If this pans out, then there is major news today about who actor Domhnall Gleeson is playing in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Put your skeptical goggles on before reading, but be aware that this constitutes potentially major spoilers.
In case you haven't been keeping up, rumors have been flowing steadily from the set of The Force Awakens for months, explaining much of the film's plot and most of the characters in it. In short, the latest rumors suggest that it's set 30 years after Return of the Jedi, with the galaxy embroiled in a "Galactic Cold War." Much like the nuclear weapon-based Cold War of the '80s between the USA and Russia, the Galactic Cold War has the two superpowers — the Rebel Alliance and what remains of the Empire — both constructing Death Star-like super-weapons that enforce a fragile peace.
Meanwhile, Luke Skywalker has been in self-imposed exile for years, guarding the tomb of some ancient evil (Darth Bane, perhaps?) and going a little mad in the process. A baddie named Kylo Ren (Adam Driver, probably) really wants to open that tomb, and figures out that a lightsaber held in secret by Han & Leia Solo's daughter Rey (Daisy Ridley) holds the key.
Whew. Still with me? Oh, and there's a whole bunch of stuff about John Boyega's character Finn, a Stormtrooper who goes AWOL and ends up on a big adventure with Rey after he finds that like her, he's Force-sensitive. (Finn, Rey and a few others are being set up as the main characters of the new Star Wars trilogy.)
Today's rumor cast light on the possible identity of Domhnall Gleeson's character, along with what he does in the film. If true, then Gleeson is playing a particularly crucial role. The rumor, originated by MakingStarWars.net, states that Gleeson's character is a former Rebel who defected and is now an officer of the Empire, yet (if it's not already complicated enough) is actually serving a secret, more personal purpose. Turns out, Gleeson is a peacenik who's out to destroy the aforementioned super-weapons owned by each side.
More interestingly, Gleeson has a secret heritage that makes his actions even more shocking: he's the son of Luke Skywalker. Because the Skywalkers weren't dysfunctional enough already, this rumor makes it sound as if Luke's son has strongly differing ideals to that of dear old dad, though he certainly thinks that what he's doing is right — even if he has to engage in some extremely bad actions to accomplish his goals.
Cold War stuff aside, this (potential) revelation leads to two big questions.
1. Is Gleeson's character Force-sensitive? Because almost every other Skywalker has been.
2. Who's his mom?
If true, this also makes Gleeson the cousin of Daisy Ridley's character Rey. Though who knows if either one even knows the other exists?
But it's this big question of who exactly Luke hooked up with to produce a son that's most fascinating. Whoever she was, she must be out of the picture for father and son to be estranged and Luke subjecting himself to remote guard duty. Perhaps it was Gleeson turning away from the Alliance that spurred Luke into exile, sort of like Yoda's retreat to Dagobah.
Take all of this with an Everest-sized grain of salt. As far as we know, it's entirely rumor and speculation.
For now.
