‘Star Wars’ Report: Lucasfilm Making Reylo Film After Axing ‘Mandalorian’ Universe
Although 2026 will mark Lucasfilm’s first return to the big screen since Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019), the years ahead are expected to bring several new trips to a galaxy far, far away — and one of them could center on Reylo.
With Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker leaving the fandom divided, the past few years have seen Lucasfilm pour its energy into Disney+ projects. More specifically, it’s built up the MandoVerse, which started with The Mandalorian and has gradually expanded with the release of projects like Ahsoka and The Book of Boba Fett.
The next big development in the MandoVerse is, of course, the release of The Mandalorian & Grogu. This hits theaters in May, with Pedro Pascal returning as Din Djarin (his voice, at least).
However, recent reports from industry insider Daniel Richtman suggest that the film, combined with Ahsoka Season 2, will mark the end of the MandoVerse. That raises the question: What comes next?
What’s the Future of ‘Star Wars’?
In some ways, we already have our answer.
Aside from Shawn Levy’s Star Wars: Starfighter – which stars Ryan Gosling, Matt Smith, Amy Adams, and more in an adventure set five years after the events of the film Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker – the project closest to fruition is Daisy Ridley’s long-awaited return as Rey.
First confirmed at Star Wars Celebration 2023, this takes place 15 years after the events of The Rise of Skywalker, and will apparently focus on Rey rebuilding the Jedi Order. But since its announcement, the film seems to have hit a developmental rough patch, with three writers dropping out of the Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy-directed project.
In recent weeks, things seem to have heated up on the rumor front for the film. Ridley – who is currently on the promotional tour for her new film, We Bury the Dead (2026) – has shared a string of updates on what audiences can expect.
“I am six years older. I am in a different moment. I think the story will be wonderful,” Ridley told ComicBook. “I think the wait will be worthwhile. I think it will be a discovery, as all roles are, of where Rey is when we meet her again.”
During an appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show, Ridley was slightly more vague. “A new film is coming,” she said, “and it will be great.”
With these updates comes a renewed sense of hope for some fans that the film could achieve what The Rise of Skywalker could not: a full-blown Reylo project.
All Signs Point to Reylo
For fans, the largest piece of evidence suggesting as much came during Ridley’s slot on The Drew Barrymore Show.
Having recently rewatched the scene in which Kylo Ren/Ben Solo (Adam Driver) sacrifices himself to restore Rey at the end of Rise of Skywalker, Barrymore questioned where the pair’s story goes from here, to which Ridley gave the ultra-vague answer of, “Mm-hmm.”
For now, Driver’s return in Rey’s film is unconfirmed. While the prospects seemed slim at one point, Driver revealed late last year that he was enthusiastic about continuing his character’s journey, having even led the charge for a standalone project called The Hunt for Ben Solo, only for Disney to axe the film at the last minute.
With Driver on board for a Star Wars return in some capacity, many have reached the logical conclusion that the two projects – both of which have faced turbulence – could be folded into one.
Daisy Ridley really held back on Drew Barrymore’s show when asked about the New Jedi Order movie:
“A new film is coming and it will be great.”
When Drew expressed excitement for what might happen after Ben Solo disappears in Episode 9, Daisy just nodded:
“Mmm.”
Daisy Ridley really held back on Drew Barrymore’s show when asked about the New Jedi Order movie:
“A new film is coming and it will be great.”
When Drew expressed excitement for what might happen after Ben Solo disappears in Episode 9, Daisy just nodded:
“Mmm.”
— Star Wars Meg (@StarWarsMeg1) January 5, 2026
Reylo: The Movie, if you will.
“The Hunt for Ben Solo was cancelled because it’s being mixed with the New Jedi Order as a single film,” theorized one X user.
Another said, “It really seems like the rey movie is going to be the ben solo movie repackaged with this promo.”
tell me ben solo is in the rey movie without telling me ben solo is in the re movie
tell me ben solo is in the rey movie without telling me ben solo is in the re movie https://t.co/HxwCVVeA6E
— vault dweller sophie (@ivyreys) January 6, 2026
It helps that Ridley has remained coy on how much she knew about The Hunt for Ben Solo before it was axed.
“I hear things,” she told The Hollywood Reporter in December. “I’ve got my ear to the ground.”
Of course, Reylo has proven extremely divisive within the Star Wars fandom.
While there are those who have rooted for the pair’s romantic bond – with this portion of the community typically overlapping with the same passionate group that flew a plane with a plea to Bob Iger to un-cancel The Hunt for Ben Solo – there are also those who hate the concept with equal fervor.
Some critics argue Reylo undermines the moral clarity Star Wars has historically relied on. Kylo Ren’s actions – patricide, mass violence, and allegiance to the dark side – make a romantic arc feel unearned, even regressive, particularly for viewers invested in Rey as an independent hero.
Others see Reylo as a tonal mismatch. The sequel trilogy’s uneven storytelling left key emotional beats underdeveloped, making the bond feel imposed rather than organic.
For these fans, Reylo represents broader frustrations in the sequel trilogy with character consistency, pacing, and a sense that spectacle outweighed coherent narrative intent.
At the same time, appetite for Reylo-driven storytelling has proven incredibly strong.
Fan fiction rooted in the dynamic has crossed into mainstream publishing, most notably with “The Hurricane Wars” and “The Love Hypothesis,” both of which began life as Reylo fanfics before becoming breakout bestsellers. The latter has sparked an upcoming movie adaptation starring Daisy Ridley’s real-life husband, Tom Bateman, in the role inspired by Adam Driver’s Kylo Ren.
Would you like to see Lucasfilm make a Reylo movie?
