Daisy Ridley’s return as Rey Skywalker may still be on the cards, but it reportedly won’t happen in the movie Lucasfilm announced more than three years ago.Credit: LucasfilmAccording to reports, the New Jedi Order movie from director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy is no longer moving forward as a standalone project. Instead, its story has reportedly been absorbed into Simon Kinberg’s planned trilogy, which begins with Star Wars: Episode X.Report Says New Jedi Order Became the Kinberg TrilogyOn November 1, 2026, Star Wars insider @fiveswalker shared an update on X addressing the status of several long-gestating Lucasfilm projects. On Rey’s standalone film, the account was blunt: “No [New Jedi Order] isn’t happening, it became the Kinberg trilogy”The same post claimed Lucasfilm had rejected James Mangold’s Dawn of the Jedi, with the director moving on, and stated that “Rogue Squadron has died a thousand deaths.” It also added, “Taika ain’t happening,” in reference to Taika Waititi’s long-discussed Star Wars film.The insider concluded that the studio’s film slate appears to have been wiped clean, with Starfighter and Episode X now serving as the starting point.Credit: LucasfilmWhat Was the New Jedi Order Movie?The project was announced at Star Wars Celebration Europe in April 2023, with Ridley confirmed to return as Rey. Set after Star Wars: Episode IX–The Rise of Skywalker (2019), it was intended to follow her as she attempted to rebuild the Jedi Order.Earlier reports suggested the film was on hold rather than canceled, and Lucasfilm has never publicly confirmed whether it was shelved, delayed, or merged into another production. The latest claim points to the third option, with the film’s central premise now feeding into the next chapter of the Skywalker Saga.Episode X Reportedly Puts Romance Front and CenterThat next chapter is shaping up to look very different. On October 29, the same insider claimed casting was underway for Episode X, with Lucasfilm searching for two actors in their early 20s. Romance was described as one of the film’s defining elements, and a follow-up post characterized the project as “Very YA but very good.”The two protagonists reportedly echo the dynamic between Finn and Rey in Star Wars: Episode VII–The Force Awakens (2015), though with a more explicitly romantic relationship. The male lead comes from a difficult, orphaned background and is drawn into the adventure after being implicated in a killing. The female lead is reportedly royalty, a perfectionist from high society who introduces him to the wider galaxy and its established characters.Credit: LucasfilmRomance has always been part of Star Wars, from Han Solo and Leia Organa to Anakin Skywalker and Padmé Amidala, but it has typically supported larger conflicts rather than driven the story. Episode X would flip that formula nearly five decades after George Lucas launched the franchise in 1977.Rey Steps Into a Mentor RoleRey is still expected to appear, though no longer as the lead. Insider Daniel Richtman previously claimed the film would feature two new protagonists, with Rey acting as their mentor.That fits neatly with what New Jedi Order was meant to explore. A Rey who is rebuilding the Jedi and guiding a new generation is essentially the premise Lucasfilm announced in 2023, now folded into a larger story.A Studio in TransitionThe reported shift comes during a period of significant change at Lucasfilm. Kathleen Kennedy stepped down as studio president earlier in 2026, with Dave Filoni and Lynwen Brennan taking on new leadership responsibilities.Kinberg has reportedly been developing his trilogy since late 2024, with Jon Watts, director of the MCU’s Spider-Man trilogy and co-creator of Skeleton Crew, attached to direct Episode X. Disney has not officially greenlit the film, and no release date has been announced.Credit: LucasfilmFor now, the next confirmed Star Wars theatrical release remains Shawn Levy’s Star Wars: Starfighter, starring Ryan Gosling, which is scheduled for May 2027.Fans who have waited since 2023 to see Rey rebuild the Jedi Order may still get that story, just not in the form originally promised. Based on the latest reports, Ridley’s return is more likely to come as a supporting mentor in Episode X than as the lead of her own film.All of this remains unconfirmed. Lucasfilm has not announced the cancellation of New Jedi Order, nor has it shared casting or story details for Episode X. Until the studio speaks, Starfighter is the only firm date on the Star Wars calendar.How do you feel about the upcoming post-sequel trilogy Star Wars movies? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments below!The post ‘New Jedi Order’ Reportedly No Longer Moving Forward as ‘Star Wars’ Replacement Confirmed appeared first on Inside the Magic.