Rey’s Star Wars Return Just Quietly Suffered Another Setback

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It’s been six years since we last saw Rey – or any of the characters from the most recent Star Wars trilogy – on the big screen. This is especially noticeable because Lucasfilm announced at Star Wars Celebration 2023 that Daisy Ridley will be returning to star in a new film focused on Rey, to be directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy.

Since then, development on the film has been mostly silent, with only a possible title, Star Wars: New Jedi Order, and a change in writers – George Nolfi began working on the script earlier this year. The absence of any firm news about the project at Star Wars Celebration 2025 led many to worry that the movie starring Rey might be canceled.

Lucasfilm is prioritizing the next season of The Mandalorian and Grogu and fast-tracking Star Wars: Starfighter, aiming for a 2027 release. While several other movie ideas have been considered—including one about Ben Solo that was ultimately canceled—there’s been talk that Rey’s story might continue in a new trilogy planned by Simon Kinberg.

It appears a potential plan for Daisy Ridley to reprise her role as Rey, either in a new movie or the New Jedi Order series, has encountered a quiet roadblock after Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.

Daisy Ridley’s Schedule Prevents Rey’s Star Wars Return From Filming Until Late 2026

Since the end of the Star Wars sequel trilogy, Daisy Ridley has consistently worked on diverse projects, demonstrating her acting versatility and branching out from science fiction. Her next role will be in Killa Bee, a biographical film about MMA fighter Byrony Tyrell.

Although this film isn’t connected to Lucasfilm or Disney, Ridley’s participation could influence the future of the character Rey in the Star Wars universe. Recent industry news indicates that filming for Killa Bee is scheduled to start between April and June of 2026.

Because of her current filming commitments, Daisy Ridley won’t be able to reprise her role as Rey until after this project is finished. She probably knew Lucasfilm’s plans for Rey’s return when she accepted this new role. Now that she’s working on Killa Bee, it’s very unlikely that New Jedi Order will begin filming in the first half of next year.

The new movie—the first in the planned trilogy—has been delayed until late 2026 to work with Ridley’s availability. While it’s frustrating for fans like me who are excited to see Rey return, it makes sense considering the larger plan for the Star Wars franchise.

Lucasfilm won’t likely begin filming another Star Wars movie before the end of 2025. With The Mandalorian and Grogu and Starfighter already scheduled for release over the next two years, there’s no immediate need to start a new film. Unless the studio decides to release two Star Wars movies each year, the next possible release date for a new film is 2028.

Daisy Ridley’s current commitments allow for Rey to return in the 2028 Star Wars film. Production could begin in late 2026, giving the film about a year and a half between filming and release – the same schedule as the Starfighter movie. Lucasfilm could use this same approach for the next Rey film if it’s the project they choose to move forward with.

The plans for Rey’s return movie are now more complicated because of the new film Killa Bee. If the studio hoped to begin filming in early 2026 for a 2028 release, that timeline is now tighter. Plus, other projects Ridley Scott is involved in could also move ahead quickly, potentially causing further delays.

As a big Star Wars fan, I was really excited when they announced a new movie coming in 2023 featuring Rey. Now, hearing it’s going to be another two years – or more – is a bit of a letdown. But Daisy Ridley has said she thinks the wait will be worth it, which definitely gives me hope! She’s busy with other projects right now, so all we can do is be patient and try to figure out when exactly we’ll see her back in the Star Wars universe.

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2025-11-05 02:33