A new Star Wars film featuring Daisy Ridley's Rey Skywalker was announced during the 2023 Star Wars Celebration, but Lucasfilm reports that online details about the film are inaccurate.
Lucasfilm initially announced three new Star Wars films, including one set to star Ridley as Rey Skywalker. Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, winner of two Academy Awards for documentary shorts, was announced as the director of Ridley's newest Star Wars entry. Afterward, a brief plot synopsis surfaced online from Production Weekly, which said the film follows Rey as she rebuilt the Jedi Order. According to the synopsis, the film follows Rey as she works with two young students who show a tremendous gift with the Force. The film is supposedly set to start filming in April 2024.
However, Lucasfilm told Gizmodo's i09 that the name and synopsis aren’t accurate, and the release date might also change. The name Star Wars: New Jedi Order is a placeholder and will likely not be what the film is titled. The only thing confirmed about the movie's plot is that Ridley will have some role in trying to rebuild the Jedi Order in the film, but she may not be the main focus. The production start date might be accurate, but the writers' strike in Hollywood could push it back.
So, what is confirmed about Rey's return to the big screen? Obaid-Chinoy's role as director is confirmed, and Steven Knight is currently writing the script. While Obaid-Chinoy is relatively unknown as a director, Knight's involvement has excited fans due to his work with hit shows like Peaky Blinders, Taboo, and the movie Locke. The film occurs sometime after Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker and shows Rey attempting to rebuild the Jedi order. However, nothing else is set in stone, including how significant a role Rey will play in the movie’s story. Fans can also safely expect the film to release in 2026. Disney has three release dates for three untitled Star Wars films: May 22, 2026, December 18, 2026, and December 17, 2027, one of which will be Ridley's Star Wars movie.
Lucasfilm has been relatively tight-lipped about Ridley's new Star Wars film since the initial announcement that Rey was returning. While there’s no confirmation, many fans speculate that Rey's potential involvement in the new movie is being scaled back or changed after so many negative reactions to the announcement of her return. Although the Star Wars universe has nearly endless stories that could be told, many fans are disappointed that creators want to bring back the cult-like Jedi Order rather than explore new options. Rey is also a point of contention, with many fans finding the character annoying or unlikeable. Fans also point out that some of the best storytelling in the franchise comes when the focus is not on the Jedi but on characters like the Mandalorian and Cassian Andor.
Still, several fans are excited by the possibility of watching Rey rebuild the Jedi Order. Lucasfilm will likely be slow to reveal new information about Rey's return, as the film is at least three years away. However, the upcoming D23 in 2024 and a Star Wars Celebration in 2025 may be the perfect place for Lucasfilm to give anxious fans more information about Ridley's new Star Wars movie.
Source: Gizmodo