When Game of Thrones’ superbly-statured female knight Gwendoline Christie was added to the cast of Star Wars: The Force Awakens last year, it generated a great deal of speculation regarding the identity - or at least, general allegiance - of her character. However, if the latest anonymously sourced array of rumors proves true, then it seems that a great portion of the Internet actually got this one right... maybe.
SPOILER WARNING: The following article may contain information about Star Wars: The Force Awakens that you may not want to know until you actually see the film. Proceed with caution!
In a bit of news that should be taken with a grain of salt, a source has told MakingStarWars.net that Gwendoline Christie’s character in Star Wars: The Force Awakens will be an agent of the Empire; namely a "shock trooper" sporting a chrome costume and rocking a red and black cape. (You know, to avoid completely looking like a walking set of expensive rims.) It’s a look that seems to be consistent with what was seen with some of the ultra-blurry figures appearing in leaked set photos. While no name has been given, the details of her occupation have her pegged as the bellicose, facially-scarred, lightsaber-swinging right hand of a high-ranking Imperial that will be played by Domhnall Gleeson. What's more, she is apparently on the hunt for Finn, the character played by John Boyega.
We kind of guessed that Game of Thrones typecasting might have Gwendoline Christie playing a soldier character desperately looking for glory by fighting honorably in a war that she doesn’t quite understand - but if the veracity of this report is on the money, then this Star Wars role will (barring the arrogance and murdering,) resonate a lot more Brienne of Tarth vibes than we previously thought. (Especially if Gleeson’s character ends up getting shanked by a shadow creature that pops out of a wanton witch’s who-ha.)
We’re still not sure exactly how or why the Empire exists in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, or whether it still has a hold over certain star systems in the post-Battle of Endor period, but these new rumors suggest that whatever vestiges of the Empire do still exist are starting to be seen as an alternative the Rebel leads - who may be perceived by a number of its citizens as increasingly corrupt. Knowing this, it will be interesting to see if Gwendoline Christie is really fighting for the bad guys, or if things just aren't as black and white as they have been in past Star Wars saga chapters.
Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens looks to disenchant you from the false optimism of "Rebel Scum" when it hits theaters on December 18th.
