Star Wars director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy has declared ‘it’s about time’ a woman shaped a film for the franchise.
The Pakistani-Canadian filmmaker, 45, is set to become the first woman and the first person of colour to direct a feature film for the franchise.
Sharmeen made her name as an Oscar-winning documentarian before going on to direct two episodes of the Ms Marvel series.
Over the course of her career, she has received two Academy Awards, seven Emmy Awards and a Knight International Journalism Award.
Now the filmmaker is directing the next Star Wars film, Star Wars: New Jedi Order which is set to begin filming this year.
![Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, Star Wars Director, Believes It's High Time for a Woman to Influence the Franchise's Films 1 Star Wars director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, 45, (pictured in 2022) has said 'it's about time' a woman shaped a film for the franchise](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/03/08/79562055-12921739-image-a-1_1704271485588.jpg)
Star Wars director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, 45, (pictured in 2022) has said ‘it’s about time’ a woman shaped a film for the franchise
![Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, Star Wars Director, Believes It's High Time for a Woman to Influence the Franchise's Films 3 Filming for Star Wars: New Jedi Order is set to begin filming this year and it has been confirmed that Daisy Ridley will return to play Rey (pictured)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/03/09/79562321-12921739-Filming_for_Star_Wars_New_Jedi_Order_is_set_to_begin_filming_thi-a-1_1704273920378.jpg)
Filming for Star Wars: New Jedi Order is set to begin filming this year and it has been confirmed that Daisy Ridley will return to play Rey (pictured)
Speaking to CNN on New Year’s Eve, Sharmeen said: ‘I’m very thrilled about the project because I feel what we’re about to create is something very special.
‘We’re in 2024 now, and it’s about time that we had a woman come forward to shape a story in a galaxy far, far away.’
The film has been written by Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight and it has been confirmed that Daisy Ridley will return to play Rey.
While it is unknown who else from the cast will be returning, such as John Boyega, Oscar Isaac and Kelly Marie Tran, the film is reportedly set 15 years after the events of Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker.
CNN reported the film is set to be released in 2026 after Sharmeen hinted filming will be beginning soon.
It was announced at a Star Wars Celebration event in London in April last year that Sharmeen would be taking the role as director.
Excitedly posting on Instagram she wrote: ‘It has been quite a day in London….The news is OUT! I am so very excited to be directing the next Star Wars movie and bringing @daisyridley back to the galaxy…
‘I have always been attracted to the heroes journey and the world definitely needs more heroes! – the blueprints of the heroes we see on screen are rooted in reality – I’ve spent my life meeting real life heroes, who have overcome the most oppressive empires and battled impossible odds and that to me is the heart of Star Wars…which is why I was attracted to the promise of a new Jedi Order …
![Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, Star Wars Director, Believes It's High Time for a Woman to Influence the Franchise's Films 5 Sharmeen, pictured with Daisy in April 2023, said: 'What we're about to create is something very special. We're in 2024 now, and it's about time that we had a woman come forward'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/03/09/79562809-12921739-Sharmeen_pictured_with_Daisy_said_I_feel_what_we_re_about_to_cre-m-8_1704274556401.jpg)
Sharmeen, pictured with Daisy in April 2023, said: ‘What we’re about to create is something very special. We’re in 2024 now, and it’s about time that we had a woman come forward’
‘And why I’m particularly excited about being immersed inside a Jedi Academy with a powerful Jedi Master…’
Fans were delighted for Sharmeen as they took to the comments to share their support.
One wrote: ‘Huge Congratulations @sharmeenobaidchinoy ‘May the Force be with You!’
Another added: ‘I am so excited to see what you cook up! Not just to see Rey again but also to see the kind of story you and the writers will tell! Super super excited!’
Another commented: ‘Congratulations @sharmeenobaidchinoy. A woman who has constantly been breaking barriers for women of Pakistan. What a proud moment !’
It was also announced that James Mangold will be directing a film based on the first Jedi to discover ‘the Force’, set 25,000 years before the original trilogy.
Dave Filoni, the director of the forthcoming Star Wars series Ahsoka who has been involved in numerous Star Wars projects, will be directing a new film set between episodes six and seven.
The movie will draw upon elements of the old Expanded Universe, and serve as the endpoint for story threads in several Star Wars series, including The Mandalorian.
![Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, Star Wars Director, Believes It's High Time for a Woman to Influence the Franchise's Films 7 It was announced at a Star Wars Celebration event in London in April last year that Sharmeen would be taking the role as director](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/03/09/79562923-12921739-It_was_announced_at_a_Star_Wars_Celebration_event_in_London_in_A-a-7_1704274508331.jpg)
It was announced at a Star Wars Celebration event in London in April last year that Sharmeen would be taking the role as director