After persistent rumors, we finally got confirmation that Daisy Ridley is set to return as Rey for a new post-sequel trilogy Star Wars movie during 2023's Star Wars Celebration event.
Ridley will reprise her role as Rey "Skywalker" for director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy's movie, which will be set a whole fifteen years after the events of The Rise of Skywalker. Plot details are still mostly under wraps, but we do know that Rey will be a "powerful Jedi master" running her own training academy when we catch up with her.
Shortly after the announcement, rumors began to do the rounds that John Boyega was set to join his co-star as former Stormtrooper Finn. Ridley was asked about the reports while speaking to THR on the red carpet for her latest film, Young Woman and the Sea, and while she mostly side-stepped the question, she did offer the following.
"Absolutely, of course," responded Ridley when asked if she'd like to see Rey and Finn back together again. "It feels like we should, yeah.”
Finn and Rey grew very close over the course of the three sequel films, but despite the characters being "shipped" by a lot of fans, they never formed a romantic relationship.
At one point during The Rise of Skywalker, Finn told Rey that he needed to tell her something... and never brought it up again.
Was he going to express his true feelings, or tell Rey he was Force-sensitive? We may never find out, but there's a chance this abandoned plot point might factor into this new movie if Boyega does indeed end up reprising the role.
Ridley recently addressed her return as the powerful Force-wielder for the first time since Celebration during an interview with Collider.
"I was shitting myself before I went on stage, because no one knew I was going to that," she said of her surprise appearance at the Celebration panel. "No one knew I was going to Celebration, bar like Kathy [Kennedy] and there were a couple of people. I was so nervous. Oh my God. It was such a wonderful reception. I'm very excited. The story is really cool. I'm waiting to read a script because, obviously, I don't have any other updates. It's not what I expected, but I'm very excited."
Ridley remained tight-lipped about specific plot details, but she did reveal that she believes the untitled film ("Star Wars: A New Beginning" has been rumored) will be the next big-screen Star Wars project to enter production.
"I know the storyline for one film. That's not to say that that's all it is, but that's what I was told about. And I imagine it will be the next film, I think. I mean, again, I don't know, post strikes and everything, how quickly everything will start up again. But yes, so far, I know the story of one film and I think people will be very excited."
In a separate interview with THR, Ridley spoke about being pitched the idea over breakfast. She also notes that she hasn't actually read the script yet, but does know the story.
"I had a breakfast with Kathy [Kennedy] that I thought was just breakfast. (Laughs.) And then it was mentioned, so I thought about it. I loved the story, and I was like, “Okay.” Things then happened quite quickly, and it felt like I was instantaneously on a stage being introduced by [director] Sharmeen [Obaid-Chinoy]. It honestly took me back to being 20 or 21, however old I was, when [Star Wars: The Force Awakens] was announced. I was petrified, I was overwhelmed, I was really nervous but the response was really wonderful. And I’m genuinely really excited about the next one. I haven’t read anything, but I know the story. It’s really worth telling, worth exploring, and I think people will be excited."
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