- "Well, we're 15 years out from Rise of Skywalker, so we're post-war, post-First Order, and the Jedi are in disarray. And, there's a lot of discussion around, 'Who are the Jedi? What are they doing? What's the state of the galaxy?' And, [Rey]'s attempting to rebuild the Jedi Order, based on the books, based on what she promised Luke, so that's where we're going."
- ―Kathleen Kennedy
An upcoming live-action Star Wars film helmed by director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy is in development. It will feature Jedi Master Rey Skywalker (played by Daisy Ridley) as she builds a new Jedi Order after the events of the 2019 sequel trilogy film, Star Wars: Episode IX The Rise of Skywalker. The screenplay will be written by George Nolfi, replacing Steven Knight, who in turn replaced the writing duo Damon Lindelof and Justin Britt-Gibson.
Plot summary
Jedi Master Rey Skywalker would usher in an era of a renewed Jedi Order.
Fifteen years after the Battle of Exegol,[3] in the New Jedi Order Era,[5] Jedi Master Rey Skywalker builds a new Jedi Order.[1] However, her efforts are opposed by rising powers that aim to destroy the new Order[6] and the Order's own disarray as she attempts to restore it.[4]
Development
Background
The scavenger-turned-Jedi Rey was portrayed by actress Daisy Ridley over the course of the Star Wars sequel trilogy. These films—2015's Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens,[7] 2017's Star Wars: Episode VIII The Last Jedi,[8] and 2019's Star Wars: Episode IX The Rise of Skywalker—see Rey grow from a scavenger unsure of her place in the galaxy into the last hope of the Jedi Order,[8] culminating in her destroying the resurrected Galactic Emperor and her paternal grandfather, the Sith Lord Darth Sidious, while the Resistance and people of the galaxy overthrow the tyrannical First Order.[9] As established by the 2020 reference book The Star Wars Book by Pablo Hidalgo, Rey became a Jedi Master sometime after the events of The Rise of Skywalker and worked to restore galactic peace while holding that title.[10] Ridley, however, expressed apprehension with returning to the role of Rey, telling Variety in 2019 that The Rise of Skywalker was "a great close." She said she was unsure if it was "possible" to craft a story "extraordinary" enough to convince her to return.[11]
Around the same time, Ridley reiterated in an interview to Screen Rant that The Rise of Skywalker felt like the end of her Star Wars journey. Furthermore, Ridley stated that any hypothetical return would also need to feature Rey's comrades Finn[12]—a Force-sensitive First Order stormtrooper-turned-Resistance general played by John Boyega—and Poe Dameron,[12] the Oscar Isaac-portrayed Resistance pilot who also served as a general in the Resistance.[9] Ridley also suggested that[12] series newcomer Jannah, another former stormtrooper who joined the Resistance and was played by Naomi Ackie,[9] should appear in Rey's hypothetical return.[12] In an interview with Empire magazine published in November, 2021, Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy teased the return of Rey, Finn and Poe Dameron by saying they were "not characters we're going to forget" and that there were "conversations" amongst the Lucasfilm creative team about where to take them next.[13]
Initial reports
Reports, entering the creatives
On March 14, 2022, The Ankler reported that Damon Lindelof was working as a writer on a new Star Wars film.[14] On May 26, while at Celebration Anaheim, Kennedy confirmed that future films in the Star Wars franchise would take place after the events of the sequel trilogy, saying "[the sequel era] is what we talk a lot about in terms of where we're going with our movies, and just how far out from that we'll go. That's very much the space we're concentrating on."[15] On October 23, Deadline reported that Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy had boarded the project to direct Lindelof's script.[16] Obaid-Chinoy would later state that she was attracted to the story because of the hero's journey, a storytelling style that she felt was central to Star Wars and fit naturally into the questions around rebuilding the Jedi.[17] She also believed that Rey was at the center of the Star Wars universe and, reflecting on her decision to direct, expressed an interest in building "the next adventure" that came after the sequel trilogy.[18]
The next day, on October 24, The Hollywood Reporter reported that Justin Britt-Gibson joined Lindelof as a co-writer on the project after Lucasfilm held a "secret writers room" for two weeks in July with various creative figures present. The report also claimed that the project would be set after the events of Star Wars: Episode IX The Rise of Skywalker.[19] On March 22, 2023, Variety reported that Lindelof and Britt-Gibson departed the project a month prior in February and that Steven Knight was hired to rewrite the story.[20] On April 18, Lindelof officially commented on his departure from the project, saying that for him, the project was a "true labor of love." He also wished the film's creative team the best of luck.[21] On April 28, Lindelof elaborated, stating he worked extensively on the project and was then asked to leave.[22]
Enter Daisy Ridley
