With the Sykwalker getting ready to end when Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker hits theaters in December, it’s a safe bet that the film will try to tackle the true nature of The Force. Is it an energy that surrounds us all or is it bacteria? While we still don’t know what happens in the new movie (despite the several rumored spoilers), we do know that the nature of the Force is important enough that it actually came up in a conversation between JJ Abrams and George Lucas. Here’s what Abrams had to say in a new interview with Total Film:

“He had a lot of things to say about the nature of the Force, the themes that he was dealing with when he was writing the movies,” Abrams reveals to our sister publication Total Film in their latest isse. “Yes, there were some conversations about Midi-chlorians – he loves his Midi-chlorians. But it was a very helpful thing. Sitting with him is a treat, just to hear him talk, because it’s fucking George Lucas talking about Star Wars. I always feel it’s a gift to hear him talk about that stuff. Because the effect that he had on me at 10 years old is utterly profound.”

While some people might worry that the universally disliked Midi-Chlorian theory could find its way into episode IX, Abrams’ tone makes it sound like hearing about them from Lucas was like listening to a story from a crazy uncle. It’s a good story, but it’s not going to happen.