This Star Wars Theory Breaks Down Why Obi-Wan Kenobi May Be Rey's Grandfather

If you're anything like us, you came away from watching Star Wars: The Force Awakens with 1.) a reinvigorated love of the franchise, and 2.) quite a few questions. While we acknowledge the fact that we won't be getting answers to most of our queries anytime soon (no matter how many times we obsess over the the DVD), that hasn't stopped us from theorizing about perhaps the most maddeningly frustrating part of episode seven: who the hell are Rey's parents?! There is a good deal of information out there that supports Rey being a Skywalker, but there's also a strong case for her being the long-lost granddaughter of Obi-Wan Kenobi. Keep reading to see how we break down each theory below, and check out the exciting new information that might connect Rey to Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, before it hits theaters on Dec. 16.

Spoilers for Star Wars: The Force Awakens below!

01
Rey Hears the Voices of Ewan McGregor and Alec Guinness During a Pivotal Scene
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Rey Hears the Voices of Ewan McGregor and Alec Guinness During a Pivotal Scene

When Rey, Han Solo, Chewie, and Finn go to Maz Kanata's watering hole to get information about the Resistance, Rey feels herself being called into the depths of the castle, where she stumbles upon Luke's lightsaber. How did it get there? According to Maz, it's a "long story," but the most important thing about the scene is the vision Rey experiences after she picks it up. In addition to seeing glimpses of Luke Skywalker touching R2-D2 and Kylo Ren's betrayal of the Jedi, Rey hears the voices of actors Alec Guinness and Ewan McGregor, who play Obi-Wan Kenobi in the original three Star Wars films and in the three prequels, respectively.

If you listen closely to the scene, you can hear a mixture of Guinness and McGregor's voices saying, "Rey, these are your first steps." The choice to have two actors who played Obi-Wan specifically provide the voices for this moment has to mean something, right? It easily could have been Luke's voice, or even Darth Vader. Combine that with the fact that the lightsaber was in Obi-Wan's posession for far longer than in Luke or Anakin's (and therefore why it would call to someone with Obi-Wan's Force-sensitive blood running through their veins), it's starting to seem like there's a big connection between Obi-Wan and Rey.

02
Rey and Obi-Wan Are Both Desert-Dwelling Loners With British Accents
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Rey and Obi-Wan Are Both Desert-Dwelling Loners With British Accents

In episode four, A New Hope, we're first introduced to Obi-Wan as "Old Ben," the hermit who lives on Luke's home planet of Tatooine and is always dressed in sand-colored robes. As we see in The Force Awakens, Rey also lives all by herself, only she's on the desert planet of Jakku, where she scavenges and sells old ship parts for food while dressed in calming neutral tones. Their lonely lifestyles mirror each other quite obviously.

If that isn't enough for you, many fans have pointed out how Rey and Obi-Wan's characters are the only "good guys" in the series who have British accents (with the exception of C-3PO, which . . . come on). Since there have been a few English actors in the movies who have disguised their natural accents to speak with an American accent instead, it seems like singling Rey and Obi-Wan out was a conscious choice.

03
There Was Plenty of Time For Obi-Wan to Father a Child in Secret at Some Point
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There Was Plenty of Time For Obi-Wan to Father a Child in Secret at Some Point

Little is known about Obi-Wan's backstory, which is both a good and bad thing if you're banking on the theory that he's Rey's grandfather. On one hand, there's nothing that could definitively confirm that Obi-Wan fathered a child at any point (who would then have gone on to have Rey). On the other hand, fans of The Clone Wars animated series (which is considered canon) know that he definitely wasn't incapable of love. As this eagle-eyed Redditor points out, Obi-Wan openly admits his feelings for Duchess Satine in the show, going so far as to say he would've left the Jedi Order for her. The idea of him having a girlfriend or wife at some other point is something to be seriously considered.

04
Rey's Use of the Force Is Eerily Similar to the Way Obi-Wan Used the Force
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Rey's Use of the Force Is Eerily Similar to the Way Obi-Wan Used the Force

One of the most iconic scenes in A New Hope is when Obi-Wan, Luke, R2-D2, and C-3PO are traveling to Mos Eisley's cantina, and get stopped by a Stormtrooper. Rather than submit, Obi-Wan shows off his skills with the Force, convincing the Stormtrooper to let them pass by uttering his famous line, "These are not the droids you're looking for." Rey has an extremely similar scene in episode seven when she uses her newfound abilities to persuade a Stormtrooper (played by Daniel Craig, no less) to release her from the cell Kylo Ren is holding her in. Coincidence, or something more?

05
Rey and Obi-Wan Are Both Skilled Pilots
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Rey and Obi-Wan Are Both Skilled Pilots

When you consider how Rey is Force sensitive and a naturally good pilot (almost too good, to be quite honest), it makes sense to assume that she's a Skywalker. The Skywalkers are supposed to be some of the sharpest pilots in the galaxy, which Luke proves time and time again throughout the movies. Just note that Obi-Wan, too, is a pretty skilled pilot, even if he hates doing it ("Flying is for droids!").

06
The Final Battle Between Rey and Kylo Ren Mirrors Obi-Wan and Darth Vader's Fight in A New Hope
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The Final Battle Between Rey and Kylo Ren Mirrors Obi-Wan and Darth Vader's Fight in A New Hope

In episodes three and four, the films end with dramatic lightsaber duels between Obi-Wan and Anakin Skywalker (and eventually, Darth Vader). If Rey is definitely a Skywalker, the epic duel she has with Kylo Ren at the conclusion of episode seven would be crazy enough (since that would mean they're cousins or siblings). If we retrospectively discover she's a Kenobi, however, their duel would hold more significance given the two are basically reviving the battle their grandfathers once fought.