In that time, several rumors floated about an upcoming Rey project, with even Ridley hearing rumors of a story about an older Rey being in development. However, Ridley herself thought she would only return in ten years or more after The Rise of Skywalker's release.[23] On December 2, 2022,[24] during a day off shooting her film Magpie,[25] Ridley visited Lucasfilm headquarters for[24] a breakfast[25] or lunch[24] meeting with Kathleen Kennedy. Ridley denied on social media that the meeting was for any future projects,[24] but later admitted in a November 2023 Hollywood Reporter interview that she had been offered a role in the film at that meeting.[26] All the same, Ridley at first had thought the meeting would, indeed, simply be a breakfast, as she and Kennedy had enjoyed meals together in the past without any business involved. Ridley even told a personal friend, who asked if the meeting would involve a new Rey project, that she did not believe such a story would be discussed.[25]
Instead, much to Ridley's surprise,[25] Kennedy would pitch the film during the meeting,[27] revealing its development to her[25] and asking Ridley if she was interested in returning.[26] After thinking over the idea,[27] as part of her feared it was too soon to return,[23] and learning of the planned story, Ridley decided the film was something she wanted to do.[27] Before agreeing, Ridley sought advice from her mother and husband about returning.[23] She later reflected that returning was not "a difficult decision," yet it was also not something she agreed to right away. Kennedy gave her as much time as she needed to decide.[28] By the time she told Lucasfilm she would return for the film, she had fallen in love with its story.[29]
Official reveal
- "When we did the announcement last year, it was really, my agent flew over and honestly, I came off and we were all really emotional. Of course, I always feel lucky to be part of it, but it was like a reminder I suppose of, sorry I'm just gabbling, but I suppose a reminder of how people do feel about Rey. I was like, "It's wonderful." It's wonderful to be part of something that people love and to play a character that people... It's so weird. It's really making me emotional thinking about it. I get to have more adventures. I'm like, "Where is she now? What is this new adventure and how are things going to go?" That's a long way of saying it's great. It's really great."
- ―Daisy Ridley reflects on the reveal
Daisy Ridley and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy announcing the project at Celebration Europe
At Celebration Europe on April 7, 2023, much of the priorly reported information was officially confirmed by Lucasfilm. Alongside the announcement of two other films, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy was officially confirmed as director and the project was confirmed to take place after the events of The Rise of Skywalker. Furthermore, Daisy Ridley was formally announced to be reprising her role as Rey Skywalker in the film and appeared on-stage.[1] According to Kathleen Kennedy, who was—as noticed by Variety writers Amon Warmann and William Earl—"keen" to discuss the film,[31] asking Ridley to attend the panel in person had been "a pretty straightforward phone call."[32] In an interview after the panel with Yahoo, Kennedy confirmed that the film had been in development for several years and that Steven Knight was writing the current iteration of the script, which was due to be handed in within six weeks.[33] The positive response to her return warmed Ridley's heart, made her emotional,[30] and helped prepare her for the film after a period of feeling overwhelmed.[29] Immediately after the panel, in an interview with IGN, Kennedy confirmed the film would be set fifteen years after the events of The Rise of Skywalker and would explore the post-war, post-First Order world of the Star Wars Galaxy, during which time the Jedi Order was in disarray as Rey attempts to rebuild it. Furthermore, Kennedy revealed the people of the galaxy would be questioning who exactly the Jedi even were as Rey tried to rebuild the Order based on its texts and her promise to[4] her own mentor,[9] Luke Skywalker.[4] With the announcement, Obaid-Chinoy made note of her interest in the hero's journey as something she could reflect in the film.[17]
On April 13, This Week! in Star Wars repeated that the film would take place fifteen years after The Rise of Skywalker.[3] On April 20, Obaid-Chinoy revealed that the film would be the next Star Wars film to release.[34] Star Wars Insider then teased in issue 219 that the film would entail rising powers that wanted to destroy the new Jedi.[6] On November 21, in an interview with Collider, Daisy Ridley commented that she thought the story for the film was "really cool" and that the film was not what she expected, but she is nonetheless very excited to work on the film. Ridley also revealed that she was not approached for a part in the film until after February 2023.[35] Expressing excitement an interview with CNN on December 31, Chinoy stated that the film was going to be "very special." She further noted how she felt it was "about time" a female director had the chance "to shape the story in a galaxy far, far away."[36]
Continued interviews and reports
2024: January to March
- "I know a script is happening, and I'm going to be reading it imminently, which is very exciting."
