, Kylo devastated Rey (and millions of fans) when he spat out the shock news her parents were: “Filthy junk traders who sold you on for drinking money. They’re dead. In a pauper’s grave in the Jakku desert.”
Having been lead to believe a major revelation was coming, this was one of the major catalysts for the fan revolt that followed Episode 8.
Even Rian Johnson’s later comments clarify that Kylo was not necessarily telling the whole truth and fans already know JJ Abrams had very different plans for Rey’s parentage.
Now the latest dramatic leaked scene with the First Order leader and a mysterious female character open up these new possibilities all over again.
The leaked scene involves Adam Driver and Keri Russell. The role the Felicity and The Americans actress will be playing has not beeen confirmed yet, but her code name is hugely tantalising.
The report said: “For this scene, which is to be shot at Pinewood during the last week of September, it’s said to be a four-day shoot with Keri Russell and Adam Driver, described as an action scene with some new ship set pieces currently being constructed.
“A large green screen will be placed in from of the ship set piece but it is unclear if Keri Russell and Adam Driver are allies or foes.”
The report added: “It is said to be an escape sequence and Keri will be doing a lot of scenes in a cockpit set piece. The second half of this scene will be shot in mid-October. We do know that the code name of Keri Russell’s character is Mara.”
Mara Jade in the Extended Universe was Emperor Palpatine’s personal assassin. She then fell in love with Luke Skywalker.
And, guess what? Mark Hamill has just spoken out about the possibility that Luke had a romance or relationship.
Asked why Luke never found love, he replied: “Maybe he did between Episode 6 and 7. Many untold stories there.”
The novelisation of The Last Jedi also opened with Luke daydreaming about an alternate life where he fell in love with Mara and married her.
Russell and Rey actress Daisy Ridley certainly look similar enough for them to be mother and daughter irrespective of whether Luke is the father.
If Kylo actually knows Rey’s mother after all, this would add a new layer to his twisted plans.
Johnson himself clarified that big revelation: “That’s what Kylo sees and that’s what he tells her and I think he’s not lying in that moment.”
Of course, Kylo could be deceived himself. Perhaps the junk traders raised Rey but were not her real parents? Perhaps she had been hidden to conceal her destiny – the idea of repeating patterns is something that Star Wars (and JJ Abrams) has a habit of doing.
Another intriguing possibility is that Russell’s new character is Kylos ‘apprentice, or one of the Knights of Ren. Perhaps she infiltrated the First Order as a way to find and protect her daughter.
Whatever is finally revealed, it looks certain she will be making quite an impact in Episode 9.
