Well, this is a real shame, especially if it turns out Rey is Luke’s daughter. It’s an even bigger bummer because she’s a fantastic character and actress. Daisy Ridley will depart the Star Wars Saga after Episode IX, as she told Time Magazine in an interview. She feels the final chapter in the trilogy rounds out Rey’s story perfectly.
“I am really, really excited to do the third thing and round it out, because ultimately, what I was signing on to was three films, so in my head, it’s three films. I think it will feel like the right time to round it out.“
This quote is not definitive though. I don’t think they will kill off such a prominent character such as Luke Skywalkers (possibly) last apprentice. Ridley even exclaims “who knows” when faced with a potential return to the saga.
“I honestly feel like the world may end in the next 30 years, so, if in 30 years, we are not living underground in a series of interconnected cells, then sure. Maybe. But again, it’s like, who knows.“
Whether she’s serious or not, Daisy is saving the world day-by-day as Rey in the Star Wars films. She next stars in Rian Johnson’s The Last Jedi, which opens in a mere 14 days. Mark Hamill has exclaimed that the film is the best Star Wars movie since Empire, and with the stakes so high, that is a bold claim. It’s coming from Hamill though. He wouldn’t just say something like that if he didn’t mean it.
Hopefully, JJ Abrams learns a bit from Rian Johnson and doesn’t try to re-create Return of the Jedi but instead kill our favorite hero, Rey.