The premiere of STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS is so close that I can almost taste it. The film will bring much of the old cast back, including Han Solo (Harrison Ford), General Leia (Carrie Fisher), and Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), but it will also be introducing us to an entirely new group of heroes and villains. However, which of those heroes and villains will be returning for STAR WARS: EPISODE VIII remains a mystery, but thanks to a recent LA Times feature discussing the women of Star Wars, we can add a name to the EPISODE VIII cast list.
Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy revealed that Captain Phasma (Gwendoline Christie) won't be pulling a Darth Maul by confirming that the character would be back for STAR WARS: EPISODE VIII. Kennedy also said that she has "big plans" for Captain Phasma, who she calls "an important character, a baddie in the best sense of the word." Christie then spoke about her character and how Phasma will push the boundaries for female roles.
The reason I love my character so much and I feel so enthusiastic about Capt. Phasma is, yes, she's cool, she looks cool, she's a villain — but more than that, we see a female character and respond to her not because of the way she looks. We respond to her because of her actions. I think we're a society that has promoted a homogenized idea of beauty in women — and in men — and I think it's really interesting, modern and necessary to have a female character that isn't about the way her body looks. It isn't about her wearing makeup. It's not about her being conventionally feminized. The idea of this enormous legacy and franchise embracing an idea like that, which of course to many of us feels logical, is actually really progressive. And long overdue.
STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS will (finally) be released on December 18, 2015.