Tatiana Maslany, Gina Rodriguez, & Olivia Cooke Lead Shortlist For STAR WARS: EPISODE VIII

Tatiana Maslany, Gina Rodriguez, & Olivia Cooke Lead Shortlist For STAR WARS: EPISODE VIII

Star Wars: The Force Awakens is still about three and a half months out, but there's no stopping the force, and now a new report has revealed a shortlist for the female lead in the next Rian Johnson-directed film of the trilogy. Come check it out! Plus, find out who they're reading with!

News
By RohanPatel - Sep 01, 2015 04:09 PM EST
Filed Under: Star Wars
Source: The Wrap

The Wrap has just revealed a shortlist for the new female lead in Disney/Lucasfilm's next Star Wars sequel, the Rian Johnson-directed Star Wars: Episode VIII; that shortlist includes Golden Globe nominee Tatiana Maslany (Orphan Black), Golden Globe winner Gina Rodriguez (Jane The Virgin), and relative newcomer Olivia Cooke (Me And Earl And The Dying Girl). 

The Wrap also adds that it's still fairly early days for casting, as Johnson is currently in the process of auditioning several young up-and-coming actresses. A few of these yet-to-audition actresses, along with Maslany, Cooke, & Rodriguez, will then be among a group of women slated to read opposite Star Wars: The Force Awakens star John Boyega sometime before the end of the month.

Tatiana Maslany, best known for her multiple critically acclaimed performances on the clone drama Orphan Black, was a finalist for the lead role in Gareth Edwards' Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, a role that eventually went to Felicity Jones (The Theory Of Everything). She just wrapped the indie Two Lovers And A Bear with Dane DeHaan (The Amazing Spider-Man 2). Gina Rodriguez, best known for her title role in the CW comedy Jane The Virgin, will next be seen in Deepwater Horizon with Mark Wahlberg (The Departed) & Dylan O'Brien (The Maze Runner). Olivia Cooke, best known for her role on the drama Bates Motel, recently received much praise for her role as a young cancer patient in Me And Earl And The Dying Girl. She'll next be seen in the indie drama Katie Says Goodbye. 

Additionally, Academy Award-winner Benicio del Toro (Sicario) has already been confirmed to be in talks for the lead villain role. Production on the film is expected to start early 2016.

What do you guys think? Who do you want to land this new lead role? Sound off with your thoughts below!

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DrKinsolving
DrKinsolving - 9/1/2015, 4:49 PM
I saw Tatiana Maslany and Star Wars in the same sentence and I just got hyped!!
CinemaJackXCI
CinemaJackXCI - 9/1/2015, 4:57 PM
FrozenDiamondz
FrozenDiamondz - 9/1/2015, 4:57 PM
If Tatiana doesn't get it I'm fvcking done with Star Wars
ALegendaryPanda
ALegendaryPanda - 9/1/2015, 4:57 PM
Can we put all three in the movie?? Please?!
FordEl
FordEl - 9/1/2015, 4:58 PM
Gina Rodriguez please. The other choices would be great too
speedyg33
speedyg33 - 9/1/2015, 5:02 PM
Wow nice lineup. I'd be happy with any of them. Guess it depends on the role, but I like each ones work.
RextheKing
RextheKing - 9/1/2015, 5:06 PM
I know where this thread is going.
BlackPhillip
BlackPhillip - 9/1/2015, 5:09 PM
Why not keep Ridley? Does she die or something in EP VII? Kylo Ren will be a one and done villain? No Oscar Isaac?
Killuminatic
Killuminatic - 9/1/2015, 5:11 PM
Although I don't watch Orphan Black (Should I watch?) I've heard nothing but praise for Tatiana Maslany's performance.

Also, I really like Olivia Cooke. I REALLY like her. ;)

Anyhow, but of luck to all of them.
MarkCassidy
MarkCassidy - 9/1/2015, 5:11 PM
I'm sure they'll all be back too.
Kr08
Kr08 - 9/1/2015, 5:12 PM
Olivia Cooke and Tatiana Malany are the only true candidates. The other girl, Gina Rodriguez is not even close to the caliber of actress the other two are.
FordEl
FordEl - 9/1/2015, 5:15 PM
@Kr08

