Daisy Ridley: Rey Rising
Arguably the biggest new talent to arise from the Star Wars franchise, the English actress is set to achieve mega-stardom. When she was first introduced as Rey, the gutsy young scavenger who unwittingly becomes a central figure in interstellar conflict, Daisy Ridley was little known, even in her native United Kingdom.
The London-born actress had worked on just two feature films – her scenes were cut from one – prior to being cast in Star Wars: The Force Awakens in 2014. Predictably, her profile has since achieved international prominence and she has drawn praise for her work.
With her portrayal of Rey set to end with Episode IX of the Star Wars series this year, she has no shortage of roles to keep her busy in the next phase of her burgeoning career.
In the midst of tilting the balance of power between the Resistance and the First Order, she took on roles in other major films, starring in 2017’s Murder on the Orient Express and 2018’s Ophelia.
Ridley will next be seen in Chaos Walking, an adaptation of the young adult novel by Patrick Ness. She has also been announced to act in two additional films, and could appear in four others in various stages of development. She seems well on her way to becoming a formidable force on the big screen.
Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker
Out: 19 December
Stars: Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, John Boyega
More than 40 years since the first Star Wars movie brought enthralled global audiences to “a galaxy far, far away”, the final film of the three-trilogy Skywalker saga is here at last. The conclusion of this sequel trilogy, directed by JJ Abrams, pits good (the Resistance and its allies) against evil (the First Order) once more across space and multiple worlds. And the heroine Rey (Ridley) must realise the full extent of her Jedi powers to help keep the Dark Side at bay.
Dr Sleep
7 November
Stars: Ewan McGregor, Rebecca Ferguson, Kyliegh Curran
The little boy with supernatural powers, who had terrifying visions and encountered evil spirits in an eerie hotel, is all grown up now: Recovering alcoholic Danny (McGregor), a character last seen as the unusually gifted child in The Shining, is haunted by the traumatic events of his past. When a young girl (Curran) with powers that may surpass his own reaches out to him for help, he is forced to confront a cult and overcome the dangers of both past and present.
Frozen 2
21 November
Stars: Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Josh Gad
Three years after the events of Frozen, when Elsa the Snow Queen (Menzel) ended an eternal winter and reconciled with her beloved sister Anna (Bell), an unknown force beckons her to head north. The fate of the world depends upon her discovering the truth behind her powers, so Anna, her beau Kristof, Sven the reindeer and Olaf (Gad) the enchanted snowman join Elsa on an unforgettable journey into the unknown, fraught with adventure and untold perils.
The Good Liar
28 November
Stars: Helen Mirren, Ian McKellen
An ageing grifter (McKellen) thinks he has hit the jackpot after he meets a wealthy widow (Mirren) through online dating. Intent on romancing the woman and parting her from her millions, he becomes conflicted about his scheme after growing to care for the seemingly unsuspecting target. Before long, his web of lies grows ever more tangled. Viewed with suspicion by the widow’s grandson, he struggles to evade exposure and to follow his heart.
Cats
19 December
Stars: James Corden, Taylor Swift, Judi Dench, Jason Derulo
Based on Andrew Lloyd Webber’s celebrated musical fantasy – and in turn based on T.S. Eliot’s poems – comes this big-screen adaptation of epic proportions. The story centres on a tribe of cats, the Jellicles, over the course of one night as they decide which feline will return to a new life. With a star-studded cast that also includes Idris Elba, Jennifer Hudson and Rebel Wilson, it features choreography by Tony Award winner Andy Blankenbuehler (Hamilton).
Streaming TV
Silicon Valley (Season 6)
Now on HBO GO
Stars: Thomas Middleditch, Kumail Nanjani, Zach Woods
A satirised view of the modern-day high-tech boom, Silicon Valley returns for its sixth and final season charting the roller coaster fortunes of a fledgling start-up with technological know-how that is a potential gold mine. It carries on from the events of the previous season, which saw the Pied Piper team, led by its hapless and often-overwhelmed CEO (Middleditch), issue its own cryptocurrency while staving off destruction at the hands of ruthless competitors.
