Why Emilia Clarke Wants to Return to the Star Wars Universe—And How Qi’ra’s Unfinished Business Could Lead the Way

Emilia Clarke, renowned for her iconic role as Daenerys Targaryen in Game of Thrones, has voiced her deep interest in revisiting one of her most intriguing Star Wars characters—Qi’ra. Although her time as the ambitious street thief-turned-leader of the Crimson Dawn crime syndicate in Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018) ended with plenty of room for expansion, Clarke has made it clear that she would love to explore Qi’ra’s story further, particularly given the character’s unfinished narrative arc.

In a 2021 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Clarke explained her attachment to Qi’ra, saying, “She’s the one that has the most unfinished business.” Clarke revealed that she had “pages” of ideas regarding Qi’ra’s future, underscoring her personal investment in the character. However, she also expressed some frustration, admitting that she had not received any official word from Disney+ or Lucasfilm about revisiting the role. “I’m afraid I’ve heard nothing of [Disney+] being the case, so maybe I’ll just write it and send it to them,” she jokingly remarked, hinting at her eagerness to pitch her ideas directly to the studio.

Despite the lack of concrete plans, Clarke’s desire to revisit Qi’ra’s story has persisted over the years. In a subsequent piece by Inside the Magic, she again reiterated her interest in expanding the character’s arc, emphasizing that Qi’ra still had a great deal of potential to be explored.

Qi’ra’s Expanding Role in Star Wars Lore

Clarke’s remarks come at a time when Qi’ra’s presence in the Star Wars universe continues to grow, even though she has not appeared in any recent live-action Star Wars productions. After her appearance in Solo, Qi’ra’s story was further explored in the Star Wars expanded universe, particularly through Marvel Comics’ War of the Bounty Hunters and Crimson Reign series. These stories delve into her leadership of Crimson Dawn and her efforts to oppose the Sith, keeping her character relevant within the broader Star Wars saga.

Qi’ra has also appeared in animated form in Forces of Destiny and been referenced in various other tie-in materials, ensuring that her legacy continues even without Clarke’s direct involvement.

The Latest Developments: Qi’ra in Star Wars: Outlaws

A major recent development for Qi’ra came in 2024 with the release of Star Wars: Outlaws, an open-world video game by Ubisoft. The game confirmed Qi’ra’s appearance in the narrative, but fans were disappointed to learn that Clarke would not reprise her role. A spokesperson for Ubisoft clarified that while Qi’ra is a character in the game, she is not voiced by Clarke. Instead, the voice talent chosen for the role was intended to capture the “energy of Lady Qi’ra,” but not necessarily emulate Clarke’s portrayal. This decision, while maintaining Qi’ra’s presence in the franchise, dashed the hopes of fans who were eager to see Clarke return to the role.

Speculation about Clarke’s potential return in Outlaws had been fueled by fan interest and a viral video of Clarke discussing Qi’ra, but Ubisoft’s confirmation left no room for doubt that Clarke would not be part of the project.

Clarke’s Stance on Future Star Wars Appearances

In recent interviews, Clarke has been more candid about her Star Wars future. While she acknowledged that a return to the galaxy far, far away would be “lovely,” she also indicated that it wasn’t something that would happen soon. In a 2023 interview with IndieWire, Clarke hinted that she was focused on other projects, such as Marvel’s Secret Invasion, and was not actively pursuing a return to Star Wars.

Additionally, Clarke has made it clear that while she would welcome the opportunity to revisit Qi’ra, it remains unclear if Lucasfilm has any immediate plans for the character. This is further complicated by the commercial underperformance of Solo: A Star Wars Story and the lack of priority for a sequel, as noted by director Ron Howard. Given the current landscape of Star Wars media, which is focused on new shows like The Mandalorian and Ahsoka, it seems that the chances of Clarke returning to the Star Wars universe are slim, at least for now.

Fan and Industry Support for Clarke’s Return

Despite the lack of official plans, Clarke’s desire to revisit Qi’ra has garnered significant support from Star Wars fans and industry insiders alike. Discussions on platforms like Reddit and in various fan forums show a strong appreciation for Clarke’s portrayal of Qi’ra, with many fans eager to see her story further developed, especially given the intriguing mystery left unresolved in Solo.

Industry perspectives also suggest that there is potential for a return to Qi’ra’s narrative. Writer Jon Kasdan, who worked on Solo, has previously expressed interest in exploring more stories within that era of Star Wars history, potentially opening the door for a return to Qi’ra’s complex character.

Conclusion: A Future for Qi’ra?

Although Emilia Clarke’s dream of revisiting Qi’ra has yet to materialize in a significant way, her enthusiasm and the continued relevance of the character in the Star Wars expanded universe suggest that there is still hope for her return. Whether through live-action, animation, or future projects, Qi’ra’s journey has plenty of untapped potential. For now, fans will have to wait and see if Lucasfilm decides to bring her back to the forefront—hopefully with Clarke leading the charge. As for Clarke, her passion for the character and willingness to pitch her ideas directly to Disney proves that her connection to Qi’ra remains strong, and perhaps one day, she’ll get the chance to finish the story that she believes still has so much to offer.