J.J. Abrams just ruled out a ton of possibilities for Rey’s parents

In the wake of the awesomeness that was Star Wars: The Force Awakens, fans were left feeling a lot of feelings. First, there was the general tingly excitement from seeing that wonderful world come back to life in such an amazing way. Secondly, there was a nostalgia and sadness at the fate of one of the franchise’s most beloved characters. But perhaps more than anything, there was a burning curiosity about one major unsolved mystery: Who are Rey’s parents? It’s a simple question, but a totally loaded one.

Family has always played a huge role in the storyline of the Star Wars series. I mean, “Luke, I am your father,” is maybe one of the most quoted movie lines of all time. And family already factored in big-time in Star Wars: The Force Awakens as the complicated and brooding Kylo Ren turned out to be the son of Princess (now General) Leia and Han Solo ( of course).

Rey’s mysterious family origins weren’t completely glossed over in this film. In fact, when we meet Rey, she is keeping a daily tally on her wall of how long it’s been since they’ve been gone. And at one point during the film, there’s a telling (yet conspicuously general) flashback where we see a young Rey forced to be left alone as her family flies off. Combine all that with her natural knack for using the Force and a connection with Luke Skywalker’s light saber, and you get the feeling this girl must have a powerful lineage.

So, when recently asked point blank about her family during a Q&A, director J.J. Abrams just reaffirmed what we already knew: Their identities weren’t made clear in the movie, so we don’t yet know. Then, according to EW, he did dish something pretty juicy about the possibilities of her parentage, saying, “What I meant was that she doesn’t discover them in Episode VII. Not that they may not already be in her world.”

Wait, does that mean we met Rey’s parents already in the film and we just didn’t know it? Did Luke Skywalker go wayward from the ways of the Jedi like his father and have a child? But then, wouldn’t Rey already know him? Or is she maybe the child of General Leia and Han Solo? Leia and Rey did share that really sweet hug. Or maybe, just maybe, it goes further back and she’s the wayward offspring of Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi somehow? The possibilities, like Rey’s potential with The Force, seem endless.

Unfortunately, we’ll all have to wait until they release the already highly-anticipated-though-yet-to-be-named sequel Episode VIII in December 2017. It’s a long wait from now, but will be undoubtedly worth it.