Daisy Ridley Discusses Her Upcoming Star Wars Film: “I Didn’t Say Yes Right Away”
Star Wars currently has several projects in development, ranging from Mangold’s new film set thousands of years in the past to Waititi’s project, which he teased would challenge fan expectations. In the midst of these, there’s a new movie focusing on Rey.
Announced at Star Wars Celebration 2023, this film follows Rey’s journey after ‘The Rise of Skywalker.’ Directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, it depicts Rey’s efforts to rebuild the Jedi Order. Originally, Damon Lindelof and Justin Britt-Gibson were set to write, but Steven Knight took over. The story is set 15 years after ‘Rise of Skywalker,’ delving into the aftermath of the war and the state of the galaxy with the Jedi scattered. Kathleen Kennedy revealed that Rey is dedicated to honoring her promise to Luke by rebuilding the Jedi Order, drawing from the teachings found in the ancient books.
Recently, Ridley mentioned how she finds the current storyline promised and expressed her desire to see Boyega’s Finn return as a Jedi. In her latest interview with ‘Empire,’ Ridley talked about her mindset regarding the upcoming movie.
She shared how the experiences she’s had since ‘Rise of Skywalker’ have greatly influenced her growth into adulthood. This time around, she feels more confident and in control, stating that she’s really taking ownership of it.
I suppose I feel more like I’m owning it. I suppose I owned it the first time. Basically, I’m an adult now. I certainly did not feel like an adult at the time. obviously, personally, things have changed, and professionally, I’ve had lots of other experiences, and so I definitely feel like it’s a different thing this time.
Ridley also mentioned that she wouldn’t consider returning to the franchise if she wasn’t sincerely enthusiastic about the idea of her character’s story continuing. However, she did acknowledge that she needed to take some time to contemplate her return.
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. I didn’t say yes right away, Kathy [Kennedy] was like, ‘Take as long as you need.’” Not that it took that long to say yes. “Why wouldn’t I [do it]? Yes, they have been divisive, but also they bring a lot of love and joy to a lot of people. It feels pretty amazing to be able to continue a character – like, can I even remember how to play her? 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.” All in day’s work for a Jedi
Just a reminder, ‘The Last Jedi’ and ‘The Rise of Skywalker’ weren’t well-received by fans, particularly regarding certain aspects of Ridley’s character, Rey. Fans felt her development was rushed without a proper explanation, and her lineage didn’t meet expectations. Hopefully, the upcoming movie takes a different approach to do justice to both Rey and Ridley.
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