The Star Wars universe is finally ready to expand, but with a sense of calm knowing that expectations can be met this time around. Fans are just waiting for some solid info on Star Wars: The New Jedi Order, & Daisy Ridley has opened up once again about her relationship with the franchise & what the future might hold for Rey Skywalker – the character that catapulted her to fame.
Daisy Ridley gave an interview recently where she went back over her time with the franchise & wanted to put fans’ minds at ease about the quality of the work that’s going on, even though it’s been a bit of a confusing & slow process from the outside.
Daisy Ridley on Rey’s return: “The wait will be worth it” – her simple phrase did a lot to reassure fans who’ve been getting anxious.
Daisy Ridley has been pretty open about how she’s looking at the character now, and the time that’s passed since the release of The Rise of Skywalker has given her a different perspective. It’s been a few years now, and she’s said that she’s in a very different place both personally & professionally.
“I’m six years older now. I’m in a totally different spot in life,” she pointed out, & then you get the sense that age might just be an added bonus for the character’s return. “I think the story will be amazing. I really think it’ll be worth hanging in there for.”
Ridley also added a tidbit that will get fans talking: the new film will essentially be a rediscovery of the character all over again. “It will be a discovery, just like with every new character. We’ll find out where Rey is when we see her again.” Words that make it sound like Rey is about to go through some major growth, just like the kind we saw in the sequel trilogy – not to mention the iconic place Rey now holds in the Star Wars universe.
A tangled web of development
Star Wars: New Jedi Order has been at the centre of all sorts of rumors & delays over the past few years. This has all fed into fans’ doubts about the actual progress. But Daisy Ridley wanted to set the record straight – New Jedi Order is still alive & kicking, far from being cancelled. “Honestly, there are scripts I read 5 years ago & I used to think “Oh, maybe those will actually happen””, she said. Not exactly a ringing endorsement, but a reflection of the frustrations that come with working in the film industry.
Ridley said that over time, she’s come to understand just how tough it can be to get a film off the ground, with production, creative & logistical obstacles piling up. But with New Jedi Order, she seems more confident than ever. “There are some incredible voices and creatives working on it. And I know the wait will be worth it.” A nice message to calm the nerves of fans who are getting a bit spooked.
No release date – yet – and that in itself is a piece of good news
One of the things that’s really had fans worrying is the complete lack of any official release date. But even on this point, Daisy Ridley had a pretty refreshingly positive take on things. Apparently, the actress thinks that the fact that there IS no fixed deadline is a real blessing in disguise for the creative team – it lets them work on this thing without any of the unnecessary pressure to get it done on time. “To be honest, there’s been a lot of talk going around about how these release dates can really affect the production of films,” she explained. “But the freedom to make sure that the script is just right, that it’s telling this story in the best way it possibly can, is just fantastic.”
An approach that also just so happens to meet what everyone wants: “I don’t think the fans would be all that keen on a half-baked film, cranked out in some rush. The wait is going to be worth it” – that’s what Ridley said. She also had some real words of praise for the screenwriter currently working on this project, George Nolfi, describing him as “a phenomenal screenwriter” and saying that she can barely wait to get her hands on the final version of the script.
The Future of Star Wars – and what Daisy Ridley’s getting up to behind the scenes
Star Wars: New Jedi Order is going to be a film that takes place roughly 5 years after the events of The Rise of Skywalker – and it’ll be all about Rey as she tries to rebuild the Jedi Order, get a whole new era off the ground in the galaxy far, far away. One thing we picked up from the interview with Ridley is that she’s going to have a role to play on this behind the scenes, which is just further proof of how much she loves the character and wants to be a part of its story as it unfolds.
Now that Steven Knight and Damon Lindelof have both moved on, the screenplay is in the capable hands of Nolfi, who, as you might know, has already shown his writing skills off in The Bourne Ultimatum. Which could all mean that this project is going to be in much more solid shape than it would have been otherwise. For now, though, New Jedi Order is remaining pretty firmly under wraps. But one thing is for sure: Rey Skywalker’s not done with her journey yet, and according to Daisy Ridley, when she does return, she’ll be doing it in style. Even if people do have to be a bit patient.
