Rumors of new Rey films are very worrying for the future of Star Wars

There has been a lot of speculation about whether or not Kinberg is planned Star Wars trilogy is essentially another extension of the central Skywalker Saga or something completely different, but the fact that we’re even having this conversation doesn’t bode well for the cinematic future of the franchise or its central star. Let’s be honest: Lucasfilm doesn’t have a great track record when it comes to setting a clear path for Rey (or any of the Sequel Trilogy characters). The Last Jedi And The Rise of Skywalker clashed very openly in terms of not only Rey’s identity, but also the overarching themes of her journey. Clashing visions hurt Rey last time on the big screen.

Of course we don’t know that for sure, Kinberg is working on his own Rey films – and if so, how closely is he coordinating his shoot with Obaid-Chinoy’s film. (There’s always the possibility that Obaid-Chinoy’s film has now become the first part of that trilogy, but we’re speculating here.) But the stops regarding Rey’s film future are already a bit concerning.

According to industry insiders via THR, Rey is “the most valuable cinematic asset, in some ways perhaps the only one. Star Wars has now,” as the Sequel Trilogy closed the book on all of the franchise’s biggest characters, including Luke, Han and Leia. Which at least means we’ll probably see Rey again at some point, as long as Daisy Ridley is willing to reprise her role. However, this language is indicative of so many problems with Star Wars and the industry in general at the moment.

By seeing characters and their stories as little more than numbers, dollar signs, and nostalgia tropes, we lose a big part of the heart that drew many of us to this franchise in the first place. For many women and young girls, watching Rey’s journey (at least until… The Rise of Skywalker) was and is inspiring. She was a nobody from a desert planet who could discover this power within herself and channel it to save herself and the galaxy from oppression. Before she was a Palpatine or a Skywalker, she was just Rey, and it was easy for us to see ourselves in her and her desire to prove herself.

Rey deserves more time on the big screen. She deserves to forge her own path forward and create her own legacy, instead of just being a vessel that carries the legacy of others. But it’s hard to get excited about her potential future when she’s being passed off by creatives and executives as the latest toy for Christmas.

And what’s even worse is that, according to insiders, this just seems to be the way Lucasfilm operates now. There are multiple projects in the works that may or may not overlap characters and timelines. Some writers and directors know what their colleagues are working on, but others don’t. “It’s a different way of developing,” said an insider. “There is so much parallel work happening.”