Here's what J.J. Abrams has to say about Rey's parents in 'Star Wars'

NEW YORK, April 16 (UPI) -- Star Wars: The Force Awakens director J.J. Abrams offered a hint regarding the identities of heroine Rey's parents at a panel discussion in New York Friday night.

Abrams participated in a wide-ranging conversation about filmmaking hosted by comedian Chris Rock at the Tribeca Film Festival.

Asked by a young boy in the audience who Rey's parents are in the Star Wars mythology, Abrams replied: "Rey's parents are not in Episode 7 [The Force Awakens,] so I can't possibly, in this moment, tell you who they are. But I will say that it is... This is all I will say. It is something that Rey thinks about, too."

Daisy Ridley played Rey in the blockbuster, which also featured Star Wars icons Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill reprising their roles as Han Solo, Princess Leia and Luke Skywalker. Ridley is set to return for the eighth movie in the franchise.