Look away now, FN-2187, for Daisy Ridley has addressed those rumors of a potential Rey/Poe romance blossoming in Star Wars: Episode IX.
Though they both fought valiantly against the First Order before mingling with the Resistance on D’Qar, the two characters never actually crossed paths in The Force Awakens, leaving it to The Last Jedi to break the ice. And sure enough, Rey and Poe Dameron shared a small, memorable scene at the tail-end of Rian Johnson’s sequel, igniting talk that the star-crossed duo would wind up falling for one another in Episode IX.
Alas, if Daisy Ridley’s latest interview (h/t Screen Rant) is any indication, rumors of a romantic subplot taking shape in J.J. Abrams’ 2019 sequel are wildly off base. Here, the actress outlined why she believes Rey’s relationship with Poe should remain platonic.
I haven’t spoken to J.J. [Abrams], but I did another film this year that is not romantic [Murder On the Orient Express], and I think it’s wonderful to have relationships that are not romantic. I don’t think films always need to have [romantic relationships]. I believe a relationship between two friends can be romantic in their gestures and their intimacies. So, I hope when Rey and Poe get to have some scenes together, there can be that intimacy [without the need for] romantic love.
Arguably the biggest takeaway from Ridley’s quote is that neither Rey nor Poe are yearning for a romantic subplot to make them whole – Lucasfilm’s current crop of characters is already pretty nuanced and complex without the need to employ impassioned love stories.
Once Solo: A Star Wars Story enjoys its time in the sun, Lucasfilm’s hard-wired marketing machine will begin devoting resources to Episode IX, the third and final chapter in this current Star Wars trilogy, ahead of its launch on December 20th, 2019.
