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Credit: LucasfilmWhen Lucasfilm announced a new Star Wars movie centered on Rey, it was framed as a fresh start for a character who definitely pulled the short straw in the sequel trilogy. But nearly three years later, that promise remains unrealized, with few concrete updates and mounting questions about why the project keeps stalling.
First unveiled at Star Wars Celebration in 2023, the film was positioned as a post-sequel trilogy chapter, following Rey (Daisy Ridley) as she attempts to rebuild the Jedi Order. Since then, progress has been slow and uneven.
Behind the scenes, the Rey film has cycled through multiple writers, with each new hire reportedly taking a different approach. Frequent rewrites are not unusual at Lucasfilm, but they often signal uncertainty about tone, timeline placement, or long-term franchise strategy.
That uncertainty has been compounded by broader slate instability. Several Star Wars films announced in recent years never made it past development, leaving fans wary that Rey’s return could face a similar fate despite its high-profile status.
Daisy Ridley has continued to strike a cautiously optimistic tone, even as timelines slip. Speaking to USA Today, she was asked whether fans could expect news in 2026 and responded with a hesitant, “Maybe.”
“I don’t know about 2026,” Ridley added. “In the future, sometime, yeah.” The comment reinforced fears that the film remains far from production, despite being publicly positioned as Lucasfilm’s next major theatrical release.
In December, Ridley told IGN the wait would be worth it, praising the “incredible” creative minds involved. She acknowledged how complex filmmaking can be but stressed the project has not been abandoned, expressing confidence that patience would ultimately pay off.
Those reassurances have done little to quiet speculation. With no confirmed cast beyond Rey or a release window, the question has shifted from when the film will arrive to why it has struggled to move forward at all.
Theory One: It Was Once Tied to The Hunt for Ben Solo
A persistent fan theory suggests Rey’s film was originally designed to connect to The Hunt for Ben Solo. The sequel trilogy bound Rey and Ben Solo together, culminating in The Rise of Skywalker, revealing them as a dyad in the Force.
Ben’s death and his sacrifice to save Rey left narrative threads that some believe were meant to continue across multiple projects. If one film fell apart, it could have destabilized the other.
Ridley has confirmed she was aware of plans for The Hunt for Ben Solo.
“I knew a piece of it,” she told IGN, saying she heard rumblings through crew friends. She admitted being surprised when details surfaced publicly, particularly after hearing them announced by Adam Driver himself.
Some fans believe Lucasfilm may now intend to merge the two projects – Reylo: The Movie, if you will – but that remains to be seen.
Theory Two: Leadership Transition Slowed Everything Down
Another explanation points to timing. Lucasfilm has recently undergone a leadership shift, with creative control now shaped by new co-presidents Dave Filoni and Lynwen Brennan following Kathleen Kennedy’s departure from the studio.
Rather than rush a high-stakes project, the studio may be waiting to clarify its long-term vision. A Rey-led film carries symbolic weight, making it risky to greenlight before the franchise’s direction is fully locked.
Recent reports all suggest that the studio is cautious of pushing ahead with another previously announced project – Filoni’s MandoVerse film – until it sees how The Mandalorian & Grogu fares at the box office in May. If this cautionary approach applies across the slate, Rey’s film may be waiting for proof that theatrical Star Wars can still deliver.
Theory Three: Lucasfilm Is Letting It Fade Away
Skeptics argue the delay is intentional. Lucasfilm has a history of quietly shelving announced projects without formal cancellations, allowing public attention to drift elsewhere rather than triggering backlash. Films tied to Rian Johnson, David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, and Taika Waititi have all faded from view (although, as per Kennedy, the latter is more alive than we may have thought).
From this perspective, the Rey film remains in limbo not because it is progressing slowly, but because the studio is undecided on whether it should exist at all. Kathleen Kennedy has confirmed a script exists for Waititi’s film, but that reassurance has not translated into visible momentum.
Theory Four: Backlash to Female-Led Projects Has Spooked the Studio
Finally, there is the uncomfortable question of fan reaction. The Acolyte faced intense backlash online, much of it directed at its female characters – particularly Amandla Stenberg’s Osha and Mae – and its creator, Leslye Headland.
Lucasfilm may be wary of placing another woman-led Star Wars project at the center of its theatrical slate. If so, the delays reflect not just creative uncertainty, but a broader anxiety about how parts of the fandom will respond.
Why do you think Lucasfilm keeps delaying Rey’s standalone film?