You didn't really think that all of the Star Wars: Episode VII casting madness was over, did you? We have spent the last year and a half wondering what group of actors would eventually sign on to the J.J. Abrams-directed space epic, and while we now know 13 names confirmed to be on board, there is still more to come.
For those of you who were concerned to see that Carrie Fisher and Daisy Ridley were the only two actresses featured at the Star Wars: Episode VII table read, I have some good news: The Hollywood Reporter has learned from sources close to the production that the blockbuster is still on the hunt for another female actor to play a major role in the story. Similar to just about every other casting story we've heard about the project, no details are known about the character right now, but THR suggests that what the filmmakers may still be looking for is "a mixed-raced female in her twenties." The trade notes that just a couple weeks ago Abrams was reportedly meeting with Academy Award winner Lupita Nyong'o about a potential part, so feel free to speculate that she may still be in the game.
As a franchise, Star Wars has never excelled when it comes to female characters. Princess Leia is, of course, an iconic character, but how many others can you name from the original trilogy? Yes, there's Mon Mothma, but she only played a small role in Return of the Jedi. You can also point to Oola the Twilek Dancing Girl in Jabba's palace, but the most notable thing about her character is that she gets eaten by a Rancor. The point is that there's a lot of work to be done, and it seems like J.J. Abrams and Co. are doing it.
Star Wars: Episode VII is scheduled to start principal photography soon, with the bulk of the production scheduled to take place in the legendary Pinewood Studios in England. In addition to the aforementioned Carrie Fisher and Daisy Ridley, the movie will also feature Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew, and Kenny Baker in their original roles and John Boyega, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson and Max von Sydow in brand new ones. They will be working from a script written by J.J. Abrams and Empire Strikes Back screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan, but all plot details are being kept strictly under wraps at this time. You should definitely stay tuned over the next couple of weeks for more casting announcements, go here to find out everything we know about the movie so far, and get ready for Star Wars: Episode VII to hit theaters on December 18, 2015!
