Daisy Ridley’s Latest Update on Her New Star Wars Trilogy Might Disappoint Sequel Fans

The Star Wars galaxy is about to expand once again, but for fans of the sequel trilogy, Daisy Ridley’s latest update on her upcoming return to the franchise may not be the news they were hoping for. As Star Wars prepares to make its grand return to the big screen with The Mandalorian & Grogu and Ridley’s own Rey-centric trilogy, it’s becoming increasingly clear that the next chapter of the saga might be a departure from what many sequel fans expected.

Since its debut, Star Wars has spanned three mainline trilogies, each with its own unique protagonist—Luke Skywalker, Anakin Skywalker, and, of course, Rey. The sequel trilogy introduced Rey as the new hope for the future of the galaxy, a character whose arc, while controversial, captivated audiences and sparked endless debates. Some embraced Rey as a fresh new face who would carry the torch of Star Wars into the future, while others felt her story lacked the depth and clarity of the original characters. The sequel trilogy may not have been universally loved, but Rey’s journey, as well as her relationship with iconic characters like Finn and Poe, was undeniably a central part of the saga’s emotional core.

But as Lucasfilm gears up for the next trilogy, Ridley’s Rey still seems to be central to the studio’s vision for the future—despite the divisive reception of the sequels and the challenges the franchise faces in moving forward.

There is, however, an undercurrent of uncertainty that has crept into Ridley’s own perspective on her return. In a recent interview with Backstage, Ridley shared her thoughts on returning to the iconic role of Rey after a significant hiatus. “The first three films, we did fairly close together in the grand scheme of things. So one of the things is: Do I remember how to be Rey? It’s been a while, and time has passed in [the ‘Star Wars’] world,” Ridley admitted. “So there are a lot of questions about what has happened in that time, both for me and for the character; that in and of itself feels like a challenge. And then there’s the fact that I’ll be working with different actors and different filmmakers, which brings up different things. And that is always progressive, I suppose, because it’s someone else’s interpretation.”

While Ridley’s candid comments suggest the excitement of a new beginning, they also inadvertently confirm a worrying possibility for fans of the original sequel trilogy. As the actress hinted, the upcoming trilogy may not feature any of Rey’s original supporting cast, including the beloved characters Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) and Finn (John Boyega). With Isaac already confirmed to not reprise his role as Poe, Ridley’s remarks seem to solidify that the focus will likely be on new characters or potentially familiar faces from the Disney+ era of the franchise, rather than a continuation of the dynamic that was established in the sequels.

What This Means for Finn Fans

One of the most disappointing aspects of the sequel trilogy for many fans was the lack of character development for Finn, a character who had immense potential when first introduced. Initially positioned as a co-protagonist alongside Rey, Finn’s arc was frustratingly sidelined in the latter parts of the trilogy. His background as a stormtrooper who defected from the First Order, along with his strong moral compass and ability to lead, made him a standout character that many fans saw as a crucial part of the story. However, by the time The Rise of Skywalker came around, Finn’s journey had been reduced to little more than a secondary character, and his unexplored potential became one of the trilogy’s most glaring missed opportunities.

Initially, Finn was expected to have a deeper connection to Rey, with many speculating that he might become a Jedi in his own right. But as the trilogy progressed, his role became less defined, and the exploration of his relationship with Rey was overshadowed by other plotlines. The opportunity for a compelling storyline of personal growth, leadership, and self-discovery was largely left untapped, leaving Finn’s fans wondering what could have been.

When it was made clear that Ridley would be getting another chance at a trilogy at the box office, one of the more prominent fan assumptions was that there would be some sort of restitution for Finn. After all, three more movies offered plenty of time to give the character some much-deserved development and agency, even if he wasn’t going to be an equal protagonist alongside Rey. Fans had hoped that the new trilogy might be an opportunity for Finn to receive the focus and respect that was previously denied him, perhaps even seeing him take on a Jedi role or serve as a central leader in the galaxy’s rebuilding efforts.

But if Ridley’s comments are any indication, Finn’s journey may not be a focus in the upcoming trilogy. This, of course, raises the question of whether the new trilogy will course-correct for the character’s past missteps. While it’s disappointing for Finn fans who were hoping for more, there are still numerous opportunities for exciting new stories and character arcs to be explored in this next phase of the Star Wars saga. The promise of returning to the political intrigue and galactic power struggles that defined the prequels, for instance, holds significant potential for rich storytelling.

Yet, even though Finn’s arc might be sidelined, the fact remains that the next trilogy can still be a breath of fresh air for the Star Wars universe. The idea of moving past the baggage of the sequel trilogy and starting something new may offer both creative freedom and a chance to reimagine the saga in new ways. However, whether it will please the fanbase or alienate long-time Star Wars lovers remains to be seen.

A New Era of Star Wars—For Better or Worse?

The new trilogy, set to center around Rey, could represent a fresh start for the franchise. But will it resonate with fans who were hoping for more continuity, more development for the characters they’ve already grown to love? Ridley’s comments have certainly raised more questions than answers, but they also provide an opportunity for the franchise to pivot. Whether the fans embrace this shift or yearn for the beloved cast of the sequels remains to be seen. In many ways, Ridley’s return could be the chance to create a trilogy that breaks free of the constraints and disappointments of its predecessors, but it also risks further isolating fans who feel that the story of the sequel trilogy was not fully realized.

Some fans have speculated that Lucasfilm’s decision to move forward with new characters and interpretations could be a sign of creative frustration or a desire to distance the new trilogy from the divisiveness that followed the release of the previous films. Star Wars has always been a story of hope, conflict, and change, but as the franchise grows and evolves, so too do the expectations placed on it.

While some fans are already eager for new stories and a break from the continuity of the sequels, others remain deeply invested in the narrative threads left dangling, particularly when it comes to characters like Finn, Poe, and even Kylo Ren. The challenge for Lucasfilm will be balancing these two camps and finding a way to craft a story that feels both fresh and faithful to the franchise’s rich history.

As we await more information, one thing is for sure: Star Wars will never stop evolving. But will the future still feel like home for the fans of the past?

The Star Wars franchise is available to stream on Disney+, with Ridley’s upcoming trilogy still without an official release window—but rest assured, more news is likely to come soon, and with it, even more questions about where the saga is headed next. Will Rey’s story continue, or will the galaxy go in an entirely new direction? Time will tell.