Daisy Ridley talks returning as Rey in Star Wars: New Jedi Order movie

Daisy Ridley talks returning as Rey in Star Wars: New Jedi Order movie

As a fan of both Star Wars and Daisy Ridley’s journey, I find it truly inspiring to see how far she has come since her debut as Rey in The Force Awakens. Her growth, both as an actress and a person, is evident in her reflections on the experience and the challenges she faced along the way.


Currently, the Star Wars universe is undergoing an intriguing phase of transformation. Earlier in the year, The Acolyte debuted on Disney+ but was unfortunately canceled following its first season. In December, we’ll be treated to Skeleton Crew, a fresh series featuring a group of children embarking on a space voyage alongside Jude Law and encountering delightful space pirates. After that, it appears there won’t be much activity on the small screen for a while. It seems like The Acolyte and Skeleton Crew were among the last shows given the green light a few years ago during Lucasfilm and Disney’s eagerness to produce new content for Disney+, and following this flurry of productions, it looks like the slate will be wiped clean.

As TV programming shifts focus, there will be an increase in the reappearance of Star Wars films. It’s been quite some time since the last Star Wars film, The Rise of Skywalker, hit theaters in 2019, marking the conclusion of the sequel trilogy that saw Daisy Ridley as the rising Jedi Rey, John Boyega as former stormtrooper Finn, Oscar Isaac as the skilled Rebel pilot Poe Dameron, and Adam Driver as the complex antagonist Kylo Ren. This trilogy sparked much debate among fans for various reasons, and since then, Lucasfilm has been working on several new films, some of which have since been put on hold.

The situation might soon be different, as it was revealed back in 2023 that three new “Star Wars” films are under production. The first one, titled “The Mandalorian & Grogu“, is scheduled to release in 2026 and is being led by “Star Wars” veteran Dave Filoni. This film will introduce popular Disney+ characters such as Mando, Grogu, and Grand Admiral Thrawn onto the big screen. Following this, there’s “Dawn of the Jedi“, a movie focusing on the first Jedi, directed by James Mangold (Logan)). Lastly, “New Jedi Order” is set to arrive, helmed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy (Ms. Marvel) and featuring the return of Daisy Ridley as Rey.

Approximately 15 years following the events of “The Rise of Skywalker”, “Star Wars: New Jedi Order” centers around Rey’s efforts to rebuild the Jedi Order after her confrontation with Emperor Palpatine. Recently, Ridley shared insights about her return to the Star Wars universe in an interview with French publication Premiere during the Deauville American Film Festival. In her own words, “If I didn’t believe the story was worth telling, I wouldn’t have returned.

Daisy Ridley talks returning as Rey in Star Wars: New Jedi Order movie

Daisy Ridley signed on for Star Wars: New Jedi Order before there was even a script

As a gamer, I was really intrigued if Ridley Scott had any sort of binding agreement to revisit the franchise; there wasn’t. This was entirely her choice. “To be honest,” she shared, “I was approached with an idea, one that didn’t even have a script yet. But if I hadn’t been captivated by the concept, this movie wouldn’t have made it to the big screen.” She took a day to ponder over it and realized that she had enjoyed these films in the past. This new journey seemed appealing, so why refuse?

Ridley Scott mentioned a fascinating occurrence that influenced her decision, as two separate individuals expressed curiosity about what happened to Rey during the same week. It turned out there was interest in the subject! It seems people are fond of Rey, and she believes this upcoming film will bring excitement and advance the franchise with intrigue.

As someone who greatly enjoyed Rey in the Star Wars sequel trilogy, I’m eagerly waiting to find out what her adventures are like after The Rise of Skywalker. However, Ridley had previously felt that her character’s story was complete…until a new chance presented itself. She admitted that she hadn’t given much thought to Rey’s future before being asked about it. “I didn’t show interest until I was offered the opportunity,” she mused. She felt that the story ended satisfactorily, so Rey’s return had to be significant, and she believes it is. Moreover, Ridley is in a completely different stage of her life now: she was 21 when she first portrayed Rey, and she’s 32 today, which means she has more film set experience. It’s thrilling to consider how my current life experiences might influence the character.

Daisy Ridley talks returning as Rey in Star Wars: New Jedi Order movie

In an unprecedented manner, the release of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” thrust Ridley into the limelight, a realm she had never ventured into before. Pondering over this transformation, she mused about how her future role in “New Jedi Order” might differ significantly from what she’s previously known.

What was overwhelming to me was that on the day Star Wars 7 premiered, people didn’t think Rey would be an important character. I remember my mother saying to me, “They must have thought you were good, because they spent a lot of money on this movie.” A lot! [Laughs.] It’s very strange going through photos on the red carpet, watching the film and then just going to the bathroom and running into people who are like, “Oh my God, it’s you! Suddenly, I was recognized in public life, outside of my work. It’s not necessarily easy to digest. And then I had never traveled. There, I found myself all over the world and had unusual interactions with people. For example, I didn’t know what a press junket was. I discovered everything! And then time passes and things calm down. I have perspective on all this now, I know how it goes. So it will definitely be easier to manage.

Daisy Ridley

Will audiences embrace the “New Jedi Order”? Given the strong negative reaction towards the sequel trilogy, particularly “The Last Jedi”, it’s clear that the “Star Wars” fandom has had its fair share of controversy. This has been evident in numerous instances, such as the online harassment faced by Kelly Marie Tran and the racial abuse directed at actors like Moses Ingram (“Obi-Wan Kenobi”) and Amandla Stenberg (“The Acolyte”). Regrettably, there’s a segment of fans who often respond negatively when women or people of color appear on screen in “Star Wars”. Lucasfilm has even prepared actors from these demographics for potential backlash when they join “Star Wars” projects. Could Daisy Ridley be concerned about this as she returns to the franchise?

She stated, “I disregard any negativity that’s been expressed because it doesn’t impact me directly. After all, I can’t control how some men perceive women, which is a societal issue. However, I was generally well-received and choose to focus on the positive aspects instead.

Lucasfilm has reserved May 22, 2026, December 18, 2026, and December 17, 2027 for the release of three upcoming Star Wars movies. Given that The Mandalorian & Grogu is scheduled for May 22, it’s likely we’ll catch Ridley in either a 2026 or 2027 Star Wars: New Jedi Order film, although those dates are still far enough apart that I wouldn’t be surprised if they adjust them.

For now, don’t miss out on Daisy Ridley’s upcoming film “Young Woman and the Sea”, currently streaming on Disney+.

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2024-09-27 20:41

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