Rey is reportedly set to play an important role in upcoming Star Wars movies currently in development. According to The Hollywood Reporter, as Lucasfilm plans its next series of films, one thing seems certain: Rey will be back. She is expected to appear in “several movies,” including the New Jedi Order movie announced at Star Wars Celebration 2023, along with a recently revealed trilogy from writer and producer Simon Kinberg.
An unnamed source told the publication that:
[Rey] is the most important character for Star Wars right now, maybe even the only one with that level of value.
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One thing Lucasfilm needs to decide whether they will continue the Skywalker Saga, which ended with 2019’s Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, or focus on making individual Star Wars movies that aren’t connected to the main storyline.
Daisy Ridley played Rey in all three movies of the Skywalker Saga’s sequel trilogy, starting with Star Wars: The Force Awakens in 2015. The movies show Rey’s journey from a lonely scavenger on a desert planet to becoming a Jedi Knight.
Along the way, she discovers her connection to the Force and learns from classic heroes like Luke Skywalker. Although the story in the sequels received mixed reactions—especially her family link to Emperor Palpatine—Rey still became a fan favorite, thanks to Ridley’s heartfelt performance.
Rey’s return to theaters has been planned for a while now. The New Jedi Order movie—set 15 years after The Rise of Skywalker—will follow Rey as she trains a new generation of Force users. This was one of three new Star Wars projects that Lucasfilm announced at Star Wars Celebration London last year. However, the project has faced some challenges. In October, writer Steven Knight left the film, adding to a list of writers who have stepped away. Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy is still set to direct.
Lucasfilm is at an important point in deciding the future of Star Wars movies. Of all the projects announced after The Rise of Skywalker, only Jon Favreau’s The Mandalorian & Grogu has made real progress, with production already finished well before its planned release in May 2026. That movie is expected to be popular, but plans after that are still uncertain.
To get fans excited for the next Star Wars movies, it makes sense to focus on Rey. She’s a character that fans know well, and each movie in her trilogy earned over $1 billion in theaters. Disney now wants to focus on making fewer, high-quality movies. A new Star Wars film should feel like a big event, and bringing back Rey could spark the excitement needed to make that happen.
See More: New ‘Star Wars’ Trilogy in the Works at Lucasfilm From ‘Rebels’ Creator Simon Kinberg
The mixed reactions to the sequel trilogy might make Lucasfilm consider leaving the Skywalker Saga behind and creating a completely new story. However, that doesn’t guarantee success either. On top of that, Daisy Ridley has met fans who are excited about the idea of her returning as Rey, showing that some people have started to see The Rise of Skywalker in a more positive light, just like how fans have warmed up to the prequels over time. With Lucasfilm having trouble getting its movie projects off the ground, it seems like Rey could be their best chance for a successful future.