- ―Daisy Ridley, circa March 2024
As of January 2024, as established on January 16, Lucasfilm confirmed the film was still in development and that they were waiting on the latest draft from Steven Knight.[38] Indeed, Ridley herself stated in a January 12-published interview that she was happy to return to the Star Wars universe, describing the forthcoming film as a fantastic exploration and cool continuation of the universe.[27] She further remarked in an interview with Variety, published on January 24, that Sharmeen had given her a rundown of the entire story, which had helped convince her to join the project in the first place; according to Ridley, Sharmeen's idea was "cool as shit" and "worthwhile." When asked how Sharmeen's status as the first female Star Wars director would change the series, Ridley answered that she did not know the answer, but that she was excited to work with someone whose documentaries and story pitch she loved. She further noted that she did not know "what or who is who" in the film when asked a question in regards to her sequel trilogy co-stars Adam Driver, John Boyega, and Oscar Isaac,[39] who played the fallen-and-then-redeemed Jedi Ben Solo, Finn, and Dameron, respectively.[9]
As noted by Inverse in a January 25th article, Ridley also did not rule out returning to Star Wars once again in a hypothetical sequel.[40] In an interview published on January 29, Ridley affirmed to interviewer Josh Horowitz that she would not have returned if she did not like the story presented to her. She stated the film had a fun direction and reflected that she would be finding herself as an experienced Star Wars actor on set, instead of being one of the newer crowd, as she was in the sequel trilogy.[23] Ridley talked about the positive emotions she felt returning to Star Wars with Collider on January 31, 2024.[30] In a subsequent interview with Collider published on March 9, by which point rumors had circulated that the film would be titled "New Jedi Order," Ridley affirmed that she was unfamiliar with that title but revealed that a script would be finished shortly. She stated she was excited to read that script in the near future. She was further hopeful that filming would start that year but noted that the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike had delayed the timeline.[37]
A March 10-published interview with Deadline saw Ridley repeat that she was still waiting to read a script and that she knew "bits and bobs" of the story, including that it would introduce new characters. However, she ruled out the idea of Rey having children, or at least any likely possibility of that, due to her understanding of the Jedi Code. Furthermore, she stated she did not know if any other existing characters would appear, specifically saying she did not know if[41] the deceased[9] Ben Solo would appear in some form.[41] Driver himself in 2024, however, said he has no intention of returning to the Star Wars franchise[42] and revealed in 2025 he had pitched a film of his own in The Hunt for Ben Solo, only for that project to be shot down by Disney.[43] In a March 11, 2024, interview with Den of Geek, in which Ridley did not respond to the film's title being "New Jedi Order" when the interviewer called it the "tentative title," Ridley stated that she was excited to explore Rey as a teacher and revealed Rey would act differently as a master than her own mentor, Luke Skywalker. She also reflected on how strange it was to return to Star Wars after her work in other films since The Rise of Skywalker.[44]
In another March 11 interview, this discussion with Screen Rant, Ridley said that she would love to see Finn return in the film as a Jedi, but admitted such a decision would be "above [her] pay grade" and was not a choice that was up to her.[45] That May, Ridley repeated her desire to see Finn appear in the film, stating "it feels like" Finn should be involved.[46] While Boyega has criticized his treatment within the sequel trilogy, he had also noted an opening to return to the series by that time, saying as such in 2023. While in that 2023 interview he said he was open to all possibilities,[47] Boyega had suggested in 2019 that he would only return in a hypothetical film if Isaac and Ridley were also involved. Isaac, for his part, said in 2019 that The Rise of Skywalker felt like "closing of a chapter of my life."[11] In 2025, Isaac would outright deny that he would appear in the film when asked by a fan.[48]
2024: April to October
- "Maybe you've heard. I'm all the Jedi. […] I've studied the sacred texts of the Jedi. Do you know what the most important pages are? It's the blank ones left at the end. Because those ancient teachers knew those lessons weren't finished and never could be. […] Ben was right about letting go of the past. But not about killing it. My task is to make something new. Not by killing the past, but by building on all that's good in it."
