Daisy Ridley Says Kathleen Kennedy’s Exit Would Not Change Her Role in Star Wars

As leadership conversations continue around Lucasfilm, Daisy Ridley has addressed how Kathleen Kennedy potentially stepping away would affect her own future in Star Wars.

Her answer was simple and direct.

“It won’t affect me going forward if it were to be true.”

Ridley, who is set to return as Rey in the upcoming New Jedi Order film, suggested that whatever happens at the executive level would not alter her involvement in the franchise.

Separating studio leadership from character stories

Ridley’s comment highlights a reality of modern franchise filmmaking: creative projects often operate on long development tracks that extend beyond individual leadership tenures.

While Kathleen Kennedy’s role at Lucasfilm has been central to the modern era of Star Wars, Ridley’s perspective indicates that actor commitments and story plans for major films like New Jedi Order are not automatically tied to executive shifts.

In other words, from her standpoint, the direction of Rey’s story appears stable regardless of behind-the-scenes changes.

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When Will We Hear About New Jedi Order?

Ridley also spoke about whether fans can expect official updates on the Rey-led film this year.

Her response was more cautious:

“I don’t know about 2026. In the future sometime, yeah.”

That answer leaves the timeline open. It confirms that development is still ongoing, but suggests that major news or firm announcements may not be imminent.

A familiar development pattern

Large Star Wars film projects often move through long pre-production phases before concrete release details emerge. Scripts, directors, schedules, and studio planning all need to align — and public updates typically come once those pieces are more locked in.

Ridley’s remarks fit that pattern: the project is alive, but fans may need patience before significant reveals.

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What This Means for Fans

Taken together, Ridley’s comments point to two key takeaways:

• Her involvement as Rey appears unaffected by potential leadership changes at Lucasfilm
• News about New Jedi Order may not arrive immediately, even though the project remains in development

For now, Rey’s return remains part of the long-term Star Wars film roadmap — but like much of the franchise’s future slate, details are still taking shape behind the scenes.

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