Lucasfilm shared plans for three new Star Wars movies during last April's Star Wars Celebration in London, leaving fans eager to learn more about what each of them will add to this Galaxy Far, Far Away.
Whether it's James Mangold's prequel set during the "Dawn of the Jedi," Dave Filoni's rumoured "Heir to the Empire" adaptation, or Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy's Rey movie, fans - who haven't been able to watch a Star Wars movie in theaters since 2019's Rise of Skywalker - have plenty of be excited about.
The Hollywood strikes ended up slowing things down, though we still anticipate cameras rolling on the Daisy Ridley-led project later this year. CNN (via SFFGazette.com) recently caught up with Obaid-Chinoy during its New Year's celebrations and asked the Ms. Marvel filmmaker about her Rey Skywalker plans.
"I’m very thrilled about the project because I feel what we’re about to create is something very special," she teased before addressing how it feels to be the first female director to helm their own Star Wars movie. "We’re in 2024 now, and it’s about time that we had a woman come forward to shape a story in a galaxy far, far away."
Wonder Woman helmer Patty Jenkins was supposed to be the first woman to direct a big screen Star Wars story, only for Rogue Squadron to fall apart due to rumoured creative differences. The pressure will now be on Obaid-Chinoy, particularly amid continued claims the franchise has become too "woke" (a joke in South Park has only given the franchise's detractors more ammunition).
The only confirmed details about this still-untitled Star Wars project are that it will be directed by Obaid-Chinoy and is set 15 years after the last events of the Skywalker Saga. We'll reunite with Rey and follow the story of rebuilding the New Jedi Order and the powers that rise to tear it down.
Last year, Ridley had this to say about her unexpected Star Wars return:
"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."
"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."
The untitled "New Jedi Order" movie is expected to be released on May 22, 2026.