Daisy Ridley Teases ‘Star Wars: New Jedi Order’ Return and Ryan Gosling’s ‘Starfighter’ (Exclusive)
- - Daisy Ridley Teases ‘Star Wars: New Jedi Order’ Return and Ryan Gosling’s ‘Starfighter’ (Exclusive)
Sophie HirshDecember 28, 2025 at 8:00 AM
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Daisy Ridley stars as Rey in the Star Warssequel trilogy of films, and she's set to reprise her role in the upcoming Star Wars: New Jedi Order. But Ridley has loved Star Wars long before she even auditioned for the role—and like every fan, she has a favorite movie from the original trilogy.
In an exclusive interview with Parade promoting her new zombie thriller—We Bury the Dead, out January 2, 2026—Ridley reveals her pick for the enduring fan debate: Which original movie from the Star Wars trilogy is her favorite?
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Daisy Ridley’s Favorite 'Star Wars' Movie Revealed
While many fans might say that The Empire Strikes Back is the pinnacle of the franchise, Ridley’s heart belongs to the film that started it all: A New Hope (1977).
It's her top choice "because it's all the origins of it all," she tells Parade exclusively. "[It's] the beautiful setting up of ... the creation of all these wonderful people and the characters and the universe."
A New Hope—also known as Episode IV—is the first Star Wars film George Lucas released. It introduces many beloved icons who returned when Ridley joined the Star Wars cinematic universe 38 years later as Rey in The Force Awakens (2015), including Princess Leia, Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, C-3PO, R2-D2 and Chewbacca.
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Star Wars: The Rise of SkywalkerDisney+" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/zTA8FhT6w89J1uydsyuwYg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD02OTk-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/aol_parade_744/09eccadc495176674447722cdafe32d0>Star Wars: The Rise of SkywalkerDisney+" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/zTA8FhT6w89J1uydsyuwYg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD02OTk-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/aol_parade_744/09eccadc495176674447722cdafe32d0 class=caas-img>Daisy Ridley as Rey in Star Wars: The Rise of SkywalkerDisney+Daisy Ridley Gives an Update on ‘Star Wars: New Jedi Order’ and Ryan Gosling’s ‘Starfighter’
Fans may be wondering if any of those iconic characters will be joining Ridley on screen in Star Wars: New Jedi Order, which is set 15 years after The Rise of Skywalker. Lucasfilm hasn’t detailed who else might return or its official release date. The actress remains tight-lipped when it comes to the upcoming film. "It will arrive when it's ready, and it will be worth the wait," she teases.
Related: Daisy Ridley’s ‘Star Wars: New Jedi Order’ Movie: Everything We Know So Far
In the meantime, there are plenty of other Star Wars TV and film projects in development. When asked which one she's most excited about, Ridley says she is "really looking forward to seeing" Star Wars: Starfighter, directed by Shawn Levy and written by Jonathan Tropper. On December 18, 2025, principal photography officially wrapped on the standalone film and the release date is currently scheduled for Friday, May 28, 2027.
Ryan Goslingand Amy Adams co-star in Star Wars: Starfighter, which was filmed in Sardinia, Italy and the United Kingdom. The all-star cast also includes Mia Goth, Matt Smith, Aaron Pierre and Simon Bird.
"I think that will be great," she tells Parade exclusively. "Such a brilliant group of actors. I saw Kathy [Kathleen Kennedy, Star Wars producer and Lucasfilm President] recently and asked how it was going, and she said it was amazing."
Related: What Mark Hamill Said About Ryan Gosling Joining the ‘Star Wars’ Universe
Now, we want to hear from you! What is your favorite Star Wars movie of all time? Are you excited to see Ryan Gosling join the galaxy in Starfighter and the return of Rey in New Jedi Order? Tell us in the comments below!
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This story was originally published by Parade on Dec 28, 2025, where it first appeared in the Movies section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
