Gugu Mbatha-Raw in Talks for Lead Role in Star Wars: Episode VIII
Last week we told you about Latino Review’s report that actress Gugu Mbatha-Raw had been added to the short list for one of two new female leads being cast for Episode VIII. Well, yesterday Collider exclusively upped her from short list to in negotiations.
Mbatha-Raw is coming off a string of critically acclaimed roles in Beyond the Lights and Belle which have her notoriety skyrocketing of late. She will also be increasing that notoriety in the upcoming Will Smith NFL Drama Concussion as well as a role in 2017’s Beauty and the Beast with Emma Watson and Ewan McGregor. And now it appears as if she will be adding a significant role in Star Wars to that resume.
Collider points out that although it appears Johnson and Kennedy have made their choice, negotiations are ongoing and could always break down. But, barring that unlikely event, it appears Mbatha-Raw will be joining Benicio Del Toro as a new addition to the Star Wars landscape for the second film of the trilogy. The part she is playing is as yet unknown, but we do know that she has been reading with John Boyega for casting to determine if the pair has chemistry, implying that the two will interact a great deal in the film.
In a related piece, The Hollywood Reporter is also reporting that Tatiana Maslany is in talks to join Jake Gyllenhaal in the Boston Marathon bombing film Stronger. Borys Kit who wrote the piece indicates Maslany was in for chemistry tests with Boyega as recently as this past weekend. Whether this means she is no longer in contention or is still in running for the rumored second new lead remains unknown. But it is very possible with the Mbatha-Raw casting and Maslanay’s rumored role in Stronger, that she is now again out of the picture for Star Wars after previously being beaten out by Felicity Jones for the lead in Rogue One.
More casting news is sure to come as production on Episode VIII ramps up.
Source: Collider
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
Cool. She was my second choice after Cooke. Think I’ll go watch Belle to see what’s up!
She also had a recurring but small role on Doctor Who in season 3 of the new series and had a supporting role in Jupiter Ascending for those looking for how she can do in a more Science Fiction like atmosphere.
She was also a regular on the First Season of Touch, the Kiefer Sutherland show, but I don’t suggest anyone subject themselves to watching that.
The only thing kiefer is spot on on the last 5 years is the phantom pain..
m/ m/
by “Lead-role” you mean that she’s the main character in episode VIII, or that she’s some sort of main character like Lando in the OT?
The source articles are non-specific. But I doubt they would bring someone in for the second film to surpass the screen time of the returning heroes. Could be Lando in ESB/RotJ. Could be Dooku sized. Or maybe something more like Padme in TPM.
My guess is more towards Lando screen time, just based off the need for chemistry tests. This doesn’t sound like some bit part. If there are chemistry tests that would usually imply so heftier dialogue scenes between the two.
Padme was the lead female character in TPM. I doubt Gugu will be that important in Episode VIII as the lead female has to be Rey/Daisy Ridley.
Padme was a lead. But her role was smaller than it was in AotC. But much larger than her role in RotS.
“Lead” is a very subjective term
The rumors say she will be a love interest for Finn.
I thought filming had already started on VIII. If that’s the case how is it that they haven’t finished casting
The filming on Skellig Michael was rushed in order to film during the proper season. The remainder of the film is expected to shoot this winter.
Often production starts with landscape shots etc first, so it might of started in that sense,just nothing involving actors
What does “lead role” mean…. It seems they write “lead role” on everything.
i was thinking the same thing! If Rey n Finn are still alive by the time of ep8, are they not still the lead roles? Hamill, Ford & Fisher were the lead roles in all 3 original movies. Many new characters were introduced but they were still the leads.
It is a deliberate confusion.
There is THIS tweet by Claudia Gray (Lost Stars) as well. She would like Ciena to be played by Gugu Mbatha Raw.
https://twitter.com/claudiagray/status/651774050512039936
Except she was 25 or thereabouts at the end of Lost Stars making her about 55 or older by the time of Episode VII and couldn’t pass for that without some serious makeup.
She’d be nigh on perfect as Lando’s daughter. And if the Skywalker line can get some continuation, why not Lando’s?
She already has a Star Wars name.
Gorgeous girl, this daughter of Lando, mmmm……
I realy like her. she has the looks and is a great actor.
if Han Solo had a Black wife/lover the Gugu would be a perfect daughter. She cloud also be mandalorian.
She’s not his wife
her name already sounds star warsy