Daisy Ridley has clarified earlier comments she made regarding her Star Wars future, indicating she was misquoted on the matter. The actress, who plays Rey in the sequel trilogy, raised plenty of eyebrows last week when she seemingly said she did not want to return to the franchise once J.J. Abrams' Episode IX wraps up the Skywalker saga. That statement came out not too long after Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy had said the studio is planning the next decade of content, including future stories for the current generation of heroes: Rey, Finn, and Poe Dameron. Needless to say, Ridley's phrasing was a bit of a shock for fans.
She did not completely close the door on a Rey comeback many years from now (similar to the original trilogy's big three), but it's clear it was not at the forefront of her mind. As a result, many read the quote as Ridley saying she was moving on from Star Wars for good, though that isn't entirely the case, as the youngster has further elaborated on her eye-catching comments.
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In an interview with Screen Rant during the Last Jedi press junket, Ridley was asked about her Star Wars future, remarking how the galaxy's penchant for trilogies influenced her initial response:
"I was all asked how I felt about going beyond and my answer being when I signed up I signed up to three films. So in my head Episode IX is sort of the end right now. That was misquoted."
Given how immensely popular Rey, Finn, and the rest of the sequel trilogy characters have become in such a short period of time, it's long been expected Lucasfilm will move forward with an Episode X at some point in the future, perhaps once this cast ages up a bit. It has to be comforting for the studio to know their beloved leading lady is not just moving on entirely, and odds are she'll sign up to return to the faraway galaxy when (or if) that day comes. In the meantime, it's understandable why playing Rey beyond Episode IX is not a priority for the actress. She's still at the outset of her career, and hopes to perform in a variety of films that span different genres and not just Star Wars. Earlier this year, Ridley was part of the Murder on the Orient Express ensemble, and she'll soon be seen in Doug Liman's Chaos Walking adaptation.
For what it's worth, Lucasfilm itself seems content to leave the Skywalkers behind after Episode IX. To date, the only confirmed films after Abrams' finale are the three installments of Rian Johnson's recently-announced trilogy, which has no connection to the previous movies. Johnson is working with a blank slate, creating all-new characters that populate a corner of the galaxy we've never seen before. Granted, their plans could change between now and then, but there does appear to be a concentrated effort to move the property past its iconic legacy elements and blaze new trails. Maybe one day Rey will grace the big screen again, but for now, her journey ends with Episode IX.
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