Daisy Ridley, the star who captivated audiences as Rey in the “Star Wars” sequel trilogy, is set to return to the galaxy far, far away.
Ridley revealed on the “Smartless” podcast that she was “surprised” to get the call to reprise her iconic role. The exciting news came during what she thought was a casual breakfast with Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy.
Ridley is currently signed on for just one film, but she’s thrilled about the fresh take it promises. “It’s very cool — different writer, different director. It will be quite a different feeling, I imagine,” she shared.
This new project is part of a trio of films announced at the Star Wars Celebration in April 2023, with the first set to release in 2026. The film will be directed by two-time Academy Award-winning documentarian Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, and the script is penned by Steven Knight.
The story will take place 15 years after the events of “The Rise of Skywalker.” Ridley hasn’t read the script yet but expects to dive into it “soon-ish.”
Reflecting on her debut in “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” Ridley described the experience as overwhelming and “a blur.”
She fondly remembered director J.J. Abrams for his guidance and shared a fun story about how he introduced her to Barbra Streisand.
This connection led to a collaborative performance on Streisand’s 2016 album and even got her in the running for a role in a now-scrapped film adaptation of “Gypsy.”
Outside of “Star Wars,” Ridley stars in “Young Woman and the Sea,” which hit theaters on May 31.
Known for her impeccable American accent, Ridley revealed she doesn’t follow a strict acting process but prefers to stay loose and spontaneous on set. “I take my work very seriously. I do not take myself very seriously,” she said.
While release dates for the new “Star Wars” films are not yet final and filming hasn’t started, fans can eagerly await the return of Rey and more adventures in the galaxy far, far away.