First female ‘Star Wars’ director, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy insists on the importance of ‘male champions in life’

The Star Wars television projects have boasted of several female directors, including Deborah Chow. However, the film franchise has remained exclusive to male directors like creator George Lucas, J.J. Abrams, Rian Johnson, Irvin Kershner, among others. But no more, for filmmaker cum activist Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy is now the first female director set to make a new feature on Daisy Ridley’s Rey.

But that is just the beginning of the records set by the Pakistan-born director. She is also the first female director to win two Academy Awards for Best Documentary, under the age of 37. And did we mention she is also the first person of color to direct a Star Wars film?

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The Ms. Marvels director will team up with Peaky Blinders’ Steven Knight for the project, as the latter will be writing the still-untitled feature’s screenplay. In a recent New Year’s special interview with CNN, Obaid-Chinoy shared her view on the question of whether she had ever had a chance or work encounter with a real-life hero which remained memorable.

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Obaid-Chinoy cited the example of Gul-e-Khandana, a resilient Pakistani schoolteacher who stood firm against the Taliban insurgency and attacks on schools, and currently also runs an NGO for destitute, local women. While talking about her, Obaid-Chinoy shared an assertion on her incredible story, “her husband is her partner and her champion. And it’s so important to have male champions in your life, who sort of, help you, in your difficult time.”

When asked to talk about the project, Sharmeen shared that she was “very thrilled” about it as what she and her team will be creating is going to be “something very special.” She further vocalized the relevance of her current employment as the first female director of the Star Wars film franchise by stating the obvious. “It is 2024 now, and I think it’s about time we had a woman come forward to shape the story in a galaxy far, far away.”

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