No Mention of Rey Star Wars Movie in Variety Profile on Director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy — Has “New Jedi Order” Been Quietly Canceled?

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Readers of *Variety*’s in-depth filmmaker profiles often pay attention to what isn’t said as much as what is. With Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, the Oscar-winning director previously set to direct a new *Star Wars* film starring Daisy Ridley, what was left out of a recent profile might be the most significant detail.

Variety recently featured Obaid-Chinoy’s work as an executive producer on the short film *Don’t Be Late, Myra*, directed by Afia Nathaniel. The article praised Obaid-Chinoy for championing meaningful stories and highlighted her impressive background, including two Academy Awards, four Emmy Awards, and her directing work on Marvel’s *Ms. Marvel*.

But one thing the article doesn’t mention — not even in passing — is Star Wars.

As a fan who’s been waiting for the Rey sequel directed by Sharmeed Obaid-Chinoy, the lack of news is starting to feel really significant – and not in a good way. It’s like the silence itself is telling us something.

A Director Once Positioned to Lead Star Wars Forward

In April 2023, Lucasfilm confirmed that Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy will direct a new Star Wars movie taking place around 15 years after *The Rise of Skywalker*. The film will focus on Rey, played again by Daisy Ridley, as she works to rebuild the Jedi Order. Lucasfilm announced at Star Wars Celebration London that this movie will be the start of a new series of theatrical films exploring the future of the Star Wars galaxy.

I was so inspired by what Obaid-Chinoy said about taking on this project. She put it perfectly when she explained that it was high time a woman got to tell a story in the *Star Wars* universe – a galaxy far, far away. It felt like a really important moment, and I loved her honesty about it.

The comment sparked a lot of discussion among Star Wars fans, especially considering women have long played a key role in the franchise. Kathleen Kennedy has led Lucasfilm since 2012, while Deborah Chow directed and oversaw *Obi-Wan Kenobi*. Leslye Headland was the creator, writer, and director of *The Acolyte*, and Bryce Dallas Howard has directed several highly-praised episodes of *The Mandalorian*.

People online also rediscovered a past statement from Obaid-Chinoy’s time as a documentary filmmaker, in which she said, “We aim to challenge men, and I find satisfaction in doing so.”

Although the quote first appeared during discussions about social activism, it quickly spread online and was used by critics who believed it showed a willingness to drastically change the Star Wars story in a way they didn’t like.

Obaid-Chinoy shared her ideas for Rey’s story, describing it as focusing on her experience as a “female Jedi.” Some fans felt this approach prioritized gender roles over developing Rey’s character as an individual.

For a while, it seemed like her Star Wars film was actually happening. Initially, writers Damon Lindelof and Justin Britt-Gibson were working on it, but they were later replaced by Steven Knight, the creator of *Peaky Blinders*. He eventually left the project as well. The movie was temporarily known as *New Jedi Order* and was planned for release in December 2026.

Then, the galaxy went quiet.

Vanishing Acts: Writers Exit, Release Dates Removed

In October 2024, *The Playlist* reported that Steven Knight was no longer working on the film, leaving its script unfinished. Then, a few months later, Disney unexpectedly removed the planned *Star Wars* movie from its December 2026 schedule and replaced it with *Ice Age 6*.

By the middle of 2025, industry insiders started saying the movie centered around Rey was paused. In June, Inside the Magic reported that Disney had stopped working on the film to concentrate on other projects, like Shawn Levy’s Starfighter.

Adding to the confusion, in January 2025, ComicBookMovie.com reported that Lucasfilm had hired screenwriter George Nolfi (known for *Ocean’s 12* and *The Bourne Ultimatum*) to rework the project. This suggested the project was still in development, though struggling to move forward.

This means the film is stuck in a holding pattern, what those in the movie industry call “development limbo.” It hasn’t been officially canceled, but it’s not currently being worked on either – it’s in a sort of indefinite pause.

Variety’s Omission: A Signal or a Coincidence?

This brings us back to the present.

A detailed and positive profile of Obaid-Chinoy in Variety magazine (October 2025) reads much like a press release from her team, highlighting her dedication to humanitarian work and strong creative vision. Interestingly, the article doesn’t mention her work on Star Wars, which is unusual given how much publicity typically surrounds that franchise – suggesting this omission was intentional.

Since the planned Rey movie is no longer a key part of Lucasfilm’s plans, it’s not mentioned when discussing the director’s work. Instead, the article highlights her involvement with the *Ms. Marvel* series and a short film called *Don’t Be Late, Myra*, which focuses on child safety in Lahore.

As a longtime follower of this stuff, I’ve noticed things aren’t left out of stories by chance. PR teams and book editors are really good at controlling how someone is presented. So, if they *don’t* mention something, it’s almost always because that topic is either…

  1. In flux — too uncertain to discuss publicly, or
  2. Out of frame — meaning it no longer fits the image they want to project.

Either way, it doesn’t suggest a film charging confidently toward production.

A Galaxy in Holding Pattern

Lucasfilm has several potential movies listed as being worked on, like the ‘New Jedi Order’ project by Obaid-Chinoy. However, being ‘in development’ doesn’t guarantee a film will actually be made. Projects often stay on the company’s list even after the initial excitement and planning have faded.

Currently, the studio seems more focused on *The Mandalorian & Grogu* and the *Starfighter* project. If either of those become very successful, Disney might consider revisiting the Rey movie in the future, possibly with or without Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy as director. However, as things stand, that possibility seems unlikely.

The Bottom Line

While it doesn’t officially cancel the upcoming Rey movie or director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy‘s involvement, the lack of mention in *Variety* strongly suggests the project is in serious trouble.

Following two years of changes in creative leadership, missed deadlines, and a lack of updates from Lucasfilm, the fact that the project wasn’t mentioned in recent interviews with the director feels like a clear sign it’s been shelved. She’s pursuing other projects, and it doesn’t appear to be in the Star Wars universe.

Unless Disney announces something different, it seems like Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s Star Wars movie featuring Rey is on hold indefinitely.

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2025-10-14 17:58