The Dark Side Rises: Unveiling the Menacing Villains in Rey's New Jedi Order Film
The dark side may have vanquished the Sith, but a menacing new threat looms over Rey's Jedi Order in the upcoming Star Wars movie
At Star Wars Celebration in London, England, this April, Lucasfilm broke its years-long silence on the theatrical front of the franchise by announcing three new Star Wars films. Among them, the New Jedi Order film starring Daisy Ridley as Rey Skywalker seems to be the most developed. It is not, however, considered as Star Wars Episode X. Instead, it serves as a follow-up with the lead hero in a storyline separate from the Skywalker Saga. Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, a Canadian-Pakistani filmmaker known for her work on documentaries and episodes of Ms. Marvel, is set to direct the film.
Details about this film are scarce, including whether John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Kelly Marie Tran, or Naomi Ackie, who co-starred with Ridley in the sequel trilogy, will return. The movie's villain(s) also remains a mystery. While the specifics are uncertain, it is expected that the Dark Side threat will continue to exist, albeit in a modified form following the defeat of Palpatine and the Sith on Exegol.
The uncertainty surrounding what challenges await Rey Skywalker in the upcoming film arises from the conclusion of the Skywalker Saga, where the ultimate evil, Palpatine, was defeated, marking the end of the Sith. Although remnants of the First Order may still linger in the galaxy, they do not pose a significant enough threat to justify Rey's return. To ensure that the stakes remain high, even without the Sith, the writers must discover a way to sustain intensity throughout the narrative.
The team responsible for writing the new Rey film has experienced some changes recently. Initially, Damon Lindelof was involved in the project, but later stepped down. In a swift move, Steven Knight, the creator of Peaky Blinders, was brought on board to add the final touches to the script. Currently, the status of this project is somewhat uncertain due to the ongoing writer's strike, which is causing delays in the production of upcoming movies and shows.
Ultimately, it is highly probable that the villain in the new movie will be a dark side Force user who is not a Sith Lord. This mirrors the character of Kylo Ren, and JJ Abrams and his team found a creative way to continue featuring dark side antagonists whilst respecting the Chosen One prophecy introduced in the prequel trilogy. The Chosen One prophecy poses a significant challenge for the development of any new film set after the Skywalker Saga due to its unequivocal nature. According to the prophecy, the Sith are meant to be extinct, yet the storyline's progression relies on the inclusion of a new villain. This new adversary must exhibit the overall essence of the original evil while also possessing unique distinguishing qualities.
Kylo Ren emerged as a distinctive villain, diverging from the Sith and standing apart from his grandfather, Darth Vader, though still deeply influenced by him. There is little possibility that the writers will pursue another Vader successor like Kylo Ren. Instead, they will likely introduce a unique antagonist, detached from the events of the past, as the story progresses beyond the Skywalker Saga.
Furthermore, the landscape of the galaxy is expected to evolve from what was seen in the sequels, where the First Order held dominance. The New Republic is projected to assume the role of the primary governing body in the galaxy, while the threat posed by the villains gradually grows, akin to the rise observed during the prequel trilogy. This aligns with the words of Maz Kanata, who explicitly informed Rey in Episode VII that evil transforms and manifests in diverse forms, but ultimately remains rooted in darkness.
Due to recent changes in the Disney theatrical release calendar, the anticipated release of this New Jedi Order film in December 2025 has been postponed. Instead, an undisclosed Star Wars project has been rescheduled for May 2026. This project is most likely the Daisy Ridley movie, considering it is currently in the advanced stages of development. Additionally, there is another film planned for release in December 2026, resulting in two exciting journeys to a distant galaxy within the same year.
If it comes true, the December movie will likely be Dave Filoni's first feature film, which will serve as the final installment of the MandoVerse. This movie has been hinted at since late 2020. After a long period of sparse updates about future Star Wars movies, with all the attention on Disney+, there are now developments in the world of cinema. It appears that this legendary franchise will once again grace the silver screen in the near future.
