Daisy Ridley Trades Lightsabers for Left Hooks in True-Story MMA Drama
Fresh off Young Woman and the Sea, Star Wars alum Daisy Ridley is trading waves for the cage in Killa Bee, signing on to lead as real-life nurse-turned-MMA fighter Bryony Tyrell.
Daisy Ridley is swapping swim caps for 4 oz gloves. After playing trailblazing swimmer Gertrude Ederle in 2024's 'Young Woman and the Sea', she’s jumping into MMA with a new sports drama called 'Killa Bee' — and yes, it’s based on a real fighter.
What 'Killa Bee' is about
Ridley will play Bryony Tyrell, a UK ICU nurse who happens to have a masters in nursing, a degree in molecular biology, and two kids — and who also spent her nights becoming one of Britain’s top cage-fighting prospects. The film tracks that double life: navigating the NHS by day, walking into a cage by night. It’s the kind of story that sounds like a screenwriter’s fantasy, except it isn’t.
"Bryony’s story is one of extraordinary courage and resilience. I was deeply moved by her emotional and empowering journey. I can’t wait to bring her spirit to the screen," Ridley said.
Who’s making it (and why that matters)
The creative team has a surprisingly personal connection to the subject, which could be the secret sauce here. Bryony Tyrell isn’t just involved — she’s been part of the process from the jump and is actively consulting. The script has been developed in close conversation with her family to keep the emotional beats honest. And the director? He’s known her since school.
- Director: Kenton Oxley ('Farah'), a longtime friend of Tyrell’s from their school days in the UK
- Writer: Ruth Sewell
- Producers: Lucinda Thakrar and Mark Vennis
- Executive Producer: Michael Foster
- Companies: Knockout Productions, Picture Perfect, and Moviehouse Entertainment
- Production timeline: Cameras are expected to roll in the second quarter of 2026 (so don’t expect training montages on your feed anytime soon)
- Development notes: Tyrell is consulting, and the script was shaped in close dialogue with her family
- Tip of the hat: Details first surfaced via Deadline
Where this fits in Ridley’s schedule
Before stepping into the cage, Ridley will headline 'The Last Resort', a romantic comedy opposite Alden Ehrenreich set in the Philippines. She’s also lined up to return to a galaxy far, far away in an untitled Rey Skywalker movie set several years after 2019’s 'The Rise of Skywalker'.
Bottom line: real fighter, real stakes, a director who actually knows the subject, and Ridley in a bruising lead. If they stick the landing, 'Killa Bee' could sting in a good way.