She's actually really good. She's versatile with drama and comedy.
SageMode
SageMode - 9/1/2015, 5:16 PM
Tatiana Maslany and Gina Rodriguez does something to my loins.
Kr08
Kr08 - 9/1/2015, 5:18 PM
@FordEl There is a big difference between her and the others. She is a TV actress, she is good on TV but she hasn't shown the talent to be good on film. Although Olivia Cooke is on Bates Motel and Tatiana in Orphan Black, those shows makes Jane the Virgin look like a Saturday morning cartoon.
tazmaniak
tazmaniak - 9/1/2015, 5:24 PM
@Kr08 , I don't think that's true at all. Rodriguez is a very talented actor whose been around for a decade. She has a degree from a notable acting school, extensive stage training and work and she's won several awards, including a Golden Globe. I think she's right up there with Maslany. I really like Olivia Cooke, especially on Bates Motel, but if any of the 3 would be pegged as odd one out (in terms of talent/experience) it would be her.
FordEl
FordEl - 9/1/2015, 5:25 PM
@Kr08

If youre great at what you do, its that simple. Theyre open minded with casting. She actually has a lot of big movie roles coming up too. She likes to do both. Being on TV isnt bad when it houses the better roles for Women
DaVinci31
DaVinci31 - 9/1/2015, 5:25 PM
Considering Abrams had this to say,

'[Kathleen Kennedy]and I were talking about what this world would be, this universe, nearly 40 years after Episode Six and the idea that these characters would have lived on. And yet there would have been this new generation that may not know at all who these characters were, or had heard of them but not necessarily believed that they were real,'

just earlier today (and within an interview which appears to be up for grabs, I might add),

along with the recently reported rumor that Episode VII may have a female lead, the possibility for Rey to be the child of Han and Leia has--for me, anyway--severely diminished.

But, given her surname is being hidden, I would still wager the character to be a Solo. Intriguing news all around, tough. The mythology they seem to be constructing here is very promising, and so I hope this translates into a fantastic film.
RocketRed
RocketRed - 9/1/2015, 5:30 PM
@Kr08

What are you talking about? Rodriguez is fantastic.
RocketRed
RocketRed - 9/1/2015, 5:32 PM
@Kr08

JTV IS a good show and Rodriguez won the Golden Globe for her performance in it. Maslany is the better actress of the bunch, but Cooke isn't more talented than Rodriguez.

They're all good, tho.
Kr08
Kr08 - 9/1/2015, 5:35 PM
I guess you guys are right, maybe Rodriguez is a good actress. But they most likely want someone who can definitely command the screen and I just can't see that with Rodriguez, maybe Maslany.
RocketRed
RocketRed - 9/1/2015, 5:39 PM
@Kr08

The three actresses can lead just fine, if Rodriguez really IS in the shortlist, it's because the producers at the very least saw something in her.
Kr08
Kr08 - 9/1/2015, 5:39 PM
Could this be a love interest for Finn? Most would think that it would be Rey, but what if Rey is a lesbian or what if they want to do a dare I say it... love triangle?
RocketRed
RocketRed - 9/1/2015, 5:41 PM
Also, are we really taking this at face value? How do we even know they're up for THE lead role? Maybe it's one of the biggest roles but certainly not the LEAD.

I doubt that Boyega, Ridley and Isaacs are just one offs. There's no way they're going to introduce these guys in Ep. VII and just be done with them.
RocketRed
RocketRed - 9/1/2015, 5:43 PM
@Kr08

They're not doing a love triangle, after the debacle that was Ani and Padme's relationship in the prequel trilogy, I think they're staying away from overly romantic plotlines.
Kr08
Kr08 - 9/1/2015, 5:44 PM
@RocketRed This is Disney we're talking about. Romance is definitely a possibility in the Force Awakens
GhostDog
GhostDog - 9/1/2015, 5:51 PM
TATIAAAAAAAAAAANAAAAAAAAAA!! IF SHE DON'T GET IT, HOLLYWOOD IS TRULY BLIND TO TALENT

Bae all day

Best actress on TV
TheAcuario
TheAcuario - 9/1/2015, 5:57 PM
@Kr08 has a point Disney has a soft spot for romance...
TheAcuario
TheAcuario - 9/1/2015, 5:59 PM
This scene alone shows what a good actress Tatiana is!!!
bcom
bcom - 9/1/2015, 6:11 PM
Tatiana Maslany deserves to be a massive star. Her acting in Orphan Black is always outstanding. Put her in Star Wars and introduce her to the rest of the world that hasn't seen the show.
YeezusWept
YeezusWept - 9/1/2015, 8:17 PM
Why do people think Rey is going to die? Is there a female quota I'm unaware of?
SmellofDuty
SmellofDuty - 9/1/2015, 8:50 PM
They're still not as cute as Daisy Ridley
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