One of Yoda's most iconic lines may get a wild new meaning in 'Star Wars 9'

When Yoda speaks, one should listen. The Jedi Master has always seemed to know more than he admits, and it’s possible he may have foreseen the arrival of another Force user long before they made their onscreen debut. A fascinating new theory suggests one particular line from The Empire Strikes Back may have foretold Rey’s arrival in the most recent Star Wars trilogy.

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

While fans have long speculated that Anakin Skywalker’s has always been central to the Star Wars films, it’s Luke’s journey that carried the original trilogy. Though he was thought to be the Jedi’s last hope in destroying Darth Vader, Yoda may have foreseen someone else who would save the galaxy. And it wasn’t Luke.

Reddit user Cheekywanquer theorizes that Yoda’s conversation with Obi-Wan Kenobi in The Empire Strikes Back connects directly back to Rey, and might explain why Luke wasn’t surprised to see her when she showed up on Ahch-To in The Last Jedi.

When Obi-Wan tells Yoda that Luke is their “last hope,” Yoda says, “No. There is another.” While the events of Return of the Jedi suggest this “other” person was Leia, it’s also possible Yoda was referring to Rey.

“Yoda doesn’t seem surprised at all that Rey is as strong in the Force as she is, even going as far as to say she doesn’t need the ancient Jedi texts,” writes the theorist.

While it’s not likely that Yoda was actually talking about Rey, the line could have still been laying the groundwork for the next generation of Force users and Rey’s role. After all, we know Yoda can foresee future events. Perhaps Luke trained Rey to be a Jedi at Yoda’s urging. This also reinforces the speculation that Luke, Leia, and Han were all familiar with Rey upon meeting her.

Yoda could have also been referencing Leia, just like we always thought, though further into the future than Return of the Jedi led us to believe. Carrie Fisher’s brother recently revealed a dropped storyline would have seen her character revealed to be the last Jedi in The Rise of Skywalker. Additionally, a leak from Star Wars redditor JediPaxis even proposed that Episode IX included a flashback scene — that may or may not have been filmed — of Luke training Leia as a Jedi.

Whether or not Yoda was referring to Rey, Leia, or someone else entirely, the line seems to offer an unintentional connection to The Rise of Skywalker that could still play a key role in how the saga’s conclusion plays out.

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