The Force is strong with Daisy Ridley, who will reprise her role as Rey Skywalker in a new Star Wars film set 15 years after the events of The Rise of Skywalker. The film, which will be directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy and written by Steven Knight, will explore Rey’s journey to establish a new Jedi Order and face new threats in a galaxy that may not want or need her.
Rey, who was revealed to be the granddaughter of Emperor Palpatine in the final installment of the sequel trilogy, inherited the Skywalker legacy and the Jedi mantle from Luke and Leia. She also ignited a new lightsaber with a yellow blade, signaling a new era for the Jedi. But what does it mean to be a Jedi in a post-Palpatine world? How will Rey train a new generation of Force-users without falling into the same mistakes of the past? And who will stand against her and her allies?
These are some of the questions that the new film, tentatively titled Star Wars: New Jedi Order, will attempt to answer. According to Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy, who announced the project at Star Wars Celebration 2023 in London, the film will challenge Rey’s role as a leader and a hero in a galaxy that has changed since the fall of the First Order.
“The question that we’re gonna ask with New Jedi Order and with Rey, is does the galaxy need them anymore? Do they want them back? So there’s a lot of food for thought in what we’re doing, whether it’s in the past, present, or future,” Kennedy said.
The film will also feature some familiar faces from the sequel trilogy, such as Finn (John Boyega), Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac), Rose Tico (Kelly Marie Tran), and BB-8. However, Kennedy hinted that there will be some surprises and twists along the way.
“We’re not going to spoil anything, but let’s just say that Rey’s new Jedi Order will be different from Luke Skywalker’s in many ways. And there will be some new characters that will shake things up and challenge our heroes in unexpected ways,” she said.
The film is expected to be released in 2025, as part of a new slate of Star Wars films that will explore different eras and aspects of the Star Wars universe. Among them are James Mangold’s film about the origins of the Jedi, Dave Filoni’s film about the war between the New Republic and the Imperial Remnant, and Taika Waititi’s film about an unknown topic.
Ridley, who has been absent from the big screen since The Rise of Skywalker, expressed her excitement to return to Star Wars and play Rey again.
“I’m thrilled to be back as Rey and to continue her story with Sharmeen and Steven. They have created an amazing script that honors what came before but also takes Rey and the Jedi to new places. I can’t wait to share it with the fans,” she said.