Star Wars: Lucasfilm is Betting on Daisy Ridley’s Rey To Save The Franchise

The Star Wars franchise reportedly views Daisy Ridley’s Rey Skywalker as its most valuable asset, and the reason appears to be a lack of alternative options.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker was billed as the final chapter of the Skywalker Saga, which started with George Lucas’ original 1977 film. So, fans were surprised when they learned Lucasfilm was developing a new Star Wars trilogy by writer Simon Kinberg that some were reporting would be Episodes 10, 11, and 12 of the Skywalker Saga. There are still conflicting reports about whether or not the trilogy is a continuation of the main saga or if it’s separate, and the debate seemingly revolves around the involvement of Ridley’s Rey Skywalker.

The Hollywood Reporter writes that its source claims Ridley’s Rey Skywalker is set to play a crucial role in several developing Star Wars movies. While it’s unclear which new Star Wars movies she’ll be part of, Lucasfilm reportedly views Ridley’s Rey as the key to the franchise and hopes to involve her in Kinberg’s trilogy. THR notes that Kingberg’s trilogy could potentially conflict with director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s standalone New Jedi Order Star Wars movie featuring Ridley as Rey. The latter project was announced at Star Wars Celebration 2023 but has since suffered multiple setbacks, with the search for a new writer underway after losing three former scribes. THR reports that insiders “dispute” any battle over who gets to use Rey, but Lucasfilm is pondering what to do with the character, whom one source described as potentially the franchise’s only asset.

Lucasfilm may view Ridley’s Rey as important to the Star Wars franchise because most of its iconic characters are off the table. With The Skywalker Saga complete, iconic characters like Luke Skywalker, Leia Skywalker Organ Solo, Han Solo, Darth Vader, Yoda, and Emperor Palpatine have all been killed. While these characters would return in prequels or spinoffs, as Ewan McGregor did in the Obi-Wan Kenobi series, any projects set in the Star Wars timeline’s future will need newer faces. “Star Wars is a nostalgia-based enterprise and they are running out of ways to create nostalgia,” one source told THR.

Fans may not be surprised by the importance Lucasfilm is placing on Rey. While Ridley’s Rey received hate from some Star Wars fans, many others were endeared toward her. Some may argue John Boyega’s Finn or Oscar Isaac’s Finn are equally popular characters (or more so). However, because Rey is the heir to the Skywalker name and the future of the Jedi Order, Kinberg’s new trilogy could arguably only be considered part of the Skywalker Saga if she is involved.

Of course, some fans believe a reliance on nostalgia and an inability to move on from the Skywalker saga is part of what’s ailing the Star Wars franchise. Lucasfilm appears to feel differently, so fans must wait to see whose instincts are correct.

The Star Wars franchise is available on Disney Plus.

Star Wars

Star Wars is a multimedia franchise created by George Lucas and Lucasfilm Ltd with the 1977 motion picture. The science fiction franchise follows the adventures of characters (both humanoid and alien) in outer space including those who can wield a mystical power known as the Force. Since the release of the original trilogy of movies, the franchise has expanded to include multiple films and branched out to other media like comics, video games, TV shows, theme park attractions, and more. The IP and Lucasfilm were sold to Disney in 2012.

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Source: The Hollywood Reporter