Daisy Ridley, who played Rey in the Star Wars sequel trilogy, is reportedly getting a huge multi-million dollar deal to reprise her role in the next big Star Wars theatrical film. According to Jeff Sneider of The InSneider, Daisy Ridley is getting a big salary upgrade for starring in Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s upcoming Star Wars film – to the tune of US$12.5 million.
This figure, described as “eye-popping” by Sneider, surpasses Ridley’s standard rate but was deemed necessary to secure the return of the actress who portrayed Rey in the most recent films of the franchise.
TONIGHT on THE INSNEIDER: It's an exclusive STAR WARS notebook dump, from #DaisyRidley's eye-popping payday to the possible schedule of movies and much, much more. You'll have to read between the lines of this one as there may be more than meets the eye…https://t.co/QxFCjrGrqq
— Jeff Sneider (@TheInSneider) January 18, 2024
To put things into perspective, Ridley’s first foray as Rey in Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) was for a salary range of $100,000 to $300,000, according to Hollywood insiders. Of course, the actress was a relative unknown at the time. And given how the Star Wars sequel trilogy earned billions at the box office, a significant pay upgrade for Daisy Ridley is to be expected.
The upcoming Star Wars movie will be directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy (Ms. Marvel on Disney+) and written by Steven Knight, the creator of Peaky Blinders. It will center on Rey and promises an engaging narrative centered around Ridley’s character after the events of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019).
Related to this, Daisy Ridley expressed her enthusiasm for this project, looking forward to continuing her story. Titled “Star Wars: New Jedi Order,” the film’s synopsis reveals that it is set approximately 15 years after Rey’s victory over Palpatine in “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.”
The sequel follows Rey’s efforts to restore the Jedi in the galaxy after vanquishing the dark forces of the Galactic Empire and The First Order, assuming a mentor role for two promising young students — a girl and a boy. The narrative unfolds as their training progresses, revealing the extraordinary abilities of the young girl destined to emerge as the future leader.
The Rey Palpatine news does not end there. Recent insights from Jeff Sneider suggest a potential expansion of Rey’s role beyond the “New Jedi Order” project. Sneider hints that Deadpool 3 director Shawn Levy’s Star Wars movie may also involve Rey in some capacity, adding an intriguing layer to the long-term plans for the Star Wars universe. It is also worth noting that Daisy Ridley initially indicated she was pitched the story for one movie, but left room for the possibility of more.
Are these rumors reliable? Addressing recent conflicting headlines about the “New Jedi Order” film, Sneider dispelled rumors of indefinite delays and said that the project’s development is progressing well. Contrary to reports, he emphasized that Steven Knight remains committed to the project, with a new screenplay draft expected in the near future.
Regarding release dates, Sneider offered insights based on existing production schedules and Disney’s currently reserved Star Wars theatrical release dates. The dates in question that have been secured are May 22, 2026, December 18, 2026, and December 17, 2027. Sneider speculates that the first new film post-Lucasfilm’s theatrical hiatus will be “The Mandalorian & Grogu” film, targeted for a 2026 date.
The latter 2026 date is anticipated for Rey’s big-screen return, depicting the future of the Star Wars galaxy and the role of the new Jedi Order. Dave Filoni’s Star Wars movie is projected for tentative release on December 2028, allowing time to finish work on the second season of Ahsoka. Meanwhile, James Mangold’s Dawn of the Jedi story may arrive as soon as December 2027.
