'Star Wars’ next chapter could put two new heroes in the spotlight, with Rey as their mentor

Highlights

• Jon Watts is reportedly being considered to direct a new Star Wars film featuring two new lead characters.
• Daisy Ridley is expected to return as Rey in a smaller, mentor-like role, according to reports.
• The film’s status remains unconfirmed, and Lucasfilm has not officially announced Watts’ involvement.

The next chapter of Star Wars could introduce two new heroes, with Daisy Ridley’s Rey reportedly taking on a mentor role rather than leading the story herself.

According to recent reports, filmmaker Jon Watts is linked to a potential new Star Wars movie that could launch a trilogy. Watts co-created Star Wars: Skeleton Crew with Christopher Ford and directed its premiere and finale. He is also known for directing Marvel’s first Spider-Man trilogy.

The reported project would shift the spotlight to new characters while keeping Rey involved in the franchise’s future.

Two new heroes could lead the story

Knight Edge Media reported last month that Lucasfilm was considering Watts to direct the first installment of a new trilogy written by Simon Kinberg, whose credits include Star Wars Rebels and X-Men: Days of Future Past.

The report also said the studio was looking for relatively unknown actors to play a male and female lead. Ridley was expected to return as Rey, although her role could be smaller in the first film and potentially expand in later installments.

The involvement of John Boyega and Oscar Isaac, who played Finn and Poe Dameron in the sequel trilogy, remains unclear.

The film has not been officially greenlit by Disney, and Lucasfilm has not confirmed Watts’ involvement.

What happens to the earlier Rey movie?

In April 2023, Lucasfilm announced a separate film directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, set 15 years after Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. The project was expected to follow Rey as she rebuilt the Jedi Order and trained a new generation of Jedi.

The latest reports suggest that this earlier version may have been shelved in favor of Watts’ film. However, the project’s status remains disputed, and it is unclear whether the two films could be combined, replaced or developed separately.

The mentor role being discussed for Rey would echo the earlier concept of her guiding young Jedi, even if the new film places different characters at the center of the story.

A new generation for Star Wars

If the reports prove accurate, the film could give the franchise a fresh set of leads while retaining a connection to the sequel trilogy through Rey. Her role as a mentor would also mirror the guidance Luke Skywalker offered her.

Watts’ experience with Skeleton Crew, which followed young characters on an adventure across the galaxy, could suit a story built around new heroes. However, the film’s tone, cast and plot have not been officially confirmed.

Meanwhile, Star Wars: Starfighter, directed by Shawn Levy and starring Ryan Gosling, is scheduled to hit theaters on May 28, 2027. The film is set after the events of The Rise of Skywalker, though it remains unclear whether it will connect directly to the reported Watts project.

For now, the potential new trilogy remains a developing story rather than an official announcement. No release date or casting details have been confirmed.