With the Star Wars franchise in a dry spell on the big screen, at least until next summer’s The Mandalorian & Grogu, there’s been rumblings lately of potential projects that have yet to come to screen. Sequel Trilogy star Daisy Ridley recently spoke about her film Star Wars: New Jedi Order following Rey Skywalker and the news of the cancelled The Hunt for Ben Solo.
New Jedi Order was announced at the Star Wars Celebration London in 2023 by Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy, but in the years since its announcement the film has gone through several changes of writers as the project has evolved. Currently, the script is being written by George Nolfi (The Banker) with Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy (Reggae Girlz) directing. The film is said to take place 15 years after The Rise of Skywalker as Rey, who adopted the Skywalker name in honour of her deceased masters, rebuilds the Jedi Order.
In an interview with IGN, Ridley gave a small update on New Jedi Order that despite the delayed production and slow news it is still very much in development. “Honestly, there are scripts that I read five years ago, and now I’ve gone, ‘Oh, maybe they will actually happen,'” she said. “I think over the years, I’ve learned how the reality of getting any film made is so massive. The hurdles are vast . . . But with this particularly, I know that incredible voices and creatives are part of it, and I know the wait will be worth it.”
As for The Hunt for Ben Solo, Adam Driver was attached to reprise his role as Ben Solo after he reformed from being Kylo Ren and sacrificed himself for Rey. Steven Soderbergh was to direct and the film had been approved by Lucasfilm, but was then cancelled by Disney CEO Bob Iger. In the weeks since Driver revealed the film’s cancellation, there has been passionate calls to revive the project and see Driver return to his iconic role.
“I knew a piece of it. I heard rumblings,” Ridley said of The Hunt for Ben Solo. “I have lots of friends who are crew, so things always travel like that. But, whoa! When the story came out, I was like, ‘Oh, my God!’ And it was him that said it, right? It was funny because, like, ‘Oh, wow, Adam is saying it,’ and that’s the big surprise of the year.”
On the fans wishes to see the project brought back to light, Ridley said “I do love when there is a collective of positivity. The way the internet seems to have rallied to try and get it to happen. I think it’s fantastic for us all. It’s good for us to all be united about something in a really positive way. Obviously, everyone knows he was a very popular character, but it was also lovely to think, ‘Wow, people really, really care and want this.’ I just … I like it. I like when people join forces — excuse the pun — from all around the world, all different sorts of people.”
While we wait for further news on New Jedi Order, Pedro Pascal will return as Din Djarin in The Mandalorian & Grogu on May 22nd, 2026 followed by Shawn Levy’s Star Wars: Starfighter led by Ryan Gosling on May 28th, 2027.
Ricky Church – Follow me on Bluesky for more movie news and nerd talk.
