Summary
- Daisy Ridley confirmed Kathleen Kennedy's involvement in the upcoming Star Wars movie, debunking rumors of retirement.
- Kennedy clarified she has no plans to retire and will continue overseeing projects at Lucasfilm.
- News of Kennedy's continued involvement is positive news for fans, eagerly anticipating Ridley's return to the franchise.
Daisy Ridley is making a comeback to the Star Wars franchise in New Jedi Order. She shared an update about the project and the involvement of the president of Lucasfilm, who had been rumored to be stepping down at the end of the year.
Ridley is best known for her role as Rey in the Star Wars sequel trilogy. She made her debut in Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) and reprised the role in The Last Jedi (2017) and The Rise of Skywalker (2019). Her performance received a positive reception, with the audiences and critics acknowledging how she balanced strength, vulnerability and charisma. She was considered a strong and engaging lead, so it was not surprising that she scored another Star Wars movie. The Sometimes I Think About Dying star just shared an update about the upcoming film.
Ridley spoke with The Direct at the SXSW premiere for We Bury the Dead and she addressed the rumors about Lucasfilm boss Kathleen Kennedy's retirement, which made headlines last month. Ridley was asked how involved Kennedy was in the New Jedi Order film directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy and the actress said Kennedy was "very involved." Ridley said: "I believe that she's very involved. I think there was reporting that was not true. So yeah, very [involved]." When asked about the progress of her next Star Wars movie and when they would begin filming, Ridley responded, "I don't know."
In February, The Hollywood Reporter published a report with the headline "Lucasfilm Boss Kathleen Kennedy Expected to Retire This Year." The outlet claimed that Kennedy had been telling her colleagues of her plans to leave the studio by the end of 2025. However, days later, Kennedy debunked the report, telling Deadline that she had no plans to retire and would continue doing her job. Kennedy stated, "The truth is, and I want to just say loud and clear, I am not retiring. I will never retire from movies. I will die making movies. That is the first thing that's important to say. I am not retiring." Kennedy clarified that she only discussed the" eventual succession "with Bob Iger and Alan Bergman, but she wasn't leaving the studio. "I'm continuing to stay at Lucasfilm and looking very thoughtfully with Bob and Alan as to who's stepping in," she added.
Kennedy's involvement in Ridley's upcoming Star Wars movie is important because she oversees the project's development. If she exits from the studio during the production, it could lead to a shift in leadership and creative direction, which could affect the film and may cause delays. Her departure will definitely affect the project and the impact may depend on the timing and the vision of the successor.
However, Kennedy had already clarified this issue and assured fans that she was not retiring and would continue making films with Lucasfilm. Her statement is positive news for Star Wars fans who have been waiting for Ridley's New Jedi Order. This suggests that the project could move forward without any anticipated changes in direction because Kennedy is still the one who will oversee it.
Star Wars: New Jedi Order is expected to hit theaters in 2027.
RUMOR: Daisy Ridley's New Star Wars Movie On Hold At Lucasfilm
Daisy Ridley's Star Wars comeback movie is reportedly on hold and might even be scrapped.
Source: The Direct