Summary
Daisy Ridley is making a comeback to theStar Warsfranchise inNew Jedi Order. She shared an update about the project and the involvement of the president of Lucasfilm, who had been rumored to be stepping down at the end of the year.
Ridley is best known for her role as Rey in theStar Warssequel trilogy. She made her debut inStar Wars: The Force Awakens(2015) and reprised the role inThe Last Jedi (2017)andThe Rise of Skywalker (2019). Her performance received a positive reception, with the audiences and critics acknowledging how she balanced strength, vulnerability and charisma. She was considered a strong and engaging lead, so it was not surprising that she scored anotherStar Warsmovie. TheSometimes I Think About Dyingstar just shared an update about the upcoming film.
Ridley spoke with The Direct at the SXSW premiere forWe Bury the Deadand she addressed the rumors aboutLucasfilmboss Kathleen Kennedy’s retirement, which made headlines last month. Ridley was asked how involved Kennedy was in theNew Jedi Orderfilm directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy and the actress said Kennedy was “very involved.” Ridley said:“I believe that she’s very involved. I think there was reporting that was not true. So yeah, very [involved].“When asked about the progress of her nextStar Warsmovie and when they would begin filming, Ridley responded, “I don’t know.”
In February,The Hollywood Reporterpublished a report with the headline “Lucasfilm Boss Kathleen Kennedy Expected to Retire This Year.” The outlet claimed that Kennedy had been telling her colleagues of her plans to leave the studio by the end of 2025. However, days later, Kennedy debunked the report, tellingDeadlinethat she had no plans to retire and would continue doing her job. Kennedy stated, “The truth is, and I want to just say loud and clear, I am not retiring. I will never retire from movies. I will die making movies. That is the first thing that’s important to say.I am not retiring.” Kennedy clarified that she only discussed the” eventual succession “with Bob Iger and Alan Bergman, but she wasn’t leaving the studio. “I’mcontinuing to stay at Lucasfilm and looking very thoughtfully with Bob and Alan as to who’s stepping in,” she added.
Kennedy’s involvement inRidley’s upcomingStar Warsmovieis important because she oversees the project’s development. If she exits from the studio during the production, it could lead to a shift in leadership and creative direction, which could affect the film and may cause delays. Her departure will definitely affect the project and the impact may depend on the timing and the vision of the successor.
However, Kennedy had already clarified this issue and assured fans that she was not retiring and would continue making films with Lucasfilm. Her statement is positive news forStar Warsfans who have been waiting forRidley’sNew Jedi Order. This suggests that the project could move forward without any anticipated changes in direction because Kennedy is still the one who will oversee it.
Star Wars: New Jedi Orderis expected to hit theaters in 2027.
