Star Wars fans who were anticipating a standalone Rey movie may have a long wait. In an interview with USA Today promoting her new zombie film, We Bury the Dead, Daisy Ridley suggested that a return to the galaxy far, far away may not be on her immediate schedule. When asked if fans could expect any news this year, Ridley said, “I don’t know about 2026,” adding, “In the future sometime, yeah.”
While a Star Wars film focused on Ridley’s character, Rey, was announced at Star Wars Celebration 2023 with Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy to direct, the project has not been mentioned since. The director said she intended to frame the story around exploring Rey’s role as “a female Jedi” and the project was tentatively called New Jedi Order.
LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 07: (L-R) Daisy Ridley, Kathleen Kennedy and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy attend the studio panel at Star Wars Celebration 2023 attends the studio panel at Star Wars Celebration 2023 in London at ExCel on April 07, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Jeff Spicer/Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for Disney)
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But the Star Wars franchise as a whole has struggled on streaming and hasn’t released a theatrical film since 2019’s The Rise of Skywalker. Any momentum a Rey movie may have had appears to have been lost. The recently announced retirement of Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy, one of the Rey movie’s biggest supporters, may be the final word on the project.
Ridley’s uncertainty reflects a broader pattern of silence and indecision surrounding the franchise’s future.
The Star Wars Mystery
At the time of Ridley’s USA Today interview, Kennedy’s retirement was still only rumored. “It won’t affect me going forward if it were to be true,” Ridley said. Her apparent indifference is telling. Whoever holds the reins at Lucasfilm would determine shooting and release schedules, story direction, and Rey’s character arc. Leadership at Lucasfilm may not be a factor for her because the movie has been quietly shelved.
Daisy Ridley as Rey in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019), Lucasfilm
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Instead, Ridley played into the anticipation that the mystery of the filmmaking process can create. “I think what’s lovely is people are excited because they want to see [the films], which is great,” she said. “Everything is so accessible now, it’s really wonderful to be part of something where people maybe don’t know as much,” Ridley added.
But the real mystery, given the lack of news, is when or if the Rey movie will ever enter production. Even Kathleen Kennedy is remaining tight-lipped.
Kathleen Kennedy’s Exit
In her exit interview with Deadline, Kennedy discussed several other Star Wars projects she expects to see come to fruition.
LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 07: Kathleen Kennedy attends the studio panel at Star Wars Celebration 2023 attends the studio panel at Star Wars Celebration 2023 in London at ExCel on April 07, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Jeff Spicer/Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for Disney)
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Some of the movies she discussed, like The Mandalorian and Grogu and Starfighter, are currently in production and have set release dates. Others, like movies from James Mangold, Taika Waititi, and Donald Glover, are currently stalled or “on hold.” She even mentioned The Hunt for Ben Solo. That independently developed concept from star Adam Driver and director Steven Soderbergh was initially approved by Lucasfilm before reportedly being rejected by Disney.
But New Jedi Order is a title that didn’t receive even a passing mention. Ridley herself failed to mention it by name, simply saying, “And I love that people want to know, but it will also be a great surprise then when the thing is done.”
A New Era or a Lost Passion
It was a movie that was positioned as the theatrical future of Star Wars, a narrative reset that would move beyond the Skywalker Saga, and a means of ushering in a new Jedi era with Rey leading the way. Calling New Jedi Order “the thing” doesn’t just show a lack of enthusiasm for a return to Star Wars on Ridley’s part, but is a clear indication that everyone involved has lost their passion for the project.
Daisy Ridley as Rey in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019), Lucasfilm
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No news for a Rey Star Wars movie may ultimately be good news—for a franchise in need of direction.
Do you think the Rey Star Wars movie is still happening? Let us know in the comments!
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What will happen to Charmin Obese-Chipmunk??
I’m sure Disney will hire her for another project. People like her always tend to fail upwards, especially where Disney is concerned.
Indeed. How I abhore that hateful, talentless, bitter old bag. “I want men to suffer” – I mean, they don’t hide it, they’re so rabid.
Insert GrumpyCat_Good.jpg
Oh the irony! Mary Sue Rey Palpatine is promoting a zombie film, and is asked about New Jedi Order, which is, in a different sense, a zombie film. 😂
Hopefully it’s canceled. They should de-canonize the sequel trash that KK and her little team of activists created.