What we know about Daisy Ridley's new Star Wars movie

Daisy Ridley will reprise her role as Rey Skywalker in a new Star Wars film.

The franchise has been focused on the small screen in since 2019's The Rise of Skywalker, with all eyes of shows like The Mandalorian, Andor, and Obi-Wan Kenobi. Now however, fans can cast their eyes to the future with a bit more clarity on where the cinematic side of Star Wars is heading.

But now the film has been announced, what will it be about? And when might we be seeing it? Here’s everything you need to know about Ridley's return to Star Wars.

When could Daisy Ridley's Star Wars movie be released?

An official release date for Rey's return has not been announced yet, but this shouldn't come as a surprise given the recent upheaval behind the scenes.

Screenwriters Damon Lindelof and Justin Britt-Gibson left the project in February 2023 after turning in a draft of the script. Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight stepped in to work on the film, but dropped out in October 2024. According to trade publication Variety, Lucasfilm is "actively talking with potential writers" to take over, but production on the movie likely "won't start until well into 2025 at least".

Talking about the behind-the-scenes issues on the film, Ridley denied that the changing creatives was a sign the film was in trouble, or that it would be delayed.

"I mean, there are, of course, 100 things at play that are not out there in the public domain, but certainly what is going on is very good," she told The Telegraph. "I can’t see it being an extended period of development. But what is amazing is having the benefit of making sure the story is right and making sure that people are going to be happy, that the wait was worth it."

The film was originally announced at Star Wars Celebration 2023 by Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy.

Is there a trailer?

There is no trailer for the project and it's unlikely there will be one for the foreseeable future until production gets underway.

What is the plot?

The story will take place 15 years after the events of Episode IX as Rey Skywalker attempts to build and train a New Jedi Order. Speaking to IGN at Star Wars Celebration 2023, Kennedy said, "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?' She (Rey) is attempting to rebuild the Jedi Order, based on the books, based on what she promised Luke, so that's where we're going."

Read more: Every new Star Wars movie and show

The New Jedi Order is uncharted territory for the existing canon of Star Wars under the Disney banner, but it does have significant roots in the now de-canonised Expanded Universe books.

Published between 1999 and 2003, the books follow Luke Skywalker’s New Jedi Order, along with the New Republic, as they fight off the threat of the Yuuzhan Vong – a race of nomadic aliens seeking to take over the galaxy. Whether the upcoming film takes any story beats from these books or opts for a wholly original story remains to be seen.

Who will star alongside Daisy Ridley?

Ridley will be making her return as Rey Skywalker, last seen in The Rise of Skywalker. It is unclear if her sequel trilogy co-stars Oscar Isaac and John Boyega will be joining her.

Speaking in April 2024, Ridley revealed that while she's yet to read a script, she's already excited to pick up Rey’s lightsabre once more. "It feels pretty amazing to be able to continue a character – like, can I even remember how to play her?" she told Empire. "It's an interesting challenge as an actor to come back to something and try to figure out what's changed for me and what's changed for her."

The actor added: "There's just a lot of joy with me and these films... Honestly, if I wasn’t excited, I wouldn’t have done it. It feels like a great thing to be a part of."

No other cast details are known at this time, however there is a chance that we might be seeing Grogu, with the story taking place about 45 years after the events of The Mandalorian, and the focus being on a New Jedi Order. This would put Grogu at around 90 years of age – the same age in which Master Yoda became a Jedi Knight in the current canon.

Who is directing?

Documentarian Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, who most recently worked on the Disney+ Ms. Marvel series, will be helming the untitled project.

The Pakistani-Canadian filmmaker has won two Academy Awards for documentary shorts, and brings a humanistic style to a galaxy far, far away. Obaid-Chinoy will also mark the first woman to helm a Star Wars project, as well as the first person of colour.

"I'm very thrilled about the project because I feel what we’re about to create is something very special," he filmmaker told CNN. "We're in 2024 now, and it’s about time that we had a woman come forward to shape a story in a galaxy far, far away."

Daisy Ridley's new Star Wars movie is in development