Star Wars: Episode VIII shortlist includes Tatiana Maslany and Olivia Cooke

As the road leading up to STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS grows ever shorter, our anticipation and excitment is beginning to risk elevating the hype to unattainable levels; thus I suggest that we take a step back and focus our attentions on…another Star Wars film! STAR WARS: EPISODE VIII, the follow-up to STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS, to be exact.

The Wrap has gotten the scoop on three actresses on the shortlist for a lead in STAR WARS: EPISODE VIII directed by Rian Johnson. They are Tatiana Maslany (Orphan Black), Olivia Cooke (Bate's Motel), and Gina Rodriguez (Jane the Virgin). A representative for Disney declined to comment but The Wrap's sources tell them that these three women will be among a group set to sit down with STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS star John Boyega for a "chemistry-read" before the end of the month.

As the casting is still in its early stages, it's possible that none of these actresses will wind up with the part in the end, but assuming these three really are among Disney's top picks, they've chosen quite the talented group. However, if I had to choose, it'd be Tatiana Maslany all the way. Maslany was rumoured to have been among the actresses who auditioned for Felicity Jones' role in STAR WARS: ROGUE ONE, so she obviously made a strong enough impression to find her name pop up once again for a Star Wars role.

With Benico Del Toro said to be up for a villain role, the second installment of this new Star Wars trilogy could certainly be playing with a wonderful cast when it opens on May 26, 2017.

Of these three, who would you most like to see in a Star Wars film?

Source: The Wrap

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Based in Canada, Kevin Fraser has been a news editor with JoBlo since 2015. When not writing for the site, you can find him indulging in his passion for baking and adding to his increasingly large collection of movies that he can never find the time to watch.