Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy: time for a woman-led Star Wars

The Star Wars universe is set to welcome its first female director, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, for an upcoming project starring Daisy Ridley. Sharmeen expressed her excitement about becoming the first woman to shape a story in the franchise after nearly 50 years of its inception. The new film, still untitled and without a release date, will follow the character Rey Skywalker as she undertakes the challenge of rebuilding the Jedi Order 15 years post the events of Episode 9 - The Rise of Skywalker.

Daisy Ridley shared that the new film's story is compelling and that she is eager for people to explore it, though she had yet to read the script when last asked. The Star Wars film has no premiere date yet, but Disney has scheduled three movies, with the one closest set to release in 2026.

This is a significant moment for diversity in the Star Wars franchise and a nod towards gender equality in the film industry, especially in high-profile cinematic projects like Star Wars. The inclusion of Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, an Oscar-winning director known for her strong storytelling, adds an exciting new vision to the highly anticipated extension of Rey Skywalker's journey.

Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy will be directing the new Star Wars film featuring Daisy Ridley's character Rey Skywalker.

Background Information: Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy is an Oscar-winning director from Pakistan known for her work on socially critical films, including documentaries that address inequality, gender violence, and societal issues. Her appointment as the director for the new Star Wars film not only breaks gender barriers within the franchise but also brings a fresh perspective to the iconic series. Daisy Ridley reprising her role as Rey suggests a continuation or further development of the narratives introduced in the Star Wars sequel trilogy, which concluded with "The Rise of Skywalker" in 2019.