Female Stars Eye Star Wars Episode VIII Role

The upcoming continuation of the greatest story ever told in Star Wars: The Force Awakens hasn’t even had a chance to dismantle the box office and Walt Disney Studios is already priming the sequel.

Director Rian Johnson is on the hunt for a female lead to star opposite John Boyega’s Finn character and Latino Review is reporting that British beauty Gugu Mbatha-Raw’s name has been cast in the mix.

The 32-year-old star who won fans over with her leading performance in 2014’s Beyond the Lights and is set to star alongside Will Smith in December’s NFL drama, Concussion, is said to be a frontrunner for one of the yet-unnamed roles, which has been auditioned by a handful of up-and-coming silver screen and TV talent.

Gina Rodriguez of The CW’s runaway hit Jane the Virgin, Tatiana Maslany, star of Canadian science fiction television series Orphan Black and Me and Earl and the Dying Girl star Olivia Cooke have also all auditioned for one of the parts.

Mbatha-Raw has been especially busy as she has said to have been vying one of the top spots in Liongate’s upcoming Sherwood Forest thriller Robin Hood: Orgins, according to Deadline.

Take a look at the fresh faces that just may illuminate the Galatic Empire in the near future. Star Wars Episode VIII is expected to arrive in theaters on May 26, 2017 while Star Wars: The Force Awakens will be released a week before Christmas this year.

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Photo: Joe/WENN