Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens sparked a frenzy of speculation, and the community of intriguing fan theorists has been buzzing nonstop. Director J.J. Abrams even admitted he loves hearing these ideas, hoping audiences will debate them before the film drops.
Intriguing Fan Theories Unveiled
10 Rey Is A Legendary Character’s Kid
From the trailers we know the core trio: Rey (Daisy Ridley), Finn (John Boyega) and Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac). During a recent panel, Ridley revealed Rey lives as a scavenger amid the wrecked ships of Jakku. One trailer shows her speeding toward a crashed Star Destroyer, then climbing inside – the moment that supposedly kicks off her adventure when she meets another protagonist, widely assumed to be Finn.
Boyega disclosed that Finn is a First Order soldier, the sequel’s version of the classic stormtrooper. The trailers hint that these troops serve the likes of Kylo Ren, General Hux, Captain Phasma and Supreme Leader Snoke. Boyega hinted his story begins when his character finds himself in extreme peril that “launches him into the Star Wars universe in a unique way.”
Isaac kept his cards close, calling Poe “the best fricken pilot in the galaxy” and noting his mission is authorized by “a certain princess,” almost certainly Leia. With so little concrete info, fans have been filling the gaps. Neither Rey nor Finn have been given surnames, a deliberate omission according to Abrams. This vacuum has fueled speculation that Rey could be a Skywalker, a Solo, or even a descendant of Obi‑Wan Kenobi.
A tantalizing clue emerged from a Japanese interview where Ridley said she was “solitary” at the start of her story. The word “solitary” sounds suspiciously like “Solo,” leading fans to wonder if Rey is in fact Han and Leia’s daughter. Some even argue she mispronounced it as “Solo‑tary.” Another line of thought points to a possible Kenobi lineage, though Obi‑Wan was long dead by the time of the film, meaning Rey would have to be at least his granddaughter if the theory held water.
9 Finn Or Kylo Ren Is Luke’s Child
Mark Hamill’s return as Luke Skywalker sparked a second‑trailer voice‑over: “the Force is strong in my family. My father has the power, I have it, my sister has it, you have that power too.” Fans immediately linked that line to a possible offspring, assuming Luke is speaking to his own child.
Finn, who also lacks a surname, appears wielding Luke’s old lightsaber against Kylo Ren in a trailer, and concept art shows the weapon strapped to his belt. Could the saber have been passed down by a father? The mystery deepens.
Other theorists argue that Kylo Ren himself might be Luke’s son. Abrams revealed that “Kylo” wasn’t the character’s birth name, and that Ren’s obsession with Darth Vader – even modeling his mask after Vader’s melted helmet – is “very much a part of the story.” Is Ren idolizing his grandfather?
8 Darth Vader Is Alive
Although Anakin Skywalker’s ghost appears at the end of the original trilogy, some fans argue he could have been cloned. Cloning is a well‑established plot device in the Star Wars universe, and clones don’t have to look or act exactly alike. This opens the door to the idea that Kylo Ren might actually be a Vader clone.
Supporters cite Hamill’s voice‑over (the same one mentioned earlier) as a subtle nod, noting that Hamill struggled with the line “had” versus “has” and was forced to re‑record it. While the first three sentences are a direct quote from Return of the Jedi, the insistence on the wording fuels speculation.
Rumors also swirl that Hayden Christensen, the actor who portrayed Anakin in the prequels, could appear in Episode VIII, perhaps as a Force ghost. Even if true, the question remains: does the saga need Vader back? His arc spanned six movies, and many wonder if there’s anything left to say about the Dark Lord.
7 Boba Fett Returns In Some Way
One trailer flashes a mysterious figure donning armor, a cape, and a blaster – a look that screams Boba Fett. The bounty hunter’s fate was left ambiguous after being swallowed by a Sarlacc in Return of the Jedi, leading fans to wonder if he somehow survived or left behind a legacy.
Lawrence Kasdan, co‑writer of the new film, originally introduced Boba Fett in The Empire Strikes Back and has publicly expressed his love for the character. This has led to speculation that he might be weaving Fett—or perhaps his offspring—into the new story.
Sharp‑eyed observers have spotted two banners in a trailer background that mirror symbols from Fett’s armor. A Vanity Fair spread also features an alien criminal wearing a helmet reminiscent of Fett’s. Detractors argue the cloaked figure is actually Captain Phasma, the First Order’s icy officer played by Gwendoline Christie, and suggest she could be Fett’s daughter.
6 Jar Jar Binks Is The Evil Supreme Leader Snoke
Among the most polarizing characters, Jar Jar Binks has been re‑imagined by some fans as a covert ally of Emperor Palpatine. Reddit user Lumpawarroo posted a detailed argument that Jar Jar’s clumsy antics mask a hidden martial‑arts talent, likening his moves to Zui Quan (Drunken Fist) wushu.
