Credit: LucasfilmDaisy Ridley might not be done with the faraway galaxy just yet. The actress, who last appeared in Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker (2019), has long been rumored to headline her own solo film — a project that apparently remains in development but has gone mysteriously quiet, despite being announced by Disney and Lucasfilm in 2023.
Daisy Ridley Rumored To Return in Another Star Wars Movie
Currently, the only Star Wars movies officially on the calendar are The Mandalorian & Grogu (2026) and Starfighter (2027). But Ridley could return sooner than expected.
According to a new rumor, Starfighter — which stars Ryan Gosling in an undisclosed role — will play a character who’s escorting his Force-sensitive nephew (Flynn Gray, who’s also been cast) across the galaxy, a journey that will see them cross paths with Rey Skywalker.
Neither Disney nor Lucasfilm has confirmed this, but the film’s official synopsis places it five years after The Rise of Skywalker, marking the first story to explore the post-sequel era.
Here’s the synopsis from TheWaltDisneyCompany.com:
“Star Wars: Starfighter, which will be directed by Shawn Levy and star Ryan Gosling, is a standalone adventure taking place approximately five years after the events of 2019’s Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker. The film, which will begin production this fall, is an entirely new adventure featuring all-new characters set in a period of time that has not been explored on screen yet.”
Whether or not Daisy Ridley will return remains to be seen. But she has already reappeared as Rey in other projects over the years since her debut in Star Wars: Episode VII — The Force Awakens (2015) — not just in film, but across animation and video games, too.
“Disney Infinity 3.0” (2015)
Rey appeared as a playable character in “Disney Infinity 3.0”. Ridley’s likeness was faithfully captured in the toy-to-life video game, which allowed players to experience The Force Awakens storyline.
“Infinity” helped establish Rey’s place in gaming early on and introduced her to a younger audience who could physically bring the hero to life through the game’s collectible figures.
“LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens” (2016)
Ridley also lent her voice to Rey for LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens. The game re-created the film’s events with LEGO’s signature humor and added new missions bridging key story moments. It marked one of Ridley’s most light-hearted takes on the character, mixing the earnestness of Rey’s journey with the playful tone of the LEGO brand.
Star Wars: Forces of Destiny (2017–2018)
Daisy Ridley made a full return in Forces of Destiny, a series of animated shorts spanning different eras while highlighting the franchise’s heroines, including Ahsoka Tano (Ashley Eckstein), Padmé Amidala (Catherine Taber), and Princess Leia Organa (Shelby Young).
Rey featured prominently in multiple episodes, often set between the events of The Force Awakens and Star Wars: Episode VIII — The Last Jedi (2017). Ridley’s continued involvement gave the shorts a sense of authenticity, bridging film canon and animation.
Ridley wasn’t the only sequel trilogy actor reprising her role in the series — Felicity Jones (Jyn Erso), Lupita Nyong’o (Maz Kanata), and Kelly Marie Tran (Rose Tico) also returned.
Ridley returned to animation in 2020’s Galaxy of Adventures, but only via archive material.
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“Star Wars: Battlefront II” (2017)
Rey’s presence carried over into “Battlefront II”, where players could wield her signature lightsaber and Force abilities in large-scale online multiplayer battles. Ridley returned to record new dialogue for the game, and her physical likeness was also captured.
“Battlefront II” reinforced Rey’s prominence in the modern Star Wars canon, making her a go-to hero character in the franchise’s most popular online title.
Rise of the Resistance at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
Outside film and animation, Daisy Ridley’s Rey has also become a fixture at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, the themed land at Disneyland and Walt Disney World.
While Ridley doesn’t physically appear in the parks, she is captured via footage recorded for the popular attraction Rise of the Resistance.
Fellow sequel trilogy actors Oscar Isaac, John Boyega, Adam Driver, Domhnall Gleeson, and Kipsang Rotich also reprised their roles on the ride as Poe Dameron, Finn, Kylo Ren, General Hux, and the voice of Nien Nunb, respectively.
Starfighter (2027)
The upcoming Starfighter is set to chart new territory in the Star Wars timeline, taking place half a decade after The Rise of Skywalker. If rumors of Rey’s involvement prove true, this would be her first appearance since the sequel trilogy’s conclusion.
The story reportedly follows Ryan Gosling’s character as he transports a Force-sensitive child to safety — a premise that mirrors themes central to Rey’s arc. Whether she serves as mentor or cameo remains to be seen, but her inclusion would signal Lucasfilm’s willingness to revisit the Skywalker saga’s legacy characters sooner rather than later.
Starfighter releases in theaters on May 28, 2027.
Untitled Rey Movie
Ridley’s solo Star Wars film is still reportedly in development, though details remain scarce. Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy is attached to direct, with the story focusing on Rey rebuilding the Jedi Order 15 years after The Rise of Skywalker.
Lucasfilm has yet to confirm production timelines, full casting, or the film’s connection to other upcoming projects. Should the film move forward, it would mark Ridley’s full return as Rey and officially extend the Skywalker saga into a new generation.
Rey Appearances Without Daisy Ridley
Of course, Rey has appeared elsewhere throughout the franchise without Ridley attached, spanning novels, comic books, other video games, and as a character in Galaxy’s Edge.
Rey remains one of the most visible roaming characters in Batuu. It’s one of the few instances where the sequel trilogy’s hero continues to play an active role in the franchise’s live storytelling.
Most recently, Rey returned in LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy — Pieces of the Past; in which she was portrayed by Helen Sadler, who has voiced the character several times before in animation and in game.
Rey’s appearances — movies, animation, and video games — show how central the character remains to the Star Wars mythos. Whether Starfighter sets up her comeback or the standalone movie does, Rey, and Daisy Ridley too, is clearly still a key part of the galaxy’s future.
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