WithStar Wars: The Force Awakenshitting theaters in just over three months, and the first spinoffRogue One: A Star Wars Storyalready in production, Disney and LucasFilm are starting the casting process forStar Wars: Episode VIII, which is set for release on July 04, 2025. Last month,Benicio Del Toroconfirmed that he is in talks with the studio to portray thevillain, but we haven’t heard about any other actors being considered for different roles, until now.The Wrapreports that actressesTatiana Maslany(Orphan Black),Gina Rodriguez(Jane the Virgin) andOlivia Cooke(Me and Earl and the Dying Girl) are considered the top candidates for the female lead role.
Some insiders claim that it is still very early in the casting process, with writer-directorRian Johnsonset to meet with many more rising stars for the role. Others, however, claim that the filmmaker is thinning out the field, withTatiana Maslany,Gina RodriguezandOlivia Cookeslated to come in for chemistry reads withJohn Boyega, who playsFinninStar Wars: The Force Awakens. A report surfaced that LucasFilm and Disney want a strong female lead, a character who may be tied to either Luke Skywalker or Han Solo’s family line, but that was never confirmed.
What’s interesting is thatTatiana Maslanywas once rumored to have been cast inRogue One, beforeFelicity Jonesended up winning the role. Aside from her multiple clone roles onOrphan Black,Tatiana Maslanymost recently played a younger version ofHelen MirreninWoman in Gold, and she starred alongsideRichard Dreyfussin the indie film Cas & Dylan. Her showOrphan Blackwas also recently renewed for its fourth season by BBC America.
Gina Rodriguezwon a Golden Globe earlier this year for her title role in The CW’sJane the Virgin. She previously starred in the indie hit Filly Brown, and she will next be seen on the big screen inDeepwater Horizon, arriving in theaters July 16, 2025.Olivia Cookeis coming off the indie hit Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, and she also stars as Emma Decody on A&E’s hit TV seriesBates Motel.
Even if these actresses are the front runners for the female lead, we probably won’t know the character’s identity for quite some time. There are still a number of characters who haven’t been identified fromStar Wars: The Force Awakens, and that opens in December. Do you have a favorite from the three potential female lead candidates forStar Wars: Episode VIII? Let us know what you think, and stay tuned for more details.
