The following article will contain spoilers for “Star Wars: Episode VII: The Force Awakens” (2015), “Star Wars: Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back” (1980) as well as potential spoilers for “Star Wars: Episode VIII” (2017) and “Episode IX” (2019). Proceed with caution.

One of the reasons why “Star Wars: Episode VII: The Force Awakens” (2015) received so many poor reviews from critics and disappointed so many fans is because it raised several questions that it never answered. This means that audiences are stuck waiting until next December for the answers which (as painful as the wait may be) gives fans plenty of time to discuss and debate their predictions for “Star Wars: Episode VIII” (2017). VistaNow has provided seven predictions about the film’s story, characters and plot that fans should expect to see in “Star Wars: Episode VIII”:

#1. Finn will be revealed to be the son of Lando Calrissian.

Before you call me a racist for hypothesizing this, let me just say that I am not proposing this because Finn is one of the few black characters to appear in “Star Wars”; I am suggesting this because Finn’s birth name is not known and the “Star Wars” sequel trilogy (2015-2019) is lacking is a Lando-like character. Finn may truly find his confidence, wit and charisma in “Episode VIII” and will start to mirror the personality of his supposed father.

#2. A reunion between Kylo Ren and Leia Solo will occur.

A mother-and-son reunion between Leia and Kylo Ren seems likely because Han reunited with him in “Episode VII”. This reunion could be a powerful and dramatic plot point because it is unsure whether Kylo hates Leia as much as he hated Han and it could help persuade him to rejoin the Light Side of the Force.

#3. Kylo Ren will have a new and different appearance.

At the end of “The Force Awakens”, Kylo Ren’s face was scarred from his battle with Rey. This disfiguration of Kylo’s face could lead to him gaining a new appearance (a helmet or a mask to hide his scarred face) which could make Kylo look 1000 times cooler than he already does.

#4. A member of the Resistance (Finn, Rey, Leia or Poe) will be captured by Captain Phasma and brought to the First Order and Supreme Leader Snoke.

Everyone is fully aware of the massive similarities between the “Star Wars” original trilogy (1977-1983) and the “Star Wars” sequel trilogy, so it is more than reasonable to assume that “Episode VIII” may mirror “The Empire Strikes Back” (1980) by having a seen in which a protagonist is captured and taken to the antagonist. In “The Empire Strikes Back”, Han Solo was frozen in carbonite and taken to Jabba the Hutt by Boba Fett, so it is very possible that we could see a member of the Resistance get captured by Captain Phasma (since her character does slightly resemble Boba Fett’s) and taken to the First Order.

#5. Supreme Leader Snoke will complete Kylo Ren’s training which will result in Kylo Ren gaining new and powerful abilities.
When Starkiller Base was crumbling to oblivion at the end of “The Force Awakens”, a hologram of Supreme Leader Snoke instructed General Hux to find Kylo Ren and bring him to him because “it is time to complete his training”. Fans are not sure what Snoke meant by this or what training Kylo needs to complete, but one thing is known for certain; Kylo gaining new abilities will bad news for the Resistance and our heroes. Perhaps Kylo Ren might learn how to bypass Rey’s powerful mind defense and he will finally be able to learn all of her secrets.

#6. Luke Skywalker and Kylo Ren will battle Rey in an epic duel. In this duel, Rey will lose a hand and Luke will die.

I would say that the probability of Luke dying in a fight against Kylo is somewhere around 50 percent. It is possible that the creative team behind the “Star Wars” sequel trilogy may choose to save Luke’s death for “Episode IX” (2019) or simply not include it all. I am almost 100 percent certain however that Rey will lose a hand though for this reason; in “The Empire Strikes Back”, Luke’s hand was cut off by Darth Vader. In “Attack of the Clones” (2002), Anakin’s hand was cut off by Count Dooku/Darth Tyranus. I can almost guarantee that “Episode VIII” will pay homage to it’s predecessors by allowing this to happen. We do know for certain that Kylo will battle Luke and Rey at some point, but we are not 100 percent when or where the fight will happen or how it will turn out.

#7. Rey’s parentage will not be revealed in “Episode VIII” but…

After reading the script for “Episode VIII”, “The Force Awakens” director J.J. Abrams confirmed that the story was absolutely amazing and that Rey’s parentage would not be revealed in “Episode VIII”. Despite this confirmation, there is still a fan theory about Rey’s parentage that I find to be the most likely; Rey is somehow related to Obi-Wan Kenobi. This is very possible because Rey exhibits some similar traits of Obi-Wan and in the scene in “Episode VII” where she touched Anakin Skywalker’s lightsaber and received a flashback, Ewan McGregor’s (the actor who played Obi-Wan in the “Star Wars” prequel trilogy [1999-2005]) voice can be heard saying, “Rey; these are your first steps…”

Be sure to like and share this story on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and let VistaNow know what you think will happen in “Star Wars: Episode VIII”. I do not know about the rest of you, but (in the words of Han Solo), “I’ve got a bad feeling about this…”