Lucasfilm Calls Rey Most Important Star Wars “Asset”

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Lucasfilm is betting it all on Rey. In a recent article, The Hollywood Reporter reveals that their Lucasfilm sources have told them the studio considers the hero of the sequel trilogy, played by Daisy Ridley, the “most valuable cinematic asset” they have. THR also says there have been rumors about filmmakers looking to make Star Wars movies fighting over who gets to use Rey, although their Lucasfilm sources “dispute” that. They do, however, say that Lucasfilm is wondering where to take Star Wars next, with the current creative model appearing to be a slapdash “throw stuff at the wall and see what sticks” approach. The result is a bunch of directors not knowing what they should do with their movies and whether one will step on the toes of another depending on when their films are released. For example, Charmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s New Jedi Order (if that’s what it ends up being called), which is supposed to be about Rey reforming the Jedi, is stalled, with several writers leaving the project while Lucasfilm hunts for a new one; however, Simon Kinberg’s recently-announced trilogy will also feature Rey in a prominent role, if not the lead, and the first of those films is currently being written. What if Kinberg’s movie is ready first?

This is quite a predicament the Lucasfilm geniuses have gotten themselves into. The THR piece mentions how they’ve killed off almost everyone important from the original trilogy, so they don’t have any of the beloved characters that made Star Wars the legend it is in their stable anymore. And while The Mandalorian introduced a pair of well-liked heroes, Din Djarin and Grogu (whose real name is Baby Yoda), their viability on the big screen won’t be known until The Mandalorian and Grogu hits theaters. A year ago, I’d have said the film would almost certainly be a success, but the lackluster response to and dwindling ratings of season 3 of The Mandalorian (because it sucked) make that less likely; Lucasfilm has to hope that fans love the characters enough to give them another shot. So, as of now, Rey is it for them, and while the article doesn’t question this mentality at all (shocking, I know), the truth is that she’s not the savior they’re making her out to be. She’s not all that popular, and after the ending of The Rise of Skywalker and her usurping Luke’s destiny in New Jedi Order, there’s a lot of ill will for Rey from Star Wars fans who love Luke Skywalker – you know, all of them.

That’s why I tend to trust the Lucasfilm sources when they say there isn’t really a struggle over which directors get to use Rey; it’s more likely that Lucasfilm wants to make movies centered on her, or at least involving her. She could end up hobbling creatives who have a Star Wars story in mind but are told it has to have Rey in it. This also gels with reports that Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy and Disney CEO Bob Iger view the Simon Kinberg trilogy as their final lasting mark on Star Wars before they retire. Kennedy would want to make sure the future of Star Wars rests in her creation (and, some speculate, self-insert) and that she will influence the next decade of Star Wars despite her absence. But history is repeating itself in how disjointed all of this is. Remember how Lucasfilm had no concrete plan for the sequel trilogy, resulting in a series of films that undercut each other? Well, “Rey” is not a plan, either, and it looks like there’s confusion about what order the movies are getting made in and whether the first one to arrive will necessitate rewriting the next. The most entertaining thing about the next era of Star Wars will be the bumbling incoherence of its roll-out.

Let us know what you think of Lucasfilm considering Rey their most important Star Wars asset in the comments!

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