ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s two-time Oscar-winning filmmaker, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, has been announced as the director of the upcoming ‘Star Wars’ film, making her the first-ever woman and person of colour to direct a ‘Star Wars’ film.
Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy made the announcement at the annual Star Wars Celebration fan convention in London on Friday.
Chinoy will be co-writing the title with Damon Lindelof and is set to direct one of the three upcoming ‘Star Wars films, which is currently in the scripting stage.
The film will be set after the events in the last film in the franchise, ‘The Rise of Skywalker,’ and will see actor Daisy Ridley reprise her role as Rey as she builds a new Jedi Order.
The filmmaker took to Instagram to share her excitement, writing, “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.”
She added, “I have always been attracted to the hero’s journey, and the world definitely needs more heroes!”
Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy expresses love for Star Wars
Chinoy also expressed her love for the Star Wars franchise, stating, “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.”
Following the announcement, members of the film fraternity extended their congratulations to Chinoy for her historic feat.
Actor Mahira Khan took to her Instagram stories to re-share the post from the official Insta handle of the film and wrote, “Represent! So so proud. Keep making us proud! MashAllah!”
Chinoy’s selection as the director for a ‘Star Wars’ film marks a significant step forward in the push for diversity in the entertainment industry, as she becomes the first woman and person of colour to helm a major Hollywood franchise.
Her addition to the ‘Star Wars’ family is expected to bring a fresh perspective and a new voice to the beloved franchise.
