Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy Says “It’s About Time” That Female Filmmakers Take the ‘Star Wars’ Reins
Star Wars fans were elated last spring with the surprise announcement that Daisy Ridley will be returning as Rey Skywalker for a film set after the events of The Rise of Skywalker.
While we don’t have a release date for the film yet, we do know that Ridley’s triumphant return will be directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy (Ms. Marvel).
Photo: BBC
A First For ‘Star Wars’
Obaid-Chinoy’s involvement in the franchise will mark the first time that a Star Wars feature film has been directed by a woman and the first time a film will be helmed by a person of color.
Image: Star Wars
“I’m very thrilled about the project because I feel what we’re about to create is something very special,” Obaid-Chinoy recently told CNN. “We’re in 2024 now. It’s about time that we had a woman come forward to shape a story in a galaxy far, far away.”
What We Know About Rey Skywalker’s Return
Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy has previously revealed that the new Rey Skywalker film will once again find the Jedi in disarray.
Photo: Hollywood Reporter
“Well, we’re 15 years out from ‘Rise of Skywalker.’ So we’re post-war, post-First Order, and the Jedi are in disarray,” Kennedy confirmed. “There’s a lot of discussion around, ‘Who are the Jedi? What are they doing? What’s the state of the galaxy? She’s attempting to rebuild the Jedi Order, based on the books, based on what she promised Luke, so that’s where we’re going.”
For her part, Ridley sounds thrilled to be returning.
Rey Skywalker. Photo: Lucasfilm
“I’m very excited,” she said. “The story is really cool … It’s not what I expected, but I’m very excited.”
I think I can speak for most Star Wars fans when I say that we are excited too.
