It looks like Daisy Ridley may be stepping away from a galaxy far, far away—at least for now—for another Disney-backed adventure.
The Star Wars universe is busier than ever, but the exact shape of its theatrical future is still murky. Disney and Lucasfilm continue to shuffle priorities and talent, leaving fans wondering which projects will ultimately reach the big screen.
During Star Wars Celebration Europe in April 2023, Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy teased a new era of films, with directors James Mangold, Dave Filoni, and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy attached. Meanwhile, Shawn Levy and Taika Waititi’s long-discussed projects remained in development, and Patty Jenkins’ Rogue Squadron resurfaced after years of uncertainty.
Mangold’s concept delves into the origins of the Force, further back than any previous Star Wars installment. Filoni’s film, in contrast, is structured as a crossover between The Mandalorian, Ahsoka, The Book of Boba Fett, and Skeleton Crew.
Then, in early 2024, Lucasfilm made a surprise move: Jon Favreau would direct The Mandalorian and Grogu (2026), a theatrical conclusion to Din Djarin and Grogu’s storyline. With that news, The Mandalorian’s fourth season was no longer expected to move forward.
This reshuffling placed Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s project—set after Star Wars: Episode IX–The Rise of Skywalker (2019)—in an awkward spot. The film, featuring Daisy Ridley’s Rey as she rebuilds the Jedi Order, had two rumored titles, New Jedi Order and A New Beginning, but no official confirmation.
On November 7, 2024, another development complicated the picture: Lucasfilm announced that Simon Kinberg, producer of The Martian (2015) and director of X-Men: Dark Phoenix (2019), would launch a brand-new Star Wars trilogy.
“The new story is not meant to be a continuation of the Skywalker Saga, the name of the overall arc of the popular and pop culture-dominating Star Wars movies known as Episodes 1 through 9,” The Hollywood Reporter revealed.
“The intent here is to have brand new characters and a new story, and not have it be a continuation, sources tell [THR]. (Although that does not mean that some characters could not or would not pop up.)”
Kennedy later stressed that Kinberg’s trilogy will carve out new creative territory, even as Obaid-Chinoy’s film keeps Ridley central to the franchise’s next chapter.
“But Rey, the scavenger-turned-Jedi played by Daisy Ridley in the last three episode movies, is key to the franchise’s next turn,” THR reported. “That potentially puts Kinberg’s trilogy story development, as early in its conceptual stages as it may be, on a collision course with the Rey standalone movie that is actively in the works with director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy.”
One insider added, “[Rey] is the most valuable cinematic asset, in some ways maybe the only one, Star Wars has right now.” George Nolfi was attached as writer until shifts in development left the project’s status uncertain.
Disney has since paused the Rey movie, instead fast-tracking Jon Favreau’s The Mandalorian and Grogu (2026) and Shawn Levy’s Star Wars: Starfighter (2027). With Ridley’s Star Wars project on hold, she may now be preparing for another Disney-owned property.
Reports indicate Ridley could headline Disney’s live-action Delilah Dirk film, based on Tony Cliff’s acclaimed graphic novel.
“According to Daniel Richtman, Ridley is in negotiations to star in an adaptation of Tony Cliff’s 2013 graphic novel, ‘Delilah Dirk and the Turkish Lieutenant.’ Disney has held the right to this property since 2016, but there’s been no movement on the project since,” Comic Book Movie wrote.
“Ridley’s character, Delilah, is said to be ‘trained in 47 sword fighting techniques’ and is described as ‘a female Indiana Jones,’ the outlet continued. “Roy Lee, Mark Mower, and Justin Giritlian were attached as producers back in 2016, but we’re not sure if they are still involved.”
Created by cartoonist Tony Cliff, the Delilah Dirk graphic novels combine swashbuckling action with globe-trotting escapades. Set in the early 1800s, the story follows adventurer Delilah Dirk and her reluctant companion, Selim, a Turkish lieutenant drawn into her adventures.
Titles such as “Delilah Dirk and the Turkish Lieutenant,” “The King’s Shilling,” and “The Pillars of Hercules” deliver pirate battles, corrupt rulers, and even flying ships. The series earned Eisner recognition, became a New York Times bestseller, and was praised for its lively art and adventurous tone.
Back in 2016, Disney revealed plans for a Delilah Dirk adaptation produced by Roy Lee, Mark Mower, and Justin Giritlian, pitching it as a female-led adventure in the Indiana Jones spirit. But the project has remained quiet ever since.
Could Ridley’s involvement bring the adaptation back to life?
