Star Wars Episode 8 – who will be the female lead?

A galaxy far, far away is perhaps no longer just the domain of mostly white male heroes, and one has to credit the “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” creative principals for creating a narrative that features a female and Black British as part of the trio of new lead characters. According to reports, she’s on a shortlist of actresses who could be cast in the upcoming Star Wars Episode VII, set to be directed by Rian Johnson for a 2017 release.

Some insiders for the publication claim that it is still early stages of the casting process and the 41-year-old filmmaker is now still auditioning up-and-comers.

Gina Rodriguez is the Golden Globe victor. All the way back in January a report began circulating saying that she was in contention with Rooney Mara and Felicity Jones for the lead role in the Gareth Edwards’ Star Wars: Rogue One.

This past January, it was rumored that Orphan Black’s criminally underrated star Tatiana Maslany was in the running for her own Star Wars spin-off.

In the meantime, the bigger waiting game is still the countdown to The Force Awakens, which will come out on December. 18 and lay a more clear cut groundwork for whatever and whomever Johnson has in store for Episode VIII, out on May 26, 2017.

Other rumors for this movie include that Benecio del Toro is in talks to play a villain.

They’re all fantastic actresses, though in our heart of hearts we’re hoping Maslany will get another shot to be in the Star Wars universe.

Cooke stars on Bates Motel and drew widespread acclaim for her impressive performance as a young cancer patient in Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, which won both the Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award at Sundance. “Because we know where this baby ends”, he said.

It’s very possible. Obviously, people are wondering what a new female lead means for Rey’s involvement in the film… but there’s no reason we can’t have two female heroes.