The theory leans on the fact that both Jar Jar and Palpatine hail from Naboo, and that Jar Jar helped secure Palpatine’s rise to chancellor. Proponents claim the prequel trilogy was “chickened out” before revealing Jar Jar’s darker side, leaving room for Disney to resurrect him as Supreme Leader Snoke.
Descriptions of Snoke—a reptilian alien with a cobra‑shaped head, black eyes, a bulbous mouth, and an angry sneer—are argued to match an evil Jar Jar, bolstering the speculation.
5 Darth Vader’s Relics Are Central To The Plot
Two trailers showcase Anakin Skywalker’s original lightsaber—originally given to Luke in A New Hope and lost during the duel in The Empire Strikes Back. Finn is later seen wielding that very saber against Kylo Ren, suggesting the weapon plays a pivotal role.
One rumor suggests the movie opens with Luke’s severed hand clutching the lightsaber, or the saber simply floating in space, only to fall onto Jakku, Rey’s desert home. The theory posits that Rey finds the saber and, together with Finn, embarks on a quest to return it to Luke.
In the final trailer, Darth Vader’s melted helmet appears as Kylo Ren declares, “Nothing will stand in our way. I will finish what you started.” This reverence hints that Vader’s relics—especially his lightsaber—could become an heirloom that Ren seeks to claim from Rey and Finn.
4 Poe Dameron’s Torture Changes Finn’s Life
Behind‑the‑scenes footage from Comic‑Con reveals a chilling scene: Poe Dameron being tortured—presumably by Kylo Ren—using the Force. Another clip shows a First Order stormtrooper marching Poe through a detention‑like area, his hands bound and a distinctive brown leather jacket on his shoulders.
Later footage shows Finn standing on a desert (likely Jakku) in his First Order uniform, clutching Poe’s jacket. Was Finn the one who escorted Poe to his torture? The jacket’s appearance in concept art suggests Finn may have taken it after the ordeal.
In a trailer, Finn removes his helmet, visibly horrified—perhaps by the sight of a battered Poe. This moment could trigger his desertion from the First Order. Subsequently, Finn helps a wounded Poe hobble toward a TIE fighter; a damaged TIE later crashes on Jakku, hinting that the two may have been inside it together.
3 Luke Skywalker Is Evil
Although Luke Skywalker hasn’t appeared in any trailer or action‑figure release, a daring theory suggests he’s hidden behind Kylo Ren’s mask. A close inspection of the poster shows Ren’s right hand resembling Luke’s iconic mechanical hand.
One blogger argues that Luke could have turned to the dark side at the end of Return of the Jedi, citing an early script where Luke broods in frustration after failing to save his father. While George Lucas rejected that version, the notion persists.
Even though Adam Driver is credited as Kylo Ren, Abrams is known for misdirection—he famously denied Benedict Cumberbatch would play Khan in Star Trek: Into Darkness. Abrams once said he was drawn to the project by the theme “Who is Luke Skywalker?” A 2005 Dinner For Five episode even featured Hamill discussing a possible dark‑side Luke.
Another variation of the theory posits that Luke is actually Ren’s Sith master, explaining the dark connection between them.
2 There Will Be Two Superweapons
The main poster for the film displays a ball‑like space station reminiscent of the Death Star, yet it doesn’t match the known First Order superweapon, Starkiller Base, an ice planet converted into a massive weapon. General Hux, in a Comic‑Con reveal, confirmed the base’s name, referencing Luke’s original surname draft, Starkiller.
Trailers show Kylo Ren and Finn battling on an icy surface without breathing gear, suggesting a different environment than the poster’s barren exterior. Could this be a second, hidden superweapon?
Rumors—though unverified—suggest General Hux originally fought for the Resistance before defecting to the First Order when the rebels built their own superweapon, possibly explaining the mysterious Death‑Star‑like craft on the poster.
1 A Main Character Will Not Survive
One trailer shows Rey weeping over a body—fans argue they see Chewbacca’s hair and bandolier, while others spot a leather jacket that could belong to Han Solo, Poe Dameron, or Finn. Another moment captures Han Solo comforting a distraught Leia, possibly mourning Chewie’s loss.
Harrison Ford once said he asked Lucas to kill off Han during the original trilogy, a request that was denied. Could Abrams finally grant that wish? George Lucas often spoke of his movies having poetic symmetry—each opening trilogy sees a mentor die in combat. Will a familiar character follow Quin‑Gon Jinn and Obi‑Wan Kenobi in this installment?