Daisy Ridley Revisits ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ After a Decade – Exclusive Interview

by

Daisy Ridley, famed for her role as Rey in the 2010s reboot of the Star Wars universe, initially portrayed the Force-wielding hero a decade ago. The release of Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens catapulted Ridley into A-list Hollywood status, yet she seldom reminisces about this movie. Nevertheless, Ridley has admitted to recently rewatching The Force Awakens, expressing it as “nice” to witness her younger self on the screen.

Ridley engaged with Collider during a preview of her upcoming film, “Cleaner.” However, their discussion eventually veered towards “Star Wars.” A full decade having passed since “The Force Awakens” premiered, she reminisced about her initial response upon seeing herself in one of the 21st century’s most significant “Star Wars” franchise reboots.

As a dedicated cinephile, I must confess that I had watched “[The Force Awakens]” about three times when it first hit theaters. Strangely enough, this movie was playing at my gym while I was working out recently. This brief re-encounter with the film has allowed me to distinguish between my past self and the overall movie experience. Despite the discomfort, watching it again recently stirred a sense of nostalgia in me, and I found myself saying “Aww!” It was incredibly heartwarming to see my younger self on the big screen.

Ridley’s bond with the Star Wars universe remains robust, despite the last film, The Rise of Skywalker, causing division among viewers who found the narrative confusing and Rey’s journey unclear. Nevertheless, following the criticism from cinema’s most fervent fan base, she continues to express positivity about her experience in the series. In fact, she still possesses memorabilia from certain films, including two lightsabers: “It’s quite amusing. I have it stored away somewhere. The other day I stumbled upon it and exclaimed, ‘Ah! My lightsaber!’ There it was.

I can’t bear to be without my BB-8 droid in my vehicle; it’s always with me. In a way, it feels like an essential part of me, if you get what I mean.

Daisy Ridley Is Involved in the Future of the ‘Star Wars’ Franchise

The future of the Star Wars franchise isn’t completely up in the air. There are movie projects in development, but specifics are still being kept secret. A Mandalorian film is on its way soon, and according to Daisy Ridley, everyone working on Rey’s sequel is taking their time to ensure they produce something that fans will value: “There’s been a lot of discussion about how release dates can influence the speed of production. So having the flexibility to craft a script that best tells this story is great, and I believe no fan would want it to be done hastily. The wait will prove worthwhile.

A decade has elapsed since “The Force Awakens” hit the screens, sparking a divide within the “Star Wars” fanbase. Despite differences in opinion over certain creative choices by screenwriters and directors, the devoted followers continue to thrive. Ultimately, it boils down to an unwavering affection for the cherished franchise, a sentiment that Ridley, who plays a key character in the series, clearly grasps well. She expressed this thought to Collider.

There’s nothing more heartwarming than when people share a common passion, be it for Star Wars or anything else. It creates this incredible bond among us, and the shared experience of watching good triumph over evil is truly special.

Read More

2025-02-17 19:01