Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker may finally reveal that Finn was a Jedi all along, and we didn’t even know. A new, extremely in-depth theory claims that the Force awakens in both Rey and Finn in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, pointing to evidence from recent video games, official movie novelizations, and the sequels themselves. to make an extremely convincing argument that could have big ramifications in Episode IX.

As one of the first to defect from the First Order (yes, comparisons can be made to Anakin Skywalker doing the same with the Jedi Council), Finn establishes himself as a unique character within the Star Wars universe. Finn may have even exhibited Force-sensitivity even before Rey’s introduction in The Force Awakens. Over at Star Wars Shadow Council, a writer going by the pseudonym The Mandalorian Wolf provides the evidence to back up the claim that Finn has just as much, if not more, potential, of being a Jedi as Rey does.

In one of his first scenes, the Resistance fighter loses one of his closest friends and fellow Storm Trooper, Slip (a character whose relationship with Finn is expanded upon in the novels). The Mandalorian Wolf argues that it’s in that “emotionally crushing” moment when Finn’s Force awakening initially occurs. Immediately after Slip’s death in The Force Awakens, Finn whips around at the sound of something only he seems to hear. In the background, the fight goes on uninterrupted and it’s made clear that no one else hears the same thing he does.

In the very same scene, Kylo Ren pauses on his way to his ship and turns to give Finn a significant look (longer than anyone has ever lingered on a Storm Trooper). It also comes on the heels of Finn hearing a mysterious sound. In a scene with a battle waging in the background, why would Kylo stop to take note of a presumably insignificant and nameless Storm Trooper? If Kylo sensed the awakening of the Force in Finn, then it would explain why he has a visible disdain for the former Storm Trooper.

The Mandalorian Wolf continues in the same vein and wonders why “Maz even give Finn, a total stranger, a weapon that belonged to Luke Skywalker instead of” Han Solo. It’s a fair question since Han Solo is standing directly behind Finn. Han, as we know, is not Force-sensitive, so Maz’s reasons and the connection to the Force becomes a bit more obvious. If Maz was simply going to pass on the lightsaber to Rey, she could’ve also handed it to Han to deliver it to her, marking the moment a significant one in Finn’s story.

Finn with Luke's lightsaber. Lucasfilm

These are just a few examples in a very detailed theory that makes a whole lot of sense in the grand scheme of things. Additionally, it does seem like the newest Star Wars sequel trilogy has been building towards something big for Finn’s storyline, and we may finally get some payoff in Episode IX — one theory even suggests the possibility of Finn leading an insurgence of Storm Troopers against the First Order.

While Rey has her mysterious parentage and the Force-connection she shares with Kylo to contend with, Finn is already shaping up to be a major player in The Rise of Skywalker and being revealed as a Jedi might just be the key in defeating the First Order (and Emperor Palpatine) once and for all.

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