The Star Wars fandom is currently in turmoil over the release of ‘The Acolyte.’ The show has faced significant backlash for being female-led, including “woke” themes, and being perceived as low quality despite its huge budget.

Despite the apparent issues with ‘The Acolyte,’ the franchise continues to push forward with many other projects in development. Fans can look forward to the release of ‘Skeleton Crew,’ Mangold’s new Star Wars film set thousands of years in the past, and Rey’s upcoming movie tentatively titled ‘New Jedi Order.’

At Star Wars Celebration 2023, a new Star Wars movie was announced, focusing on Rey after ‘The Rise of Skywalker.’ Directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, the film will follow Rey’s journey to rebuild the Jedi Order. Initially, Damon Lindelof and Justin Britt-Gibson were set to write, but Steven Knight has since taken over. The story is set 15 years after ‘The Rise of Skywalker,’ exploring a post-war, post-First Order galaxy with the Jedi in disarray. Kathleen Kennedy mentioned that Rey is working to fulfill her promise to Luke by rebuilding the Jedi Order based on ancient texts.

This upcoming movie is notable for several reasons. Firstly, it is directed by a woman of color. Secondly, it appears to be a standalone film rather than the start of a new trilogy.

Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy is aware of the backlash that female-led projects often receive, especially within the Star Wars fandom, but it seems the acclaimed director is not overly concerned by it.

In her latest interview, Obaid-Chinoy acknowledged the criticism and backlash her involvement has generated, but she remains undeterred. She stated that she will continue creating, ignoring the negative voices.

“The greatest thing about ‘Star Wars’ is that everyone has a personal connection to it. Everyone is passionate about it. And throughout the fandom, people have clear ideas about who should direct or what the stories should be about. I’m just drowning out those voices until I’m done. As a storyteller, I’m focused on drawing new moviegoers into the cinema, and bringing a sense of nostalgia that will appeal to older fans of the series.”

The history of filmmaking shows that nostalgia can be a double-edged sword, leading to great success or disappointment. We’re hoping for the best in this case. What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments below!