Daisy Ridley reveals why she couldn't resist returning to Star Wars franchise after five years

The actress shared her excitement about the film series in a new interview
Lisa McLoughlin 25 January 2024
The Weekender

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Daisy Ridley has revealed she’s thrilled to be stepping back into the shoes of Rey for an upcoming Star Wars film, saying the unnamed movie has a "cool as s***" storyline.

The 31-year-old, born in London, first portrayed the character in 2015's The Force Awakens and continued in sequels, The Last Jedi (2017) and The Rise of Skywalker (2019).

The actor is gearing up to revisit the role in a new Star Wars movie, penned by Steven Knight, the creative mind behind Peaky Blinders, and directed by Pakistani-Canadian filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy.

Although details about the film's title are still under wraps, speculations have suggested it may go by either Star Wars: A New Beginning or Star Wars: New Jedi Order. Filming for the project is slated to kick off later this year.

In a recent interview with Variety, Ridley shared her excitement while admitting she doesn't know what kind of impact Obaid-Chinoy, the franchise's first female filmmaker, will bring to the beloved Star Wars universe.

Ridley said: "The short answer is I don’t know. I’m excited to do the job, but not because Sharmeen is a woman. Her documentaries are amazing. Her idea for the story is cool as s***.

BFI Luminous Fundraising Gala - Drinks Reception
Ridley pictured in 2022
Dave Benett

"No spoilers, but she gave me a rundown of the entire story. If it weren’t amazing, I would have been like, ‘OK, call me in five years.’ But it’s worthwhile."

The Death on the Nile actress added that she is unconcerned about making a Star Wars film without her previous co-stars Adam Driver, John Boyega and Oscar Isaac. She added: “I don’t know what is what or who is who [in the new movie]. So much has happened for me [since the Skywalker saga]. I feel like a grown-up now.

“When I first started, I was, like, 20. I was the youngest on set. It took me the first two Star Wars films to feel worthy of being there. Now I’m in my 30s. The whole thing feels quite different. I’ve been able to work with other filmmakers, and hopefully, I’ve got better as a performer."

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