If the name Kaydel Ko Connix means anything to you, it means that you pay really close attention to Star Wars. That’s the identity of the (admittedly minor) character played by Billie Lourd in Star Wars: The Force Awakens and its upcoming sequel The Last Jedi. Lourd’s name may ring a few more bells, though, as she is the daughter of the late Carrie Fisher. Apparently, she could have had a much larger role in the movie. During her recent appearance on The Ellen Show, Lourd told Ellen DeGeneres that J.J. Abrams personally asked her to try out for Rey back when he was having trouble finding the right actress for the role.
“J.J. Abrams called me to come in for Star Wars because he couldn’t find someone for the lead,” recalled Lourd. “He ended up finding Daisy Ridley, who is an incredible actress [and] so talented. But I went in and he ended up giving me this tiny role with a couple of lines and I was super excited.”
It’s intriguing to think of Lourd as Rey, if only for the obvious connection with Fisher’s General Leia. That would have certainly fueled the rumors that Rey is Han Solo and Leia Organa’s secret daughter. While Lieutenant Connix hasn’t made a huge impression in the saga yet, Lourd has gone on to larger roles in Scream Queens and American Horror Story: Cult. And who knows–maybe The Last Jedi will give Connix her big scene!
How do you feel about the possibility of Lourd playing Rey in the new trilogy? Let’s discuss in the comment section below!
Image: Flickr/Gage Skidmore
