Naomi Ackie has confirmed she’d be excited to return as a Jedi in Star Wars: New Jedi Order
. It’s hard to believe it’s been two years since Daisy Ridley’s return to Star Wars was announced at Star Wars Celebration 2023, in a movie helmed by Sharmeen ObaidChinoy. For a while it was generally ᴀssumed it would be the next Star Wars movie; instead, that honor goes to The Mandalorian & Grogu, with Shawn Levy’s mysterious movie believed to start filming later this year.

Still, another sequel trilogy star seems keen to return. Speaking to Screen Rant‘s Tatiana Hullender during a Sundance interview for Sorry, Baby, the actress – who played the former stormtrooper Jannah in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker – gave a positive response. “Ask them,” she replied cheerfully. “Star Wars, get it together!… I get a call, we’ll see what happens, I’ll see if I’m free!” The comment may seem ambivalent, but the joy in her voice made it clear she’d love to be back.

Rise Of Skywalker Set Jannah Up For The New Jedi Order

Naomi Ackie’s Jannah was a surprisingly important character in The Rise of Skywalker, leader of a group of former stormtroopers who’d hidden on the moon of Kef Bir. The movie itself focused mainly on dropping hints that Jannah was Lando’s lost daughter, although later stories appear to have walked back on that idea. More intriguingly, though, was a subtle suggestion that Jannah was Force-sensitive; she and her fellow stormtroopers described an experience analogous to Finn’s in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and it felt very much like the promptings of the Force.

We know Rey is going to rebuild the Jedi Order, with Finn presumably her first recruit. If Jannah and all her stormtroopers are indeed Force-sensitive, then they’re the perfect foundation on which she can build something truly lasting. That means Jannah is even more important than it seemed, beause she’s a future Jedi. It would be great to see her return in that role, something seen in LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy.

Our Take On Rey’s Future Jedi Order

Ackie’s comment may have been off-the-cuff, but the truth is that most viewers are keen for Star Wars to get its act together when it comes to Daisy Ridley’s return. Although Ridley herself has insisted there is no need to rush, it really does seem like a missed opportunity that the New Jedi Order seems unlikely to be restored for the franchise’s 50th anniversary in 2027. Star Wars: New Jedi Order is an exciting prospective movie, and it would be thrilling to see more sequel trilogy stars return in it.