Rey Skywalker actress Daisy Ridley revealed in a recent interview that her decision to return to Star Wars in Rey’s upcoming movie, rumored to be titled Star Wars: New Jedi Order, was due entirely to how original and exciting the concept for the movie is. New Jedi Order is one of several upcoming Star Wars movies, although this and the upcoming The Mandalorian & Grogu movie have arguably been the most heavily marketed so far. Even so, details about New Jedi Order remain sparse. Now, though, Ridley has provided an update that indicates how inventive the movie will be.
According to Premiere, Daisy Ridley’s decision to return as Rey Skywalker in Star Wars entirely came down to the story the new movie would tell. Ridley explained:
“They simply asked if I wanted to do it, based on an idea, without the script being written yet. But if I hadn’t been convinced by the concept, the movie wouldn’t have been made. I took a day to think about it and I told myself that I had had great times making those films. This new adventure seemed fun to me, so why say no? My thoughts on the subject are quite simple: if I didn’t think the story was worth telling, I wouldn’t have come back.”
This update from Ridley suggests that New Jedi Order will truly be something new in Star Wars, although what that will mean for the franchise certainly remains to be seen.
What Rey’s Return Means For Star Wars
It’s more than a little intriguing that Daisy Ridley felt so compelled by the concept of New Jedi Order alone, as it’s clear that she had little more to go on than that. Clearly, the basic idea of the movie is fascinating enough that Ridley signed on without even seeing a script. This raises rather exciting questions about what this concept could consist of and what it could mean not only for Rey’s story but also for the future of the Star Wars franchise.
Given Ridley’s commentary, it seems New Jedi Order’s story will be truly innovative and unexpected, which is only heightened by the fact that this era of the Star Wars timeline remains entirely unexplored. As New Jedi Order is set 15 years after Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, this period, and therefore this movie, is undefined and thus feels uninhibited. This is particularly interesting (and temperamental) given the reception of the Star Wars sequel trilogy, which was mixed, to say the least. Sadly, many still view these as some of Star Wars’ worst movies.
Will Rey’s New Jedi Order Movie Release In 2026?
In addition to a sense that the movie will be thrillingly inventive, though, Daisy Ridley’s comments about New Jedi Order also revealed that a script for the movie is still not written. Recent rumors suggest that the movie won’t begin filming until 2025, although without a completed script, that remains somewhat in question. Moreover, rumors are running rampant that the movie has been delayed; however, it’s important to note both that Star Wars hasn’t confirmed a delay, nor has the franchise ever officially announced a release date for the movie.
Many assume New Jedi Order will have a 2026 release date, but that remains a rumor. Therefore, it isn’t a ‘delay,’ even if the rumors prove true, but the movie could be released later than many anticipated. Ultimately, that could be a good thing; if New Jedi Order were released in 2027 rather than 2026, it would line up with the 50th anniversary of A New Hope. This would be a brilliant move by Star Wars. Nevertheless, for now, Daisy Ridley’s comments suggest that Star Wars: New Jedi Order will truly bring something new to the franchise.
Source: Premiere
