While most fans are laser-focused on the release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens later this year, that’s not the only Star Wars film in the works. Godzilla director Gareth Edwards is putting together the first of several planned spinoff films, and The Hollywood Reporter says that Orphan Black star Tatiana Maslany is testing for the female lead.
Maslany is up against stiff competition, with multiple sources confirming that Girl With the Dragon Tattoo star Rooney Mara is also scheduled to test this week, and The Theory of Everything actress Felicity Jones on the want list, as well. Jones may have a potential conflict, however, as she’s attached to the Da Vinci Code sequel Inferno, which may be in production around the same time.
Gary Whitta wrote the original draft of the Star Wars spinoff, but left the project a few weeks ago, with some reports indicating that he was replaced by Simon Kinberg. THR refutes those rumors, with their sources saying that Kinberg has some creative input on the overall universe, but will not be taking over screenwriting duties for this particular project.
Details on the spinoff’s plot have not been confirmed – no surprise there – but /Film was the first to report a rumor that the film will be centered on a group of bounty hunters attempting to steal the plans for the Death Star.
With that in mind, would Maslany and Mara be up for the role of a bounty hunter? Neither actress is a stranger to portraying a badass, with Mara disappearing into the role of Lizbeth Salander for Dragon Tattoo, and Maslany frequently shifting into different character archetypes in her multiple roles on Orphan Black. Both are great candidates for this universe, but I’d much rather see Maslany land the gig, just so more people can have the opportunity to be exposed to her talents.
Gareth Edwards will begin product on the first Star Wars spinoff film this spring. It’s currently slated for release on December 16, 2016.
felicity jones gareth edwards rooney mara star wars tatiana maslany