STAR WARS: EPISODE X Casting Details Reveal Two New Leads, a Murder Mystery, and Rey’s Role in the Story

A murder mystery, a princess, and an unlikely hero could be at the center of the next chapter of the Star Wars saga. New casting details for Star Wars: Episode X have surfaced, offering interesting insight regarding the characters who may lead the franchise into its next era, with Daisy Ridley returning as Rey Skywalker in a supporting role.

According to a report from FivesWalker on X, Lucasfilm is looking to cast two relatively unknown actors to lead the upcoming Star Wars trilogy being developed by Simon Kinberg. The new characters are reportedly being compared to Rey and Finn from Star Wars: The Force Awakens, although this time, romance will play a more prominent part in their relationship.

The male lead reportedly “comes from a harsh orphaned background just like Rey and is swept up into the story after being implicated in a killing.” The female lead, meanwhile, “comes from high society, a perfectionist. Royalty.”

The report goes on to explain that “she and the male lead are caught up in a big adventure together, with her bringing him into the larger ‘world’s stage’ of Star Wars characters we know.”

So, we've got a young man with a troubled past who finds himself connected to a murder, and a princess who somehow ends up pulling him into a much bigger galactic adventure. There's no word on who gets killed, whether the young man actually committed the crime, or how the princess becomes involved.

It certainly sounds like the kind of adventure that could introduce some fun new characters while reconnecting audiences with familiar faces. As for Rey, it appears Lucasfilm is taking a different approach to her return.

Back at Star Wars Celebration in 2023, the studio announced a standalone Rey movie directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy. The story was expected to take place 15 years after Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker and follow Rey as she worked to rebuild the Jedi Order.

That project struggled to get moving. Writers Damon Lindelof, Steven Knight, and George Nolfi were all involved at various stages, but the film never made it into production despite Ridley's enthusiasm to return.

Now, with Kinberg developing a new trilogy and Jon Watts, who worked on Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, attached to direct Episode X, the standalone Rey movie appears to have been pushed aside in favor of giving her a mentor role in the new story.

Rather than putting Rey through another galaxy-saving adventure as the main hero, she could help guide a new generation while continuing her mission to restore the Jedi.

The murder angle is also interesting because Star Wars has used similar events to kick off several memorable stories. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story begins with Jyn Erso witnessing her mother's murder at the hands of Imperial forces.

Andor introduces Cassian's troubles after he kills two corporate security officers, eventually putting him on the path toward joining the Rebellion.

The Force Awakens opens with Kylo Ren murdering Lor San Tekka, while Star Wars: Attack of the Clones features an assassination attempt on Padmé Amidala that kills her decoy and launches Obi-Wan Kenobi into an investigation.

There's plenty of precedent for a killing becoming the catalyst for a much larger Star Wars adventure. The big question here is how this particular murder connects to the princess, the new hero, and potentially Rey herself.

The reported romance between the two leads could also be interesting, although I'd rather see that relationship develop naturally instead of knowing exactly where it's headed before the characters have even been introduced.

Part of what made Han Solo and Princess Leia's relationship so entertaining in the original trilogy was watching their chemistry evolve. Their constant bickering and growing affection made the eventual romance feel earned.

Hopefully, Kinberg gives these new characters enough room to build that same kind of connection without rushing things.

Another interesting aspect of the rumored story is how much it resembles The Hidden Fortress, the 1958 adventure film from legendary director Akira Kurosawa.

The movie follows a princess traveling through dangerous enemy territory alongside a general and two peasants. It was a major inspiration for George Lucas when he created Star Wars, particularly the idea of exploring an epic conflict through the eyes of ordinary people caught up in something much bigger than themselves.

Pairing a royal perfectionist with an orphan accused of murder feels like a fun way to revisit some of those classic storytelling influences while introducing a completely new adventure. Of course, these casting details haven't been officially confirmed by Lucasfilm.

I'm especially curious to see how Rey fits into the story and whether rebuilding the Jedi Order will play a major role in the new trilogy.

If Lucasfilm can deliver a compelling mystery, two likable new heroes, and a worthwhile continuation of Rey's story, Star Wars: Episode X could be an exciting new beginning for the franchise.