'Star Wars Episode 9' Rumors: How It Could Reveal Finn's Parents, Not Rey's

Leading up to The Last Jedi, every single Star Wars fan was curious about Rey’s parents. Now that that particular secret is more or less out, some have suggested Episode IX could retcon this or even depict Rey’s drunk parents in a flashback. But, as Kylo Ren said, Rey’s parents are “nobody.” So who cares? Particularly when there’s another very important character with mysterious parentage: Finn.

Last week, Finn actor John Boyega sent hardcore Star Wars fans into a tizzy of speculation when he posted a photo of his hands covered in blood on Instagram. What could it mean? Does Finn die? Does he kill someone really important? Did the makeup crew throw fake blood on him that day as a weird prank?

The answers to all of these questions aren’t nearly as interesting as figuring out Finn’s bloodline, which is something almost no one has ever wondered about, mostly because we know practically nothing about his origins. Here’s what we do know about Finn’s childhood: He was conscripted by the First Order when he was really young and does not remember his family.

Now, it would be crazy if Episode IX revealed Finn was related to a famous Star Wars character, right? On paper, that would scan as lazy and dumb, and people would probably freak out. For example, if Finn was revealed to be the secret son of Lando Calrissian, an argument could be made that such a reveal would rob Finn of his own agency. Also, rumors strongly suggest that Naomi Ackie’s character in Episode IX is Lando’s secret daughter. So having Finn be his secret son would be dumb and redundant, right?

But what if it was really well done? What if Finn joining the Calrissian family was written so well and revealed so expertly that everyone loved it? Right now, everyone is pumped that Billy Dee Williams is in the movie, but his role could take on extra significance if it included a reunion with a son he thought he’d lost long ago. From a plot standpoint, it could also help to explain Lando’s absence in The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi.

Because he was so depressed after the First Order kidnapped his son, Lando decided to retire from being a good guy. It’s not the most plausible explanation for Lando sitting out these movies, but, if done well, it could be great. Hell, if J.J. Abrams really wanted to, he could even use Donald Glover as Lando in flashback scenes!

Right now, there’s no reason to believe Star Wars: Episode IX will revise Finn’s backstory to include a revelation about his parents, but because we know he was taken from his family when he was so young, this feels like a really intriguing loose end.

At the end of the day, good Star Wars movies are more about families working out their differences than they are about galactic space battles. Which is why one of the best and most loved new Star Wars characters — Finn — could and should be part of a huge family story at the conclusion of the new trilogy.

Star Wars: Episode IX hits theaters on December 20, 2019.