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Published Jan 27, 2026, 2:00 PM EST
Dan Zinski is a freelance scribe currently contributing to ScreenRant as a movie and TV news writer. He previously wrote for FanSided, The Viking Age and Lightly Buzzed.
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Star Wars has a new pilot at the controls, but the ride should remain smooth for Daisy Ridley as she prepares for her return to a galaxy far, far away.
Ridley was asked back in December about Kathleen Kennedy’s imminent departure as head of Lucasfilm, and indicated that a change in leadership would have no impact on her or her Star Wars future, which is still set to include the movie New Jedi Order as far as anyone knows.
"It won't affect me going forward if it were to be true," Ridley said (via USA Today). The Rey actor continued, "I think what's lovely is people are excited because they want to see (the films), which is great.”
Kennedy’s departure was made official earlier in January, ending her divisive 14-year tenure as the head of Lucasfilm. Dave Filoni steps in as President and CCO of the company, becoming the new Star Wars guru.
Ridley joined the Star Wars fold under Kennedy’s stewardship, becoming the new face of the franchise with her performance as Rey in The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi, and The Rise of Skywalker.
In 2023, it was announced that Rey would return in a new movie directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy. The in-development project will center on Ridley’s character as she attempts to rebuild the Jedi Order. George Nolfi has signed on to pen the script.
Filming on the New Jedi Order movie has been slow to begin, in large part due to Ridley’s busy schedule. The star updated the project’s status back in February 2025, and indicated that the writing process was well underway.
"I have not read the latest script, but I know what’s happening, and I know the story, and I think what feels really good is that George is a phenomenal writer,” the Rey actor said (via ComicBook.com).
It’s been a little over six years since The Rise of Skywalker wrapped up the Star Wars sequel trilogy, and in a May 2025 interview, Ridley expressed concern about whether she will still know how to play her character.
“The first three films, we did fairly close together in the grand scheme of things,” she said (via Backstage). “So one of the things is: Do I remember how to be Rey? It’s been a while, and time has passed in [the ‘Star Wars’] world.”
Concerns about the status of New Jedi Order were raised after last year’s Star Wars Celebration, when Ridley did not attend, and Kennedy conspicuously did not mention the project during her own appearance.
The only future Star Wars movies with firm release dates are The Mandalorian and Grogu, slated for May 22, 2026, and Star Wars: Starfighter, set for May 28, 2027, leaving New Jedi Order’s status very much up in the air.
Movie(s) Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones, Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope, Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi, Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens, Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi, Star Wars: Episode IX- The Rise of Skywalker, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Solo: A Star Wars Story, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi, Star Wars: New Jedi Order
Character(s) Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Rey Skywalker, Emperor Palpatine / Darth Sidious, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ahsoka Tano, Grand Admiral Thrawn, Grand Inquisitor, Reva (The Third Sister), The Fifth Brother, The Seventh Sister, The Eighth Brother, Yoda, Din Djarin, Grogu, Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader, Leia Organa, Ben Solo/Kylo Ren
English (US) ·