The Jedi Order is about to return to the Star Wars galaxy. As announced at Star Wars Celebration 2023, Daisy Ridley is set to reprise the role of Rey Skywalker in an upcoming Star Wars movie that will see her establishing a new Jedi Order. Little is known about the film, which will mark the first live-action Star Wars release to take place after the events of the sequel trilogy, though rumors recently emerged that Idris Elba is set to play the villain.
Whether or not the rumors of Elba being up for the part turn out to be true, the new Rey movie needs to get its villain right. Throughout Star Wars' Skywalker Saga, the Jedi have been seen facing off against the acolytes of the Sith, but now is the time for change. While the enmity between Jedi and Sith has endured for generations, this new chapter in the Star Wars saga needs to find a new opponent for the New Jedi Order.
Star Wars' Skywalkers Have Already Defeated the Sith
The Sith have served as Star Wars' primary antagonists throughout the Skywalker Saga. The original trilogy saw the galaxy trapped in the iron grip of Darth Sidious and Darth Vader. The prequels pitted the Jedi against Sidious' previous apprentices, Darth Maul and Darth Tyranus. While the sequel trilogy initially featured dark-side users who were not Sith Lords, in Kylo Ren and Snoke, the trilogy culminated in the return of Darth Sidious and the emergence of the Sith Eternal cult on Exegol. Each time the Sith rose to power, there was always a Skywalker or two on hand to take them down.
As revealed in the prequel trilogy, Anakin Skywalker was the Chosen One of Jedi prophecy. It had been foretold that he would restore balance to the Force by destroying the Sith, something he eventually did when he was saved from the clutches of the dark side by his son, Luke Skywalker. The sequel trilogy then saw Palpatine return to be defeated by Rey. This appeared to confirm that, while Anakin had restored balance, that balance could be threatened again. This interpretation may also suggest the prophecy of the Chosen One is generational and was passed from Anakin to Rey. In any case, both Anakin and Rey have now restored balance to the Force by destroying the Sith. Seeing Rey face the Sith again could start to undermine the prophecy.
Who Could be the Villains of Rey's New Jedi Order Star Wars Movie?
Ruling out the Sith obviously leaves a vacancy for a villain that can pose a legitimate threat to Rey's New Jedi Order. As the Jedi are said to be in crisis in this movie -- with questions of whether any Jedi besides Rey even exist anymore -- the threats they face could be more varied than in the past. In these difficult early stages of its formation, the fledgling New Jedi Order will be vulnerable and may attract opponents of many different kinds, whether they are dark-side wielders, aggressors who are not Force-sensitive, or even political opponents.
Luke Skywalker's attempt to rebuild the Jedi was thwarted early on by Ben Solo, meaning there hasn't been a fully-fledged Jedi Order in place for well over 50 years by the end of the sequel trilogy. This could lead to questions from whichever groups are assuming power following the fall of the First Order, concerning whether the Jedi Order even should be re-established. The Jedi's weakness may also encourage attacks from dark-side cults besides the Sith or other enemies. Historically, the Jedi were often at war with the Mandalorians, and The Mandalorian Season 3 showed Mandalore being reclaimed by its native people long before the rise of the First Order. Perhaps a new Mandalorian war is on the horizon for the Jedi.