The story of Rey rebuilding the Jedi Order may yet reach theaters, just not in the shape Lucasfilm first promised. Rather than headlining her own feature, Daisy Ridley’s Jedi is now reportedly set to guide a fresh pair of heroes in Star Wars: Episode X, the first chapter of Simon Kinberg’s planned trilogy.
A Teacher for a New Generation
Insider Daniel Richtman previously reported that Episode X will center on two new protagonists, with Rey stepping into a mentorship role. For fans who have followed her journey from a Jakku scavenger to the last of the Skywalker line, it is a fitting evolution. A Rey tasked with passing on the ways of the Force is, in many respects, exactly what Lucasfilm pitched back in 2023.
That pitch was New Jedi Order, announced at Star Wars Celebration Europe in April of that year. Directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, the film was set after Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker (2019) and would have followed Rey as she worked to restore the Jedi.
What Happened to New Jedi Order?
For much of the past three years, reports described the movie as paused rather than scrapped, and Lucasfilm has never publicly said whether it was shelved, delayed, or combined with another project. A November 1, 2026, post on X from insider @fiveswalker offered a direct answer: “No [New Jedi Order] isn’t happening, it became the Kinberg trilogy.”
The same update addressed other projects that have lingered in development. According to the account, Lucasfilm turned down James Mangold’s Dawn of the Jedi, and the director has moved on. The insider also wrote that “Rogue Squadron has died a thousand deaths” and, on Taika Waititi’s anticipated entry, stated, “Taika ain’t happening.” The account concluded that the studio’s film slate appears to have been wiped clean, with Starfighter and Episode X now serving as the new starting line.
Love Takes Center Stage
Rey’s new students sound like a departure from the franchise’s usual template. On October 29, @fiveswalker reported that Lucasfilm was casting two actors in their early 20s for Episode X, with romance described as central to the film. A follow-up post called it “Very YA but very good.”
The pairing reportedly recalls Finn and Rey in Star Wars: Episode VII — The Force Awakens (2015), though this time with an openly romantic bond. He is said to be an orphan with a hard past, swept into the adventure after being implicated in a killing. She is reportedly royalty, a high-society perfectionist who opens his eyes to the wider galaxy and its familiar faces.
Love stories are nothing new to Star Wars. Han and Leia, along with Anakin and Padmé, helped define their respective eras. Still, those relationships traditionally played out against galactic wars rather than steering the plot. Building a saga film around romance would represent a significant change nearly five decades after George Lucas introduced audiences to the franchise in 1977.
Behind the Scenes
The reported changes follow a shake-up at the top of Lucasfilm, where Kathleen Kennedy stepped down as president earlier in 2026. Dave Filoni and Lynwen Brennan have since taken on new leadership duties.
Kinberg has reportedly been shaping his trilogy since late 2024, with Jon Watts, who directed the MCU’s Spider-Man trilogy and co-created Skeleton Crew, attached to helm Episode X. Disney has yet to formally greenlight the movie, and there is no release date.
In the meantime, the next Star Wars film with a confirmed date is Shawn Levy’s Star Wars: Starfighter, starring Ryan Gosling, arriving in May 2027.
It is worth stressing that everything above remains unconfirmed. Lucasfilm has not announced that New Jedi Order has been canceled, nor has it shared any casting or story details for Episode X. For fans who have waited since 2023 to see Rey rebuild the Jedi, the reports suggest that story is still coming, only now as part of a larger saga, with Ridley in the role of teacher rather than lead.
