In 2023, the Margot Robbie-led film "Barbie" became the highest-grossing film of the year, surpassing $1.4 billion in global box office collections. Directed by Greta Gerwig, the comedy received widespread praise for its exploration of self-acceptance and patriarchy through various characters in Barbie Land, most of whom were female. This female-centric film dominated the Golden Globe Awards nominations with nine nods, indicating its financial and critical success.

The achievement of "Barbie" is expected to further encourage Hollywood's efforts to diversify film sets and support more female-led stories.

The "Star Wars" franchise has also taken steps in the right direction in this regard. Over the years, many women have played significant roles and influenced the success of the epic space opera. From editor Marcia Lucas to screenwriters Gloria Katz and Leigh Brackett, their contributions have been instrumental in shaping the franchise.

Lucasfilm, currently led by Kathleen Kennedy, has made history by appointing Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy as the director of an untitled "Star Wars" project starring Daisy Ridley.

Chinoy's appointment marks her as the first woman and person of color to direct a "Star Wars" film. In an interview with CNN, the Pakistan-born, Canadian filmmaker expressed her excitement about the opportunity and described the forthcoming project as something truly special.

Similar to Margot Robbie's role in "Barbie," there will be immense pressure on Daisy Ridley as the lead in this high-profile "Star Wars" project. However, following her portrayal of Rey and embracing the Skywalker identity in "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker," there is no doubt that both Ridley and her character will be ready to shine in a galaxy far, far away.

The new film will continue the story 15 years after the events of "The Rise of Skywalker," with Rey now a fully-fledged Jedi Master. Despite these positive developments, a recent report by USC Annenberg's Inclusion Initiative suggests that female directors still do not receive equal opportunities in Hollywood. The report highlights Hollywood's performative acts towards inclusion and emphasizes the need for real steps in fostering change. In 2023, out of the 100 top-grossing domestic films, only 12% were directed by women, indicating the ongoing need for improvement in supporting talented women filmmakers both in mainstream and independent films.