Daisy Ridley's Rey Return Could Be Bigger Than Star Wars Fans Think
Back in 2015, director J.J. Abrams plucked Daisy Ridley from obscurity and handed her the lead role in the long-awaited "Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens," turning the British actor into a superstar overnight and affording her several cinematic opportunities, from "Murder on the Orient Express" to "Ophelia." In 2019, the sequel trilogy wrapped up with the critically maligned "Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker," seemingly closing Ridley's chapter with the franchise. But then, in 2023, Lucasfilm officially announced a "Star Wars" film focused on Rey's efforts to construct a new Jedi Order.
Details on this untitled Rey "Star Wars" flick are slim, though we do know that it takes place years after "The Rise of Skywalker" and that Pakistani director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy has been tapped to direct. Additionally, veteran Hollywood insider Jeff Sneider has shared some information regarding Rey's return in his newsletter "The Insneider" suggesting that her appearance in the upcoming flick isn't a one-off and that she could also appear in Shawn Levy's upcoming "Star Wars" movie. Details on that pic are nonexistent, but it's interesting to see that Lucasfilm has a larger game plan for the Jedi leader.
Beyond that, Sneider says that Ridley is reportedly on track to earn $12.5 million from her upcoming solo flick — a number that's higher than her typical paycheck. Couple that with the suggestion that Ridley will pop up in Levy's picture, and it sounds like Lucasfilm wants to go all in on Rey as the future of the "Star Wars" franchise.
What Rey's (expanded) return could mean for Star Wars
While Jeff Sneider is a reliable source, his report should be taken with a grain of salt, especially when one considers the number of "Star Wars" projects that have been shelved since the end of the sequel trilogy. Nevertheless, it suggests that Lucasfilm is eager to get production on the Rey film going, revealing that the studio is hoping to have it hit theaters around Christmas 2026 — after the Jon Favreau-directed flick "The Mandalorian & Grogu."
It's no secret that "The Rise of Skywalker" ended the Skywalker saga on a sour note, so it's interesting that Lucasfilm intends to continue Rey's story, essentially doubling down on heavily criticized creative decisions. Regardless, the creation of a new Jedi Order opens up the possibility of several brand-new stories that could further expand the world that J.J. Abrams and co. created with the sequel trilogy, and if it's true that Shawn Levy's pic is also going to feature Rey, then this sets her up as a leader for the next generation of "Star Wars" heroes.