It's possible Star Wars sequel trilogy characters could return in future movies. Right now, all attention is being paid to the imminent premiere of The Rise of Skywalker, which concludes the Skywalker saga after 42 years. Lucasfilm's immediate future primarily concerns Disney+ streaming shows like The Mandalorian and the Obi-Wan Kenobi miniseries, but they also have more films in development. Earlier this year, the Mouse House claimed release dates for three mystery Star Wars movies in December 2022, 2024, and 2026. It remains to be seen what those will be, especially with David Benioff & D.B. Weiss' planned trilogy now cancelled.
In regards to the upcoming Star Wars films, the only thing that can be said with any degree of certainty is that they'll take place outside of the aforementioned Skywalker saga. At first glance, that would suggest audiences won't be seeing more of characters like Rey, Finn, and Poe Dameron in the post-Rise of Skywalker films, and the actors themselves appear ready to move on from the franchise as they continue their careers. But, it seems Lucasfilm isn't going to keep that trio on a shelf forever as they enter a new era.
Speaking with the LA Times, Kennedy discussed what little she could publicly reveal about what's next for Star Wars. Interestingly enough, she said the studio "won't abandon" characters introduced in the ongoing sequel trilogy. She also indicated Star Wars' future won't be so reliant on the trilogy structure:
“I think it gives us a more open-ended view of storytelling and doesn’t lock us into this three-act structure. We’re not going to have some finite number and fit it into a box. We’re really going to let the story dictate that.”
Most audiences responded positively to Rey, Finn, and Poe after The Force Awakens, so it would be odd if Lucasfilm didn't look to bring them back in some capacity down the road. What'll be interesting to see is what "won't abandon" means; that's not exactly a guarantee the sequel trilogy's big three will indeed return for a new movie. Star Wars canon encompasses multiple mediums, so perhaps Rey, Finn, and Poe's adventures could continue in a novel or comic book. As for seeing them on the screen, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, and Oscar Isaac are all ready to close this chapter of their lives, but that could change down the road. Their comments sound like less severe versions of Daniel Craig's thoughts about reprising James Bond following Spectre. Making a Star Wars movie is a grueling process, and probably none of the stars want to think about doing another one after just wrapping up a trilogy. After some time off, they could reconsider (just not for a Disney+ show).
It's also refreshing to see Kennedy open to the idea of moving past trilogies, if that's what the narrative calls for. She's still in the process of figuring out what's next for Star Wars, so it's better she's not boxing herself into a set idea of what the movies have to be. Perhaps an upcoming film could be a one-off (a la Joker), giving an interesting creative team the chance to leave their mark on the franchise without worrying about fitting it into a larger picture. Maybe someone will have an idea for a series that'll take only two films instead of three. Time will tell what Kennedy and company have up their sleeves, but it's good to know they're considering every option on the table.
Source: LA Times
