Daisy Ridley Is ‘Petrified’ By ‘Star Wars’ Return

Daisy Ridley felt “petrified” and “overwhelmed” when her return to the Star Wars universe was confirmed.

The 31-year-old actress shot to fame playing Rey in 2015’s Star Wars: The Force Awakens and she returned for two more films, but it was recently announced she will be reprising her role for another movie — which will be directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy — and Ridley has admitted she was worried about the response from fans.

She told The Hollywood Reporter: “When I was at Sundance, I did not know ... I had a breakfast with Kathy [Kennedy] that I thought was just breakfast.”

“And then it [the new movie] was mentioned, so I thought about it. I loved the story, and I was like, ‘Okay.’ Things then happened quite quickly, and it felt like I was instantaneously on a stage being introduced by Sharmeen ... it honestly took me back to being 20 or 21, however old I was, when [Star Wars: The Force Awakens] was announced. I was petrified, I was overwhelmed, I was really nervous but the response was really wonderful.”

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Ridley went on to reveal she hasn't seen the script for the new movie, but she knows the storyline and is thrilled to be returning as Rey.

Daisy echoed those comments in an interview with Collider, in which she added: “I was so nervous. Oh my God. It was such a wonderful reception. I'm very excited. The story is really cool. I’m waiting to read a script because, obviously, I don’t have any other updates. It’s not what I expected, but I’m very excited.”

The new movie was announced during the Star Wars Celebration in London earlier this year when it was revealed the film will be set 15 years after 2019’s Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.

Director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy explained the film will “tell the story of rebuilding the New Jedi Order and the powers that rise to tear it down.” She added: “I’ve always been attracted to the hero’s journey and the fact that the world needs many more heroes.”

That same event also revealed two other Star Wars films in the pipeline, including one from James Mangold and another from The Mandalorian executive producer Dave Filoni and producer Jon Favreau. Logan filmmaker Mangold will be delving into the past to tell the tale of the first Jedi to “wield the Force and harness it as a liberating power in an era of chaos and oppression,” while the other film will be set in the present, and will document the escalating war between the Imperial Remnant and the fledgling New Republic in a plot that promises to “bring together many of the threats of the Star Wars original series.”

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