Rey’s New Jedi Order the film does not yet have a writer and its future is uncertain in light of a new trilogy to be written by Simon Kinberg. Last year, Daisy Ridley took the stage at Star Wars Celebration to announce her return as Rey, in a standalone film hosted by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy. The project has proven to be rather ill-fated, with Rey’s New Jedi Order film recently losing screenwriter Steven Knight. Things got even more confusing last week, with the announcement of a new Star Wars trilogy written by Simon Kinberg – and potentially positioned as Episodes 10-12.
A new report from THR reveals the scale of the problems facing Lucasfilm. Rey’s New Jedi Order Movie Hasn’t Hired a New Writer Yetwhich means it’s effectively in limbo now. What’s more, Rey is expected to feature in several films in development – potentially in Kinberg’s trilogy. The fundamental problem, however, is that any of these stories could have an impact on Obaid-Chinoy’s film, fixing Rey’s status quo in a different way than she had planned. As THR said:
“Film development at the company remains a unique ecosystem in Hollywood. There are numerous Star Wars films in development that overlap characters or timelines. They are not related, but whatever comes first could, in a domino effect, impact those that come later. (James Mangold’s “Dawn of the Jedi,” which takes place long before Skywalkers, may be one of the exceptions.)”
What Rey’s Uncertain Future Means for Star Wars
This all seems pretty chaotic right now. The general assumption was that Lucasfilm was opting to keep future film plans under wraps until the time was right, perhaps even planning to make big announcements at Star Wars Celebration next year. Now, THR’s report raises the disturbing possibility that the studio is simply uncertain about where to go and what to do next; the development pipeline looks like a maze.
There is, however, an interesting conclusion here; Lucasfilm knows that Daisy Ridley’s Rey is its greatest cinematic asset. Other characters and franchises have yet to prove themselves on the big screen, but – despite it all, she is criticized by some quarters of the Star Wars fanbase – Rey is a huge draw. Lucasfilm certainly didn’t lose its joy when her return was announced last year, and she was one of the most popular cosplayers at the event.
Our Take on Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s New Jedi Order Movie
Obaid-Chinoy is easily one of Lucasfilm’s most intriguing hires, and it would be a shame to see his film die. Ridley initially signed up to return to Star Wars based on her proposal, which she believed to be unique and unusual, and her comments made us very excited about this particular project. Others nearby Star Wars movies feel a little safer; The Mandalorian and Grogu will certainly perform well, while Kinberg is best seen as a safe pair of hands for a trilogy given his experience working with major studios.
Lucasfilm has developed something of a reputation for behind-the-scenes chaos, and many different projects have ended up in development hell. This is having a real effect on the fanbase now, as viewers are unable or unwilling to get excited about films when they are announced; they are skeptical about whether it will happen or not. Unfortunately, the latest reports on Rey’s New Jedi Order movie suggest that they are right.
Source: THR