Daisy Ridley’s Latest Comments Hint The New Jedi Order Movie Is Turning Into Star Wars Episode X

Daisy Ridley’s latest comments seem to hint the upcoming Star Wars: New Jedi Order movie could well be turning into Episode X. Announced at Star Wars Celebration 2023, little is known about Rey’s return as leader of the New Jedi Order. Ridley was won over by the pitch of director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, which she considered refreshing enough to catch her eye. Although there were initial rumors the film would come out in December 2026, that now seems unlikely; James Mangold’s Dawn of the Jedi is apparently due to begin filming next year, meaning it’s more likely to hit that slot.

The last week has been a confusing one, with news screenwriter Steven Knight has left Rey’s New Jedi Order movie. Ironically, though, the news broke in the same week that Ridley began to open up about the film, expressing excitement and hinting at “imminent” news. She even hinted she’s finally seen a script; it’s unclear whether this was Knight’s, or whether Lucasfilm has already found his replacement. What is for sure, though, is that something is changing with this movie – and in an exciting direction.

Lucasfilm’s Plans Are “Evolving” In An Exciting New Direction

What exactly is Ridley hinting at?

Last week began with an exciting Star Wars update from Ridley, who has been conducting press interviews for her upcoming movie Magpie – and has naturally fielded a lot of questions about Rey’s return. “Things are evolving,“ Ridley told Collider. “I continue to be very excited. There will be an update soon.” The key word there is “evolving,” because it hints that Lucasfilm’s plans are changing.

Speaking in another interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Ridley hinted at a new Star Wars movie series. “I feel like the new one/new ones will be so interesting,” she noted. While it’s possible she was referring to some of the other projects Lucasfilm has in the works, it’s hard to see why she would be kept in the loop about those. The most likely explanation for her comment is that Obaid-Chinoy’s New Jedi Order movie has been repositioned as the beginning of a new series.

Could This Be The Beginning Of Star Wars’ Next Trilogy?

Is this Star Wars: Episode X?

George Lucas originally planned to make a series of four Star Wars trilogies. His plans changed, of course; he became rather burnt out with the franchise back in the 1980s. Still, the fact remains that trilogies have always been rather baked into Star Wars. Ridley’s comment is naturally leading to speculation that the New Jedi Order movie is transforming into the beginning of a new trilogy. Functionally, then, it would serve as Episode X.

This would be a smart approach for Lucasfilm. The Star Wars sequel trilogy proved divisive with the fanbase, but it brought in a whole new generation of viewers, who are eager to see Rey’s story continue. That much was abundantly clear at Star Wars Celebration 2023, where I saw more Rey cosplays than any other character, and where there was a fantastic reaction to the news of Ridley’s return. Lucasfilm has hopefully learned a lot from the sequels, and thus can potentially release something of much more consistent quality.

Rey’s New Jedi Order Movie Should Release In 2027

The 50th anniversary of A New Hope

There were initially rumors that Lucasfilm intended Rey’s New Jedi Order movie to come out in December 2026, but it’s important to note this has never been confirmed by the studio. Ridley herself feels unconcerned about release date rumors; “We don’t have a date,” she told The Playlist. “I think we really have the luxury of making sure that this is the right [thing]. So when everything is ready to go, we will be going, and it’s very — yeah, it’s good.” Ridley doesn’t seem to be in a rush.

If Rey’s New Jedi Order movie is really Star Wars: Episode X, then Lucasfilm would be wise to hold off on the film until 2027. This is the 50th anniversary of A New Hope, and it would be the best possible time to launch the franchise’s future – with the light of the Jedi shining bright across the galaxy once again, and the Force moving back towards balance. There can be no better way to celebrate the past than to safeguard the future, so Ridley is right; Lucasfilm need to move slowly and ensure they get this right.

The tenth mainline installment in the Star Wars franchise is the first movie to follow the sequel trilogy, where Mark Hamill’s Luke, Carrie Fisher’s Leia, and Harrison Ford’s Han Solo gave their final farewell. After the release of The Rise of Skywalker, development on a direct sequel had become dormant as Disney shifted focus on other parts of the galaxy, namely, Disney+ shows such as The Mandalorian, Andor, and Ahsoka. However, a movie starring Daisy Ridley as Rey Skywalker was officially announced at Star Wars Celebration 2023.

Director

Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy

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