The plot thickens: four creative fan theories about Star Wars: The Force Awakens

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  Courtesy Secret Cinema

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  David James / Lucasfilm / Disney

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  Film Frame / Lucasfilm via AP

In the absence of official information about the plot of Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens, which was partly filmed in Abu Dhabi and is released this week, fans have been busy coming up with their own theories about the story and characters, and sharing them online. We take a look at four of the most interesting suggestions and evaluate the likelihood of them happening.

• The Force Awakens is out in the UAE on Thursday. The regional premiere – an invite-only event – is at Emirates Palace on Wednesday

The much-maligned Jar Jar Binks is a Sith Lord, and could return to play a key role in the continuing Star Wars story

This one has been doing the rounds online ever since Reddit user Lumpawaroo (named after Chewbacca's son from 1978's bizarre, rarely seen, made-for-TV Star Wars Holiday Special) wrote a lengthy dissertation in October. He is certainly thorough in arguing his case.

The key points he makes include the fact that Jar Jar is an accomplished warrior, despite his clumsiness. The theory posits that he is employing skills akin to Drunken Fist Kung Fu.

Furthermore, Lumpawaroo suggests that the rise of such a bumbling idiot to the heights of the Senate is not a question of luck, but cunning use of Jedi mind control. The theory even goes on to explain that Jar Jar and Senator Palpatine are partners in the prequel movies – noting that being from the same planet is, in the Star Wars Universe, pretty much like being brothers.

Finally, Lumpawaroo makes a fairly convincing case that Jar Jar was intended to be revealed as the key villain over the course of the prequel trilogy, before the negative audience reaction to him in The Phantom Menace forced George Lucas into a hasty rewrite.

Lumpawaroo has done his research and some points do make sense – but I’m sticking to my theory that Jar Jar was simply extremely annoying comic relief. I’m relieved Disney has confirmed he won’t be appearing.

Likelihood? Absolutely none

Darth Vader will return

We know Darth Vader is dead. We saw his epic death scene and Force ghost at the end of 1983's Return of the Jedi, so surely this theory is dead in the water? Not according to i09's Germain Lussier, who suggests that Kylo Ren will resurrect Vader, perhaps using the Force, which in extended-universe spin-off stories has been revealed as capable of extending life, or through cloning.

Likelihood: Unconvincing. From what we've seen, Ren seems more interested in keeping Vader's memory alive than in resurrecting him.

Rey and Kylo Ren are twins

The theory here goes that Rey and Ren are the children of either Luke Skywalker or – more likely since Luke has never had a love interest in the previous movies – Princess Leia. The theory goes that Rey spends her life scavenging wreckage in a search for clues about her origins, while Ren dedicates his life to continuing the work of his grandfather, Darth Vader. Both are Force-sensitive – this at least seems to have been confirmed in trailers – so that would link in with the family ties, and J J Abrams’ efforts to remain true to the original would be helped with a surprise sibling twist, to mirror the Luke and Leia revelation in the original trilogy.

Likelihood: Seems plausible – although would it perhaps be a little too derivative?

Han Solo will die

In the first teaser trailer for The Force Awakens, Daisy Ridley's Rey can be seen crying over what looks like a dead body, though we can't see who it is. With persistent rumours that Rey is the daughter of Han Solo and Leia, Ridley would clearly be devastated to lose the father she has presumably just met. Furthermore, Harrison Ford is known to have asked for Solo to be killed in 1983's Return of the Jedi and has always been the least willing of the original cast to return to the franchise – so maybe he will get his wish in the follow -up?

Likelihood: A pretty good bet.