“I didn’t care until I was asked”: You Are Not Alone, Even Daisy Ridley Couldn’t Care Less About Rey Skywalker’s Ultimate Fate
- 'Star Wars' sequel trilogy’s rushed plot and lack of proper closure for Rey Skywalker have troubled fans for many years now.
- Daisy Ridley admitted she hadn’t given much thought to Rey's future after 'The Rise of Skywalker'.
- Despite initial doubts, Ridley agreed to reprise her role in a new 'Star Wars' movie.
Star Wars has been a cultural phenomenon since 1977. The epic space opera saga has played a significant role in shaping pop culture for years through its stories, characters, multiple spin-offs, merchandise, and also some unwanted debates.
The announcement of the new trilogy raised fans’ expectations. Daisy Ridley’s character Rey was about to be the face of modern Star Wars. However, the new trilogy couldn’t live up to expectations and left many unexplored details, especially about Rey Skywalker’s future.
The New Star Wars Trilogy and Rey Skywalker’s Fate
The Star Wars sequel trilogy started in 2015 with The Force Awakens. It introduced Daisy Ridley‘s character Rey, who was a scavenger from Jakku with a mysterious past. She later got involved in a galactic conflict against the First Order along with new characters like Finn and Poe.
The next movie, The Last Jedi, started dividing fans. It explored Rey’s training with Luke Skywalker and her connection with Kylo Ren. The film challenged some traditional Star Wars narratives, which became confusing for some viewers.
The final chapter, The Rise of Skywalker, revealed Rey as Emperor Palpatine’s granddaughter. The movie showed that despite her blood connection with the dark side, Rey resisted Palpatine’s influence and defeated him. All her mentors had died and later, she adopted the Skywalker name. However, it all felt a bit rushed.
Moreover, Rey’s future was never properly addressed. It was quite bittersweet that it failed to deliver the proper conclusion that fans expected. In an interview with Premiere, Ridley admitted that she also hadn’t thought about what happened to Rey later (via Google Translate).
I didn’t care until I was asked. I felt like the story had wrapped up really nicely. So Rey’s return had to be worthwhile, and I think it is. I’m also in a very different position: I was 21 when I did the first one, I’m 32 now, and so I have a lot more experience on set. It’s very exciting to imagine how my current life will affect the character.
Although Ridley felt that the ending was nice, her casual response echoes fans’ feelings about how the ending lacked clarity, and the actress did not bother to be clarified. The movie felt like it was rushing through the plot with new things like the Sith Eternal and barely exploring others like the Knights of Ren.
Rey Skywalker’s Return in Star Wars
Lucasfilm announced in 2023 that Ridley will be back in her role in a new Star Wars movie, which will be directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy. Although there have been no revelations regarding the story, the movie might show Rey Skywalker attempting to rebuild the Jedi Order.
The actress is well aware of the criticisms of her Star Wars trilogy. However, in her Premiere interview, she revealed that she found the concept of the new film exciting, which made her return possible.
They simply asked if I wanted to do it, based on an idea, without the script being written yet. But if I hadn’t been convinced by the concept, the movie wouldn’t have been made. I took a day to think about it, and I told myself that I had had great times making those films. This new adventure seemed fun to me, so why say no?
Ridley confessed she wouldn’t have returned if she “didn’t think the story was worth telling.” The movie titled New Jedi Order is expected to be released by the end of 2026. It will be a chance for redemption for her character as well as for the Star Wars franchise to get back the appreciation and respect from the audience.
The Star Wars movies are available to stream on Disney+.
