Writer Steve Knight Leaves Rey Star Wars Movie
You’re not going to believe this, but a Star Wars movie is in trouble again. This time, it’s the one centered on Rey, the lead character of the sequel trilogy played by Daisy Ridley, which is rumored to be titled Star Wars: New Jedi Order. The film was announced in April 2023 at that year’s Star Wars Celebration and was met with little fanfare, which shouldn’t shock anyone who’s seen the way Star Wars has gone under Disney’s stewardship. The film will be directed by documentary filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy and, after losing writers Damon Lindelof and Justin Britt-Gibson along the way, had Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight scripting it. But today, Matt Belloni of Puck News (via Forbes, as Puck is behind a paywall) reported that Knight has left the movie, which will now almost certainly not be ready for December 2026, when it’s currently supposed to be released.
This report comes after Knight announced that he was opening a new studio in Los Angeles, where he wants to put together some “big productions;” he’s also making a Peaky Blinders movie. As That Park Place points out, WDW Pro speculated that Knight would be leaving New Jedi Order (or whatever they call it) when Knight revealed plans for the new studio, as the endeavor would almost certainly require his full attention. Word of Reel previously reported that Knight had delivered four drafts of his script for New Jedi Order to Lucasfilm, and each time, it was sent back with notes from Kathleen Kennedy on how to improve it. (I’m sure her input was invaluable.) Pro and his guest also believed that New Jedi Order would eventually be scrapped, with Lucasfilm delaying it over and over to save face like they did with their other failed Star Wars projects. On that score, Daisy Ridley has recently said she “continue[s] to be very excited” about the film, though she admits the situation surrounding her next Star Wars outing is “evolving.”
Additionally, although Belloni says that Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy is still attached to direct the film, Jeff Sneider of The Insneider claimed on The Hot Mic that she may be replaced by Shawn Levy, who he’s heard is also making a Star Wars movie centered around Rey. This, he says, could be New Jedi Order or a movie about an older Rey starring Helen Mirren. This may also be “folded into” New Jedi Order, which Sneider calls “Sharmeen’s movie.” That last option doesn’t seem likely to me; why would they bother to bring in Shawn Levy, especially after Deadpool & Wolverine became a massive success, just to have him create something that’s given to a lesser-known filmmaker? That doesn’t seem likely to me, although, as Sneider said, considering the rate at which Lucasfilm discards directors, it’s possible he could replace Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy.
A mess at Lucasfilm isn’t a surprise anymore. It seems like it’s almost impossible to work with this studio, and any time someone wants to do something interesting, they get the boot. I understand why people are speculating that New Jedi Order will fall apart, but I still think this movie will happen eventually. The only thing that will stop it is Kathleen Kennedy leaving Lucasfilm before it goes into production, and that’s because I believe this movie is being made out of pure spite. I think Kennedy wants to shove Rey down everyone’s throat one more time before she goes. I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s why it’s so difficult for these writers to nail down a script that pleases her; she’s going to make this one as unbearable as possible, rubbing in that Rey has replaced Luke Skywalker as the shepherd of the new generation of Jedi. It may be a ways off, but I’ll be very surprised if this movie is canceled.
Let us know what you think of Steve Knight leaving the Rey movie in the comments!
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