- "Well we're 15 years out from Rise of Skywalker, so we're post-war, post-First Order, and the Jedi are in disarray. There's a lot of discussion around, 'Who are the Jedi? What are they doing? What's the state of the galaxy?' [Rey]'s attempting to rebuild the Jedi Order, based on the books, based on what she promised Luke, so that's where we're going."
- ―Kathleen Kennedy
An upcoming live-action Star Wars film helmed by director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy is in development. It will feature Jedi Master Rey Skywalker (played by Daisy Ridley) as she builds a new Jedi Order after the events of the 2019 sequel trilogy film, Star Wars: Episode IX The Rise of Skywalker. The screenplay will be written by Steven Knight, replacing Damon Lindelof and Justin Britt-Gibson.
Plot[]
Jedi Master Rey Skywalker would usher in an era of a renewed Jedi Order.
Fifteen years after the Battle of Exegol,[3] in the New Jedi Order Era,[5] Jedi Master Rey Skywalker builds a new Jedi Order.[1] However, her efforts are opposed by rising powers that aim to destroy the new Order.[6]
Development[]
Initial reports[]
On March 14, 2022, The Ankler reported that Damon Lindelof was working as a writer on a new Star Wars film.[7] On May 26, while at Celebration Anaheim, Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy confirmed that future films in the Star Wars franchise would take place after the events of the sequel trilogy, saying "[the sequel era] is what we talk a lot about in terms of where we're going with our movies, and just how far out from that we'll go. That's very much the space we're concentrating on."[8] On October 23, Deadline reported that Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy had boarded the project to direct Lindelof's script.[9] The next day, on October 24, The Hollywood Reporter reported that Justin Britt-Gibson joined Lindelof as a co-writer on the project after Lucasfilm held a "secret writers room" for two weeks in July with various creative figures present. The report also claimed that the project would be set after the events of Star Wars: Episode IX The Rise of Skywalker.[10]
On December 2, Daisy Ridley visited Lucasfilm headquarters for a meeting with Kathleen Kennedy. Ridley denied on social media that the meeting was for any future projects,[11] but later admitted in a November 2023 Hollywood Reporter interview that she had been offered a role in the film at that meeting.[12] Ridley at first had thought the meeting would indeed simply be a breakfast, only for Kennedy to pitch it during the meeting. After thinking over the idea and learning of the planned story, Ridley decided the film was something she wanted to do.[13]
On March 22, 2023, Variety reported that Lindelof and Britt-Gibson departed the project a month prior in February and that Steven Knight was hired to rewrite the story.[14] On April 18, Lindelof officially commented on his departure from the project, saying that for him, the project was a "true labor of love." He also wished the film's creative team the best of luck.[15] On April 28, Lindelof elaborated, stating he worked extensively on the project and was then asked to leave.[16]
Official reveal[]
Daisy Ridley and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy announcing the project at Celebration Europe
At Celebration Europe on April 7, 2023, much of the priorly reported information was officially confirmed by Lucasfilm. Alongside the announcement of two other films, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy was officially confirmed as director and the project was confirmed to take place after the events of The Rise of Skywalker. Furthermore, Daisy Ridley was formally announced to be reprising her role as Rey Skywalker in the film.[1] In an interview after the panel, Kathleen Kennedy confirmed that the film had been in development for several years and that Steven Knight was writing the current iteration of the script, which was due to be handed in within six weeks.[2]
On April 13, This Week! in Star Wars confirmed that the film would take place fifteen years after The Rise of Skywalker.[3] On April 20, Obaid-Chinoy revealed that the film would be the next Star Wars film to release.[17] On November 21, in an interview with Collider, Daisy Ridley commented that she thought the story for the film was "really cool" and that the film was not what she expected, but she is nonetheless very excited to work on the film. Ridley also revealed that she was not approached for a part in the film until after February 2023.[18]
Continued reports[]
As of January 2024, as established on January 16, Lucasfilm confirmed the film was still in development and that they were waiting on the latest draft from Steven Knight.[19] Indeed, Ridley herself stated in a January 12-published interview that she was happy to return to the Star Wars universe, describing the forthcoming film as a fantastic exploration and cool continuation of the universe.[13] She further remarked in an interview with Variety, published on January 24, that Sharmeen had given her a rundown of the entire story, which had helped convince her to join the project in the first place; according to Ridley, Sharmeen's idea was "cool as shit" and "worthwhile." When asked how Sharmeen's status as the first female Star Wars director would change the series, Ridley answered that she did not know the answer, but that she was excited to work with someone whose documentaries and story pitch she loved. She further noted that she did not know "what or who is who" in the film when asked a question in regards to her sequel trilogy co-stars Adam Driver, John Boyega, and Oscar Isaac.[20] As noted by Inverse, she also did not rule out returning to Star Wars once again in a hypothetical sequel.[21]
Release[]
On April 20, 2023, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy announced that this would be "the next Star Wars film.[17] On January 9, 2024, however, it was announced that The Mandalorian and Grogu would in fact be the next film to be released.[22]
Credits[]
| Cast | Uncredited cast | Crew | Uncredited crew | Special thanks |
Appearances[]
| Characters | Organisms | Droid models | Events | Locations |
| Organizations and titles | Sentient species | Vehicles and vessels | Weapons and technology | Miscellanea |
Characters
Events
Organizations and titles
Sentient species
Miscellanea
Sources[]
SWCE 2023: Three New Star Wars Movies Announced on StarWars.com (backup link)- SWCE 2023: 11 Highlights from Lucasfilm's Studio Showcase on StarWars.com (backup link)
- SWCE 2023: All the Big News on StarWars.com (backup link)
- This Week! in Star Wars Star Wars Celebration Europe 2023 Recap on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link) (Posted on StarWars.com)
- "Launchpad" — Star Wars Insider 219
- Star Wars: Best of 2023 on StarWars.com (backup link)
- The Mandalorian & Grogu Journeys to the Big Screen on StarWars.com (backup link)
Notes and references[]
External links[]
- Secret 'Star Wars' Film From Damon Lindelof And Lucasfilm Sets 'Ms Marvel's Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy As Director by Justin Kroll on Deadline (October 23, 2022) (archived from the original on November 1, 2022)
- A Secret Writers Room, a Rising Scribe and a Post-'Skywalker' Timeline: A Look Inside Damon Lindelof's 'Star Wars' Movie (Exclusive) by Borys Kit on The Hollywood Reporter (October 24, 2022) (archived from the original on November 1, 2022)
- Steven Knight to Write New 'Star Wars' Movie After Damon Lindelof, Justin Britt-Gibson Exit (EXCLUSIVE) by Adam B. Vary on Variety (March 22, 2023) (archived from the original on March 22, 2023)
- Daisy Ridley to Reprise Role as Rey in New 'Star Wars' Film by Vary, Adam B.; Warmann, Amon on Variety (April 7, 2023) (archived from the original on June 19, 2023)
- Daisy Ridley's New 'Star Wars' Movie Will Find the 'Jedi in Disarray' 15 Years After 'Rise of Skywalker,' Luke Skywalker Force Ghost Is TBD by Zack Sharf on Variety (April 10, 2023) (archived from the original on April 27, 2023)
- 'Thunderbolts', 'Blade', 'Avengers: Kang Dynasty', 'Secret Wars' Among Disney Release Date Changes Due To WGA Strike by Anthony D'Alessandro on Deadline (June 13, 2023) (archived from the original on June 13, 2023)
- Daisy Ridley Says Her New Star Wars Movie Is "Not What I Expected" [Exclusive] on Collider (November 21, 2023) (archived from the original on November 22, 2023)