- ―Rey Skywalker, as quoted in a 2024 Holocron
In an interview with Empire magazine published on April 8, Ridley affirmed that she was ready to return to the role of Rey, stating that she felt like she's was "owning" the role as "an adult." In that interview, she affirmed she knew the film's story beats and revealed she was preparing to read a script, stating that she was "curious about it all." She also reflected on the joy she felt for the sequel films and how, if she had not been excited for the upcoming film, she would not have returned.[28] Around May of that year, a new Holocron was released at Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge that featured a post-Rise of Skywalker Rey reflecting on her place in the galaxy, which became the latest "story" for Rey in the Star Wars timeline as of that moment. The Holocron saw Rey affirm her place as a Skywalker and her efforts to build something new out of the good of the past Jedi Order.[49]
In June, Ridley visited the Disneyland park, where she saw her own appearance as a holographic Rey in Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and then encountered an actress playing Rey in Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge. The encounter with "herself" was surreal to Ridley, but she also reflected in a later interview with The Hollywood Reporter that "it was really joyful" and increased her excitement to return to Rey herself.[50] In a June 10-released interview, Ridley also touched on the "exciting" future before her, stating that the new creatives involved—writer Knight and director Obaid-Chinoy—would give the film a new feel compared to prior Star Wars outings. She stated she would be reading a script "soonish" and, when asked if she would do another trilogy, replied was only doing one film "for now."[25]
Director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy (pictured) outlined an interest in introducing a new cast of characters while also paying respect to the characters of past creatives.
Also published that June, Obaid-Chinoy had an interview with SiriusXM in which she touched on the Rey film, with the director reflecting on how all involved wanted take the time to tell a good story for Ridley's character. To Obaid-Chinoy, the task before her was creating an adventure that would follow up her journey in the sequel trilogy. Obaid-Chinoy stated that the story would see Rey enter a life involving a Jedi academy. Further, Obaid-Chinoy revealed had spoken to Star Wars creator George Lucas,[18] sequel trilogy director[9] J.J. Abrams, and major Star Wars creative Dave Filoni, whom she continued to consult with on a regular basis. Further, she mentioned Kennedy, Carrie Beck, and Simon Emanuel as major figures behind the project. It was Obaid-Chinoy's hope to respect pre-existing characters like Rey and to also introduce a new cast for the next generation of fans to latch onto.[18]
Enter George Nolfi
- "The way I approach it is, you look at what's come before you, you look at the broad ideas of what they want to do. Meaning: Lucasfilm, Disney, Sharmeen [Obaid-Chinoy], the director, and then you do what a writer does, and try to try and put beats of a story together. Try and imagine characters, and then you present that with an understanding that it needs to honour, obviously, a long, incredible tradition."
- ―George Nolfi
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter published on October 25, but held before that date by the article's own admission, Ridley shared her story about Disneyland and her own fears about returning to Rey, noting how much had changed for her since she had last inhabited the role. However, she also said that created a sense of excitement in her.[50] However, in that same month, October of 2024, Puck News and Variety reported that Steven Knight had exited the project,[51] with Deadline further reporting Lucasfilm was actively searching for new writers.[52] Nonetheless, Ridley stated on an October 25th episode of the Happy Sad Confused podcast that news about the film was imminent, even hinting that she had already seen something about its next stages.[53] Her interview with The Hollywood Reporter in which she shared her Disneyland story and excitement about returning was also published on October 25th.[50] Ridley told USA Today on November 4 that Rey's future was exciting and forthcoming.[54]
On January 24, 2025, The Hollywood Reporter reported that George Nolfi had joined the film as the fourth writer attached to the project,[55] and Ridley responded by posting the article's title to her Instagram page.[56] Nolfi confirmed his involvement on the film on February 3 in an interview with Film Stories.[2] On February 14, an interview between Ridley and The Hollywood Reporter was published, in which Ridley stated the film's script was being given freedom and time to be the best possible version of its story. She urged fans that the wait for the film would be worth it. She also praised Nolfi as a writer and noted she was excited to read his script.[57] In another interview with Collider, published earlier on February 10, Ridley revealed she had "been very involved" in the film in a somewhat hands-on capacity, having become more involved as the years passed. Aware of what was happening behind the scenes, including with the script and the film's story, she promised the film had the best crew and actors possible and was reaching "the absolute best place to tell this particular story."[58] On March 10, The Direct published an interview with Ridley within which The Direct described the film as a project that had seen delays. As rumors had been circulating that Kennedy would step down from her position within Lucasfilm, Ridley affirmed that, as she understood things, Kennedy was "very involved" in the Rey film. She also stated she did not know when the film would begin filming when asked.[59]
Celebration 2025 and beyond
- "It made sense to expand the franchise in that way. I'm just looking forward, first of all seeing if it's real, because sometimes we have had a few Star Wars announcements. You know development is development, you can't always get it done. I'm just hoping that Daisy gets that chance to shine in a franchise that's finally hers, where she is now the bona fide Jedi, I think is exciting, and I can't wait to watch it. I really can't. I'm happy for her."
