Quick Read
- Daisy Ridley commented on the cancellation of The Hunt for Ben Solo, expressing surprise and joy at the fan campaign to revive it.
- Ridley’s upcoming Rey-centric Star Wars film, first announced in 2023, is still in development with no set release date, but she insists it will be worth the wait.
- The Rey film is set to be directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy and will reportedly follow Rey rebuilding the Jedi Order, 15 years after The Rise of Skywalker.
- Multiple high-profile writers have worked on the Rey movie script, but production progress remains slow.
- Lucasfilm has not officially commented on the fate of the Ben Solo spinoff.
In the ever-evolving galaxy of Star Wars, few actors have become as closely associated with the franchise’s new era as Daisy Ridley. Nearly a thousand days since the much-anticipated Rey-centric movie was announced, Ridley has finally spoken out—not just about her own return as Rey, but also about the fandom’s campaign to revive the cancelled Ben Solo spinoff, originally planned to star Adam Driver.
The Star Wars universe has been in cinematic limbo since The Rise of Skywalker hit theaters in 2019. As fans eagerly await new big-screen adventures, Ridley’s recent interviews with IGN have offered both insight and optimism, even as uncertainty continues to shroud the future of the franchise.
The Cancelled Ben Solo Spinoff: Fandom Rallies, But Lucasfilm Stays Silent
It was Adam Driver, not the studio, who first confirmed the fate of The Hunt for Ben Solo—a standalone film that had quietly gathered momentum before being shelved by Disney. Ridley, reflecting on the moment she heard the news, told IGN she was as surprised as anyone: “I knew a piece of it. I heard rumblings. I have lots of friends who are crew, so things always travel like that. But, whoa! When the story came out, no, 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.” (ScreenRant, SciFiNow)
Despite Lucasfilm’s ongoing silence, the cancelled project has ignited a movement among fans to resurrect the film, reminiscent of past campaigns that have shaped the Star Wars landscape. “I do love when there is a collective of positivity,” Ridley remarked, clearly touched by the global groundswell of support. “The way the internet seems to have rallied to try and get it to happen… it’s fantastic for us all.”
She went on to reflect on the passionate and diverse Star Wars fandom: “Obviously, everyone knows [Kylo Ren] was a very popular character, but it was also lovely to think, ‘Wow, people really, really care and want this.’ …I like when people join forces—excuse the pun—from all around the world, all different sorts of people.”
For Ridley, this unity among fans is more than just a show of support; it’s a rare bright spot in turbulent times. “The fact that everyone is really behind this thing, I think, is just sort of lovely, in a time that is so f***ing nuts for probably every single person on this Earth. It’s wonderful. So I was surprised, and honestly, I felt joyful about how it went down.”
Rey’s Return: A Movie Years in the Making
While the fate of Ben Solo’s solo outing remains uncertain, Ridley’s own return as Rey has been a beacon of hope for many fans. Announced at the 2023 Star Wars Celebration in London, the still-untitled Rey film is set to be directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy and will reportedly follow Rey as she attempts to rebuild the Jedi Order, 15 years after the events of The Rise of Skywalker (GamesRadar, SciFiNow).
But the road to production has been anything but smooth. “It’s been almost three years since the Rey movie was unveiled… There’s been very little movement on Star Wars’ upcoming Rey standalone movie,” GamesRadar notes. In her conversation with IGN, Ridley acknowledged the long, winding path many Star Wars projects face: “Honestly, there are scripts that I read five years ago, and now I’ve gone, ‘Oh, maybe they will actually happen.’”
She continued, “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 [Rey movie] particularly, I know that incredible voices and creatives are part of it, and I know the wait will be worth it.”
The script has reportedly seen input from a series of high-profile writers, including Damon Lindelof, Justin Britt-Gibson, Steven Knight, and most recently, George Nolfi. Yet, as with other post-Skywalker saga projects—such as James Mangold’s ancient Jedi epic and Dave Filoni’s Mando-verse film—tangible progress has been slow.
Why the Wait? Behind the Scenes of Star Wars’ Cinematic Pause
Since 2019, Star Wars has thrived on television, with series like The Mandalorian and Ahsoka winning critical and fan acclaim. But the big screen has remained largely dormant. The Rey film, tentatively titled New Jedi Order, stands as one of the few new movies still publicly in development—alongside projects that are either stalled or have quietly faded from view.
Industry insiders point to a mix of creative overhauls, shifting studio priorities, and the sheer scale of Star Wars as reasons for these delays. “The reality of getting any film made is so massive,” Ridley reiterated, highlighting a truth that often goes unspoken amid online speculation. “The hurdles are vast.”
Yet, Ridley’s optimism isn’t just for show. Her faith in the process and the people involved is genuine: “With this particularly, I know that incredible voices and creatives are part of it, and I know the wait will be worth it.”
The Power of Fandom: A Force to Be Reckoned With?
The Star Wars fandom has long been a driving force behind the franchise’s evolution, from reviving beloved characters to influencing major creative decisions. The campaign to save The Hunt for Ben Solo is just the latest example of this phenomenon.
As Ridley puts it, “I just love that the Star Wars fandom is such a huge and gorgeous array of different points of view and different people, and the fact that everyone is really behind this thing, I think, is just sort of lovely.” In a world where division often dominates the headlines, the unity of Star Wars fans—however fleeting—offers a glimpse of hope and community.
For now, fans will have to remain patient. Lucasfilm has yet to comment on the fate of the Ben Solo film, and the Rey movie’s production schedule remains under wraps. But if Ridley’s words are any indication, hope is far from lost.
Analysis: Daisy Ridley’s candid reflections pull back the curtain on the unpredictable realities of blockbuster filmmaking. Her comments reveal not just the frustrations and delays inherent in the Star Wars machine, but also the rare moments of collective joy the fandom can create—even in disappointment. As the wait continues, it’s clear that both the industry and its audience are learning the value of patience, unity, and hope in a galaxy not so far away.