'Star Wars: Episode IX' Theory Reveals Zorri's Deep Connection to Rey

Zorri Bliss’ identity and mission is one of the biggest mysteries headed into Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Who is she and what does she want? Is she fighting for the Resistance or the First Order or neither? There’s even a chance she could be Rey’s mother, while other’s simply think she’s a classic Star Wars bounty hunter. Her identity is still up in the air, but a fascinating new theory based on some reliable leaks may reveal Zorri’s exact connection to Rey and which side she’s really on in Episode IX.

Speculative spoilers for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker ahead.

Not much is known about Keri Russell’s Zorri beyond the fact that she’s a rogue and we’ll be introduced to her on the ice planet Kijimi. However, a new post from the typically reliable Star Wars scoop factoryMaking Star Wars speculates that Zorri is actually a heroic character who’s been fighting alongside the Resistance for a while. When she discovered that the First Order had plans for a young Rey, Zorri “took her and dropped her off on Jakku so she would be safe. Clearly fearing for the little girl.”

Perhaps there’s a possibility that Zorri’s been on the run ever since the First Order found out that she’d meddled in their plans.

Additionally, MSW says he’s seen Zorri’s ship, which she’s apparently been using to rescue people from Kijimi. The character owning a ship isn’t the most notable piece of information, however. It’s that the ship is presumably the same one that dropped off young Rey on Jakku. Rey herself will presumably bring up its “familiarity” during The Rise of Skywalker. Make of that what you will.

While this is all speculation, of course, Making Star Wars seems to have a lot of resources and information regarding the new sequel trilogy. The theory itself sounds very plausible considering what we already know about Rey’s arrival on Jakku (which is next to nothing). This backstory would help to explore both Rey and Zorri’s pasts and connect them to each other in an important way, acting as a bridge to Rey’s history.

It also throws a wrench in what we thought we knew about Rey’s parents (drunk “junk traders”, etc). If Zorri was the one who left Rey on Jakku, what does that reveal about her parents? Were they a part of the Resistance too?

Interestingly, the idea that Zorri could be revealed as Rey’s mother would still fit within the narrative. In fact, this theory actually helps to expand upon the idea. After all, Zorri doesn’t have to be one or the other. She can be a rogue who supported the Resistance prior to The Force Awakens and, scared for the safety of her daughter, made the difficult decision to take her to another planet, leaving her there without revealing why. The less Rey knew, the better.

Either way, Zorri seems to play a big role in Episode IX, and there’s no doubt that tying her storyline to Rey would make for a very intriguing arc.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker hits theaters December 20, 2019.