Lucasfilm’s next chapter for Rey is showing signs of life again.
The studio has spent years trying to rebuild a steady theatrical pipeline for Star Wars, with numerous projects announced, reworked, delayed, or dropped before reaching production.
Lucasfilm announced Ridley’s new film at Star Wars Celebration in 2023. Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy was confirmed to direct a story set roughly 15 years after The Rise of Skywalker (2019), with Rey now attempting to establish a new Jedi Order.
Three years later, the project still has no release date or confirmed production start.
There has, however, finally been a fresh update.
Rey’s Star Wars Movie Appears on Production List
As reported by Polygon, the film commonly referred to as Star Wars: New Jedi Order has appeared in a recent edition of Production Weekly, where it is listed as being in development.
That does not mean filming is about to begin, but it indicates that the project remains active at Lucasfilm.
The update follows a lengthy period of development for the movie.
Damon Lindelof and Justin Britt-Gibson were initially attached to write before leaving the project. Steven Knight later worked on the screenplay, with The Bourne Ultimatum (2007) co-writer George Nolfi now handling the latest version.
Ridley and Obaid-Chinoy have remained attached throughout those changes.
Lucasfilm has also continued to provide occasional details about the movie despite its slow progress.
The basic premise remains centered on Rey rebuilding the Jedi Order after the events of the sequel trilogy.
Lucasfilm has said that effort will be challenged by “powers that rise to tear it down.”
Ridley has also suggested the movie will introduce a largely new group of characters.
She has spoken about working with “different actors” this time around, while also indicating that Rey’s approach to teaching will differ from Luke Skywalker’s.
No additional cast members have been formally announced.
Nolfi has meanwhile discussed drawing on the political ideas that have long run through Star Wars, including George Lucas’s interest in democracy collapsing into empire and institutions becoming oppressive.
The writer has stressed that he is building on ideas already developed by Lucasfilm, Disney, and Obaid-Chinoy.
Familiar Star Wars Characters Could Still Return
Although Lucasfilm appears to be introducing new characters, several familiar faces from the sequel trilogy remain possibilities.
John Boyega revealed at MEGACON Orlando in March 2026 that he had spoken with Lucasfilm president Dave Filoni about Star Wars.
It remains unclear whether those conversations specifically involved a return as Finn.
Boyega has since said that he would like Finn to finally embrace his Jedi potential, something teased throughout the sequel trilogy but never fully explored on screen.
Lucasfilm has not confirmed Boyega for the Rey film.
Oscar Isaac has also left the door open to another appearance as Poe Dameron.
Speaking to Variety in 2025, Isaac said he would return to Star Wars “if there was something good to do.”
Asked again in April whether Poe could return, he responded, “Maybe?”
Adam Driver’s Ben Solo has generated even more speculation.
Driver spent roughly two years developing The Hunt for Ben Solo with director Steven Soderbergh before Disney rejected the proposed movie.
The decision prompted a sustained fan campaign calling for the project to be revived, including petitions, billboards, and a banner flown over Disney’s Burbank lot.
Filoni addressed the situation in August, saying, “we’re not making that picture right now.”
Some fans have theorized that elements of the scrapped project could instead appear in Rey’s movie, particularly because both stories take place after The Rise of Skywalker.
There is currently no confirmation that Driver or Ben Solo is involved.
One character who appears less likely to return is Luke Skywalker.
Mark Hamill was previously asked about appearing as Luke’s Force ghost in Rey’s movie and said he had “had my time.”
Hamill has instead argued that Star Wars should move forward with new characters.
The franchise has previously brought a younger Luke back in The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett.
Lucasfilm’s theatrical plans remain relatively limited in the meantime.
Star Wars: Starfighter is currently the only upcoming film with a confirmed release date.
Directed by Shawn Levy and starring Ryan Gosling as Kade Auberon, the standalone movie is scheduled to reach theaters on May 28, 2027.
Its story takes place approximately five years after The Rise of Skywalker, around a decade before Rey’s planned Jedi Order film – although fans can rule out a potential cameo from Rey in the project.
Lucasfilm still has not announced when Ridley’s movie will begin filming or when audiences will see it.
When (if ever) do you think Lucasfilm will make Rey’s Star Wars film?
