Since the ending of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker in 2019, the ever-active fandom has patiently awaited an update on Daisy Ridley's character, Rey. Is Emperor Palpatine's granddaughter coming back? When will she return to the universe she took by storm?
The franchise's next trilogy is tentatively called New Jedi Order and will be directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, who is mostly recognized as the showrunner for the Disney+ series Ms. Marvel. She recruited George Nofli to write the script, which he also did for Ocean's 12 and The Bourne Ultimatum. While they have hopefully been pining away with the Force, Ridley is breaking (a little) news.
“I have not read the latest script, but I know what’s happening, and I know the story, and I think what feels really good is that George is a phenomenal writer,” Ridley said to ComicBook.com. “I think we’re making sure that this story is the best way, this script is the best way to tell the story.”
She's towing the company line and keeping fans eager to see what's coming. Speaking of vagueness, she also said, "I think it will be worthwhile for everyone watching it, and I am very excited."
Daisy Ridley on potentially joining the MCU, and who she could play
In short, depending on who she speaks with, Daisy Ridley could be on our screens a lot more in the coming years. She told ComicBook.com that she is "open to loads of stuff."
She continued discussing her work with this amazing second AD named Matthew Sharp, revealing that he "texted [her] because he’s doing Avengers" and said, "‘If they call.’ So I was like, ‘If they call, absolutely.’" And there you have it: Daisy Ridley is interested in the Marvel Cinematic Universe because, duh.
Ridley believes she would rock some character under the Kevin Feige umbrella. Of course, that gets our nerd pants flying across the room. Just what in the world could we fancast for Daisy Ridley? Since we can't ask, we can dream a little, right? Here come the ideas. Here comes the pain.
These are the top five fancasting ideas for Daisy Ridley in the MCU:
5. Sera
Marvel has a thing for hellions. Take Sera, who was born a wingless "Angel of Heven" (that's not a typo). Oh yeah, she was born a male angel who studied everything "forbidden in Heven" and used it for her whimsy. According to Marvel's catalog, "she is banished to Hel (again, no typo) before reuniting with her love Aldrif Odinsdottir, aka 'Angela.'"
Through the "Age of Ultron" and eventually meeting with the Guardians of the Galaxy, Angela falls from Heven, and Sera winds up in Earth's wilderness. It seems that the MCU has passed these two by, but with the Multiverse Saga in full effect until 2027, maybe it could happen in the next two Avengers movies. At any rate, Daisy would be a strong casting choice here.
4. X-23
It's been a while since Logan "died" and we said goodbye to the best Wolverine ever. Yet, in that film, we met a new, gruesome, bloodlustful mutant named Laura Kinney, code-name X-23. Much like Wolverine - except maybe with more precision and brutality - she was bred to be a weapon.
In that marvelous culmination of the Wolverine story, X-23 was played with force by Dafne Keen. We saw her again in Deadpool and Wolverine when she met another version of Logan. But the Multiverse Saga is all about alternate realities and doppelgangers, so if Marvel wanted to cast an alternate, adult version of X-23 from the Multiverse (perhaps one who claims the mantle of Wolverine like she has in the comics), Daisy Ridley would be a remarkable candidate for what that role requires.
Laura's nature has many similarities to that of Rey. Feige, if you're out there, holler.
3. Moira MacTaggert / Moira X
Daisy Ridley would do well concocting any mutant power, even if she is standing shotgun to Professor X. The character first debuted in 1963. In his ridiculous talent, Chris Claremont created Moira MacTaggert as a sentinel cyborg who was the good professor's love interest. Despite what the movies said, she is a Nobel-winning geneticist who co-created Cerebro.
Furthermore, she is also connected to the Euro super-team Excalibur, which was remotely teased in the post-credits of Eternals. Not for nothing, so is she. As she is also called in Marvel Comics, Moira X has lived 11 lives, and her eventual son is the powerful "Mutant X," also known as Proteus. This would be amazing to see onscreen.
2. Lillith
Imagine Daisy wilting a little and playing a villain. Her attitude flares a little in The New Jedi and Rise of Skywalker, so we know she has it in here. And Lillith could be a great choice for her. First appearing in Giant-Size Chillers Featuring Curse of Dracula No. 1 (1974), Lillith, although daughter of Dracula, was cast out to live as an orphan. She hated the guy (and still does), who eventually impaled her. But, have no fear, for she possesses a woman named Angel O'Hara in NYC.
She is connected to Brother Voodoo, Scarecrow, John Blaze, Doctor Strange, and Ghost Rider. This could be a character to watch since Doctor Strange is still supposed to be active in the MCU and there have been plenty of rumors about casting Ghost Rider. If you're a fan of dark comics, this should be the way.
1. Jessica Drew / Spider-Woman
One of the most popular selections for Daisy Ridley to join the MCU fold is to take on Jessica Drew. Forget what we have seen in Madame Web (for those who did see it). The Spider-Verse notwithstanding, the MCU needs Spider-Woman. If for no other reason than to show casuals that her only connection to Peter Parker is that she has the spider-inspired mantle and suit.
She has more power than Parker does, anyway. And these bio-electric venom blasts she has are fantastic on comic pages. Spider-Woman has been in cartoons and alluded to in forgotten projects. To give her the MCU treatment, Kevin Feige would need someone who can accomplish big roles and could lead a universe. Rey does that in the Star Wars front, so Jessica could do the same with Daisy's help.