The British actress, known for her role in the trilogy commonly referred to as "the sequels" (Episodes VII, VIII, and IX – "The Force Awakens" in 2015, "The Last Jedi" in 2017, and "Rise of Skywalker" in 2019), opened up in a recent interview with Variety, published on Wednesday. Ridley disclosed that the proposed director for the upcoming project, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, presented her with an "idea for the story (that) is remarkable."
"No spoilers, but she walked me through the entire storyline. If it wasn't extraordinary, I would have said, 'Alright, call me in five years,'" Ridley added. "But it's truly worthwhile."
The star of "Murder on the Orient Express" also reflected on her growth as an actor and an individual since embarking on "The Force Awakens" nearly a decade ago.
"So much has transpired for me since those films. I feel like an adult now. When I first started, I was around 20. I was the youngest on set," Ridley shared.
"It took me the first two 'Star Wars' films to feel deserving of being there. Now that I'm in my 30s, the whole experience feels quite different. I've had the opportunity to collaborate with other filmmakers, and hopefully, I've improved as a performer."
In April of last year, CNN reported that Lucasfilm, the studio overseeing the expansive "Star Wars" franchise, enlisted Ridley to reprise her role as Rey, the heroine from the previous trilogy.
Her IMDb page indicates two upcoming "Star Wars" projects – one directed by the Oscar-winning documentarian Obaid-Chinoy and another, currently in development and titled "Star Wars: New Jedi Order," expected in 2026.
Earlier this month, Lucasfilm announced that director Jon Favreau would produce and direct "The Mandalorian & Grogu," a movie spinoff of the popular Disney+ series "The Mandalorian," starring Pedro Pascal. The film is scheduled to begin production this year.
