Even though Star Wars: The Force Awakens doesn’t open until December, Hollywood is already focusing on Episode VIII. The shortlist for a female lead role in the movie has been revealed.
According to sources for TheWrap, the three lead actresses Disney and Lucasfilm are considering are Gina Rodriguez, Tatiana Maslany and Olivia Cooke.
Rodriguez is a breakout star thanks to her Golden Globe winning role on The CW’s Jane The Virgin. Maslany was finally nominated for an Emmy for Orphan Black and Cooke starred in the indie film Me and Earl and the Dying Girl.
Episode VIII director Rian Johnson is currently auditioning actresses for the big part. Some sources for TheWrap suggest that Johnson has already whittled his list of actresses down to just these three and they will have a chemistry reading with The Force Awakens’ John Boyega.
Benicio Del Toro has confirmed that he thinks he might be in Episode VIII. It’s been rumored that he would take a new villain role.
All this casting speculation about Episode VIII is starting to spoil The Force Awakens. If Del Toro is needed to play a new villain, does that mean that Adam Driver’s Kylo Ren won’t survive the end of the film?
The Force Awakens opens on Dec. 18 and Episode VIII doesn’t open until May 29, 2017.
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