- ―John Boyega, Daisy Ridley's sequel trilogy costar
At Star Wars Celebration Japan, Kennedy and Filoni promised that Chinoy's Star Wars film was still in active development,[61] but there was otherwise little news shared about the movie.[62] At a question and answer panel in Feburary, Ridley had stated she wanted to go to Celebration Japan but teased she "might be doing something then production-wise" instead, a comment that Collider reported on as "ominous."[63] In a May interview with Happy Sad Confused, Finn actor John Boyega shared that he was excited for the film and believed it made sense to expand the franchise with a Ridley-led movie, with Boyega further expressing hope that she would have a chance to shine as a Jedi and as the star of Star Wars. However, he also expressed worry that Ridley's film would not be finished, citing recent, canceled Star Wars projects.[60] Boyega's comments appeared to confirm he would not be returning in the film.[62]
Release and reception
On April 20, 2023, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy announced that her project would be "the next Star Wars film" to release,[34] meaning the film would inhabit the soonest reserved Star Wars release date slot on Disney's release schedule, which, at the time, was December 19, 2025.[64] After the start of the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike, Disney shifted their theatrical film release slate in June, with the release date slot being pushed to May 22, 2026.[65] On January 9, 2024, however, it was announced that The Mandalorian and Grogu would in fact be the next film to be released,[66] and was later confirmed to inhabit the May 2026 slot.[67]
Credits
| Cast | Uncredited cast | Crew | Uncredited crew | Special thanks |
Appearances
| Characters | Organisms | Droid models | Events | Locations |
| Organizations and titles | Sentient species | Vehicles and vessels | Weapons and technology | Miscellanea |
Characters
Events
Organizations and titles
Sentient species
Miscellanea
Sources
SWCE 2023: All the Big News on StarWars.com (backup link)- SWCE 2023: Three New Star Wars Movies Announced on StarWars.com (backup link)
- SWCE 2023: 11 Highlights from Lucasfilm's Studio Showcase on StarWars.com (backup link)
- This Week! in Star Wars Star Wars Celebration Europe 2023 Recap on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link) (Posted on StarWars.com)
- "Launchpad" — Star Wars Insider 219
- Star Wars: Best of 2023 on StarWars.com (backup link)
- The Mandalorian & Grogu Journeys to the Big Screen on StarWars.com (backup link)
- Director Shawn Levy's Star Wars: Starfighter Film Starts Production This Fall on StarWars.com (backup link)
Notes and references
External links
- Secret 'Star Wars' Film From Damon Lindelof And Lucasfilm Sets 'Ms Marvel's Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy As Director by Justin Kroll on Deadline (October 23, 2022) (backup link archived on November 1, 2022)
- A Secret Writers Room, a Rising Scribe and a Post-'Skywalker' Timeline: A Look Inside Damon Lindelof's 'Star Wars' Movie (Exclusive) by Borys Kit on The Hollywood Reporter (October 24, 2022) (backup link archived on November 1, 2022)
- Steven Knight to Write New 'Star Wars' Movie After Damon Lindelof, Justin Britt-Gibson Exit (EXCLUSIVE) by Adam B. Vary on Variety (March 22, 2023) (backup link archived on March 22, 2023)
- Daisy Ridley to Reprise Role as Rey in New 'Star Wars' Film by Vary, Adam B.; Warmann, Amon on Variety (April 7, 2023) (backup link archived on June 19, 2023)
- Daisy Ridley's New 'Star Wars' Movie Will Find the 'Jedi in Disarray' 15 Years After 'Rise of Skywalker,' Luke Skywalker Force Ghost Is TBD by Zack Sharf on Variety (April 10, 2023) (backup link archived on April 27, 2023)
- 'Thunderbolts', 'Blade', 'Avengers: Kang Dynasty', 'Secret Wars' Among Disney Release Date Changes Due To WGA Strike by Anthony D'Alessandro on Deadline (June 13, 2023) (backup link archived on June 13, 2023)
- Daisy Ridley Says Her New Star Wars Movie Is "Not What I Expected" [Exclusive] on Collider.com (November 21, 2023) (backup link archived on November 22, 2023)
