Daisy Ridley says Kathleen Kennedy exit won't derail Rey Skywalker movie

When Lucasfilm officially announced that Kathleen Kennedy was leaving the studio, Daisy Ridley said the leadership change would not derail her Rey Skywalker movie, telling USA Today in December, "It won't affect me going forward if it were to be true." Ridley added that she appreciates fans' enthusiasm—"people are excited because they want to see (the movies), which is great"—and said the finished film will be a surprise when it is released.

She also acknowledged that the studio change "won't slow the development" but conceded it "also won't expedite the experience." The article notes Ridley's history with the franchise: she debuted in 2015's Star Wars: The Force Awakens, which was a financial triumph and fared well with critics, but has faced toxic responses from some fans that led her to leave social media.

The story also recaps how Rian Johnson's The Last Jedi divided audiences and how The Rise of Skywalker attempted to bridge those splits, becoming the series' worst-reviewed entry. Lucasfilm's near-term slate includes The Mandalorian and Grogu hitting theaters this spring, and Dave Filoni—now announced as co-president of Lucasfilm alongside Lynwen Brennan—was reported to be developing a movie to unite The Mandalorian, Star Wars: Ahsoka, and The Book of Boba Fett.

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