Rey’s upcoming movie, tentatively titledStar Wars: New Jedi Order, will finally break with 48 years ofStar Warstradition, and I couldn’t be more excited about it. Announced atStar WarsCelebration 2023,Star Wars: New Jedi Orderis set to be directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy and will take place 15 years after the events of the highly contentiousStar Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. WithDaisy Ridley reprising her role as Rey Skywalker,the franchise will have a chance to reinterpret what it means to be a Jedi.
Rey’s new Jedi Orderwill change the role of the Jedi in the galaxy, and it can do so becauseStar Wars’oldest villains have finally been defeated. Since the firstStar Warsmovie,Star Wars’primary villains have been the Empire, its offshoots, and the Sith who presided over it. Even after the Empire was “defeated” inReturn of the Jedi, it was never really gone, as proven by the Imperial Remnant’s presence in the New Republic era and the emergence of the First Order in the sequel trilogy. That’s all about to change, however.
The Empire Is Gone At Last In Rey’s New Jedi Order Movie
Asreported byVariety, Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy previously teased what the galaxy will look like 15 years afterThe Rise of Skywalker.“We’re post-war, post-First Order, and the Jedi are in disarray,”she confirmed.“Who are the Jedi? What are they doing? What’s the state of the galaxy?”What’s especially interesting are Kennedy’s comments about“post-war”and“post-First Order.”Before the Empire, there were the Separatists, and after the Empire, there was the First Order.Palpatine and his dictatorial machinations have been at the center ofStar Warssince the beginning.
Star Wars: New Jedi Order - Cast, Story, Timeline & Everything We Know
Rey’s Star Wars return is happening in Star Wars: New Jedi Order. Here’s what is known about the story, cast, and release of Daisy Ridley’s film.
The Empire and the wars it waged have dictated most ofStar Wars’storytellingfor decades. IfNew Jedi Ordertruly is“post-First Order,”though, and Palpatine’s death is genuine – but really, how many times can they bring him back? – it means that this will be the first time thatStar Warshas truly moved on from the Empire on the big screen. Finally,Star Warscan giveRey and her newly trained Jedia chance to fight a different kind of foe.
Star Warshas been stuck in a cycle of nostalgia. The first film in theStar Warssequel trilogy was essentially a remake of the firstStar Warsmovie, later retitledA New Hope. WhileThe Mandalorianoriginally seemed to be a fresh approach forStar Wars, it became a vehicle to promote and revisit otherStar Warsstories instead.Star Warsneeds to move on from these well-examined narratives, and it can only do so if it truly jumps far away from the Skywalker family’s timeline.
Rey has everything she needs to steer the Jedi and thus the story in an entirely new direction. She knows that the Jedi need to change. That will allowStar Warsto change as well.
One of the reasons I’ve enjoyedStar Wars: The High Republicso much is because its story isn’t influenced by the Skywalker saga at all. Set a few hundred years before the events ofStar Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, the High Republic chronicles the “Golden Age” of the Jedi. Yes, a few ancient and well-known Jedi are present, but the Jedi’s enemy during this time is entirely new and arguably more exciting.New Jedi Order’s time jump opens up so many potential new storylines.
Even though Rey, a character fundamentally connected to the Skywalkers emotionally as well as by name, isNew Jedi Order’s leading force, she has everything she needs to steer the Jedi and thus the story in an entirely new direction. She knows that the Jedi need to change. That will allowStar Warsto change as well.
How The Fight Against The First Order Has Shaped Rey
Of course, giving the Jedi a new adversary doesn’t mean Rey shouldn’t still be affected by the events of theStar Warssequel trilogy. Her fight against the First Order and her ordeal with Kylo Ren/Ben Solo will undoubtedly affect how she shapes a revamped Jedi Order.She’s experienced what it’s like to live under tyrannical rule– something the Jedi of theStar Warsprequel trilogy could never truly understand, despite their war against the Separatists – so she’ll know, perhaps better than any other Jedi before her, what the galaxy needs to maintain peace.
In all likelihood, Rey’s outlook on the Jedi’s role in the galaxy as a peacekeeping force will be influenced byNew Jedi Order’s director’s own life experiences, too. Asreported byThe Wrap, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy explained at SWC 2023 that she’d“spent the majority of [her] life meeting real heroes battling oppressive regimes,”and that’s why she’s“interested in a new Jedi Order.”Obaid-Chinoy is a noted filmmaker, journalist, and political activist; those experiences will add another dimension to Rey’s Jedi Order makeover.
I Think Star Wars Has Even Moved On From The Sith Too!
I hope that,with the Empire and its offshoots firmly in the rear view mirror, the Sith will be a thing of the past inNew Jedi Order, too. This isn’t to say that I never wantStar Warsto focus on the Sith again – on the contrary, I’d love to see more of the Sith in stories set long before the prequel trilogy – but I think, with Palpatine and the Sith Eternal destroyed on Exegol, it’s time for the Jedi to face a new threat.
With Palpatine and the Sith Eternal destroyed on Exegol, it’s time for the Jedi to face a new threat.
The dark side will never fully disappear; there’s no reason to think that only the already-established groups have embraced the dark side of the Force. I’d love to see a new type of dark side Force-wielding threat arise in the wake of theStar Warssequel trilogy.Rey’s Force Dyaddidn’t get a chance to be properly explored inRise of Skywalker, but it opened up a whole new world of possibilities.
If the Nightsisters of Dathomir can wield the dark side differently from the Sith, why shouldn’t there be another Force-wielding faction somewhere in the galaxy as well, one that isn’t too excited about the resurrection of the Jedi Order? Hopefully,Star Wars: New Jedi Orderwill truly be a new beginningfor our favorite space-faring franchise.
The Mandalorian and Grogu
