There was a scene in 2015 in The Force Awakens that signaled a passing of the torch. In the film, Han Solo hands Rey a blaster for her protection. It seemed the character and Harrison Ford were passing on the legacy of the franchise to Rey and actress Daisy Ridley in that very moment.
The actress received praise for her portrayal of the new character, and it seemed like the future was endless for both the character and Ridley. Many projects were announced, and rumors were circulating that Ridley would be involved.
Now there seems to be a setback. Recently, it was announced that Sharmeen Obaid-Chino's movie centered on Rey has been shelved. The film went through many writers, and it seemed there was not a plan that involved moving forward with the film or Ridley's involvement.
Not only does the character of Rey deserve better, but Daisy Ridley. The franchise needs to move forward and not backward, and Ridley would have been a great vehicle for that. One of the reasons the series Andor was a success was that it touched on unexplored parts of the franchise.
If Star Wars as a franchise wants to succeed, it needs to find a way to engage newer characters such as Cassian Andor, Bix Caleen, and now Rey.
We know Lucasfilm is working on the Ryan Gosling film Starfighter, which is set to be released in 2027. Could a cameo in Starfighter be a way to bring Rey and Ridley back into the Star Wars universe? If so, it would be a welcome moment for the franchise.
Ridley has been receiving praise for recent films such as Magpie and Cleaner and has demonstrated her range as an actress if given the right script and the right talent to work with. Working with an actor of the caliber of Gosling and having him act opposite Ridley would be a moment that the fans would talk about for years to come.
One of the reasons why The Force Awakens succeeded was the chemistry between Ridley and Ford. Both are outstanding actors, and both can succeed outside of their work within Star Wars. But they also bring such strong humanity to their work in Star Wars that there is a reason why the film is still remembered fondly.
Now, if the franchise wants to succeed and move in a new direction and not rely on older stars or characters, they may want to turn to Rey and Ridley. As her character told Han Solo, "I think can take care of myself."
Ridley can hold a movie and be the right vehicle for Star Wars moving forward.
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