Rey is among the many new characters who were introduced to the Star Wars canon in 2015's The Force Awakens. From a certain point of view, she could be considered the most important of the bunch, as she's filled Luke Skywalker's role as the young Force-wielder who has been tasked with battling the dark side. The next chapter of Rey's journey will unfold in The Last Jedi, and it's been confirmed she'll be back for Episode IX in 2019. But what about after that? As things stand now, Daisy Ridley doesn't expect she'll play Rey again after this current Star Wars trilogy concludes. She recently said the following:
No, no, no. I am really, really excited to do the third thing and round it out, because ultimately, what I was signing on to was three films. So in my head, it's three films. I think it will feel like the right time to round it out.
We still have two more Star Wars movies to enjoy Daisy Ridley's performance as Rey, but evidently she's already made up her mind not to tack on a fourth movie set in a galaxy far, far away. However, don't think that means that Ridley is extremely eager to exit the Star Wars franchise. Before delivering the above comment, the actress told Rolling Stone how lucky she's been to be a part of the galaxy far, far away, especially since The Force Awakens was only her second time performing in a movie. As she put it:
For me, I didn't really know what I was signing on to. I hadn't read the script, but from what I could tell, it was really nice people involved, so I was just like, 'Awesome.' Now I think I am even luckier than I knew then, to be part of something that feels so like coming home now.
Daisy Ridley's decision not to play Rey again after Episode IX fits in with Lucasfilm's plans for the Star Wars franchise going into the next decade. Along with more standalone Star Wars movies on the way, it was announced earlier this month that Rian Johnson is working on a new trilogy that will be separate from the Skywalker saga and will introduce new characters in a corner of the Star Wars galaxy that hasn't been explored before. So even is Ridley was willing to reprise Rey, this universe is going in a different direction post-Episode IX, and it doesn't sound like Rey or any of the other established Star Wars characters will be tagging along for this new era.
That being said, if Lucasfilm decides to revisit the main saga after this new trilogy or even further down the line, perhaps Daisy Ridley would change her mind about reprising Rey. After all, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford decided to return to the world of Star Wars after three decades away, so maybe after years away from this franchise and showing off her acting chops in numerous other projects, she'd reconsider picking up the lightsaber.
You can see Daisy Ridley's second theatrical appearance as Rey when Star Wars: The Last Jedi opens in theaters on December 15, so don't forget to pre-order your tickets.
