As part of a series of announcements at Star Wars Celebration 2023, it was revealed that director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy‘s film, which began as writer Damon Lindelof‘s “top secret project”, will feature the return of Daisy Ridley‘s Rey. Set 15 years after the events of 2019’s Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker, the untitled film will be set in an all-new era of Star Wars stories known as the New Jedi Order era and has always been rumored to see the return of sequel characters such as Rey. Now a new rumor suggests she’s not the only headliner returning.
According to the Hot Mic Podcast, Lucasfilm is negotiating a return of sequel star John Boyega. If true, it’s especially noteworthy given that Boyega had relatively recently made it clear that he had no plans to return to the franchise.
At this point I’m cool off it. I’m good off it. I think Finn is at a good confirmation point where you can just enjoy him in other things, the games, the animation. But I feel like ‘[Episode] VII’ to ‘[Episode] IX’ was good for me.
John Boyega on Tell Me Everything
While the only known details about the film indicate it will focus on Rey and tell “the story of rebuilding the New Jedi Order and the powers that rise to tear it down” the Hot Mic Podcast co-hosts also suggested that Rey will not be the film’s lead but rather fill the sort of mentor role that Luke Skywalker did in the sequel trilogy. Those rumors seem to fall in line with a previous rumor that Yahya Abdul-Mateen II had joined the project in a lead role. It’s unknown just how big of a role Boyega‘s Finn would have in the film should he agree to return.
With Lucasfilm looking to use the New Jedi Order film to launch the return of Star Wars to theaters, casting for the project is likely to continue over the next several months. Though the project doesn’t have a release date yet, it is believed that Lucasfilm would like for it be ready for December 2025.
