UPDATE! Bel Powley Up For Role In Star Wars: Episode VIII
The casting search for that new female lead (or leads possibly) for Episode VIII is still ongoing apparently. Back in October we reported that Gugu Mbatha-Raw had been cast as the new female lead in Rian Johnson’s Episode 8 beating out actresses Titiana Maslany, Gina Rodriguez, and Olivia Cooke for the role. Well according to Jeff Sneider of The Wrap, this may not be the case.
Sneider, while appearing on Meet the Movie Press, reported that Bel Powley, who is coming off receiving stellar reviews for her work in “Diary of a Teenage Girl”, is in contention for the a role in the film. Sneider also reported that Variety’s Justin Kroll told him that Mbatha-Raw did not actually have the part in the next Star Wars film. Sneider also said that Gina Rodriguez was not out of the running either. What isn’t known is whether this is all for one part or two. Early rumors had suggested the possibility that there were two significant new female roles being cast, but that has never been made completely clear.
This is all rumor for now and there is a lot of conflicting information flying around, but it seems that Gugu Mbatha-Raw is out (or more accurately…never was in) and that Bel Powley and Gina Rodriguez are in the running to be in Episode VIII. In what exact capacity remains to be seen. But, as there were earlier reports that those auditioning for this new female lead were brought in for chemistry tests with John Boyega, it seems that whatever role they play in the Sequel trilogy will have a a lot of interaction with Finn as he moves on from the effects of his altercation with Kylo Ren.
Source: Meet the Movie Press via Indiewire
UPDATE!
There is one interesting detail about Bel Powley. It appears that Daisy Ridley is a big fan of hers. Here’s what Daisy shared on Instagram back in August, 2015 (via @daisyridleyfan):
In a later interview, when asked “Who would you want to play you in the film of your life”, Daisy responded:
I am going to say Bel Powley, even though I #wcw’ed her on my Instagram and she didn’t like it or comment. I really wanted to be friends, but now I feel like that’s a chasm between us.
That’s a curious comment. You probably remember the rumors that there will be a female villain in Episode VIII. What if they want to use this “chasm” between the two and cast Powley as the female antagonist that Rey will stand against in the movie? Just a thought…
I’m not a fan of this. Gugu just belongs in the Star Wars universe. I’ve always felt that way. I don’t know what the role is so whatever, but Gugu or Maslany were the ones i was rooting for
Why?
I should have been more clear, I’m disappointed that Gugu isn’t going to be in it. I thought it was confirmed that she was, I wanted her to get the gig. I’m not saying Powley doesn’t deserve it.
exactly and gugu is prettier
Bel Powley, Rey’s mother in a flashback?
damn, still hoped that Maslany would get the role
How is Rey not the female lead again?
Probably training with Luke for most of the movie, and most of her scenes will be similar to those where Yoda was training Luke in Empire. This new female lead will probably shape up to be the new “Lando” in a way.
I think any character that is of importance is a lead. Or, ‘co-lead.’ Daisy, John, Oscar and Adam are all leads in the series….
Yeah I don’t think she’s a lead in the same sense Daisy Ridley is, since TFA already seemed to establish the new trilogy as being mainly about Rey and her conflict with Kylo Ren.
I suspect this new character is more like a Han or Lando type character who simply joins in to help our main heroes with their cause somehow.
Yes I agree. I think she will be like a lando maybe even his daughter lol
Most likely Finn´s or Poe´s love interest.
New female lead? Wtf? So whats up with Rey?
I have a feeling thatvLucasfilm is misLEADing us. See what I did there?
they say this all the time, there’s only one lead in the movie that’s Rey, they did that when Tatiana Maslany and others were auditioning and people even questioned if Rey would make out of Episode VII
Relax, that’s just bad phrasing, a female character that is important in the movie is being cast
Perhaps episode 8 will be more of a flashback or prequel to episode 7 and we only see Rey and Luke for the last act as they pick up where episode 7 left off….?
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! I CANT WAIT TILL IX FOR CLOSURE!! Lol
I highly doubt that, but it would certainly be innovative.
*Ignites lightsaber and destroys room*
Well, if the new female lead in VIII is supposed to be a villain, I can understand why Gugu didn’t get the part. This actress, Bel Powley, looks more like a villain – because she’s white and has very blue eyes – perfect villain material.
I don´t understand. Why a white girl with blue eyes is a better villain then the other actress? (I don´t know how Gugu looks like).
Mixed race, and i too don’t know what the point the guy is trying to make
Before we get too excited about the significance of the new castings, all I have to say is ‘Maisie Richardson Sellers’ i.e. a bit parter.
I am actually sad that Gugu will not be in the next movie – I wanted the Calrissian line represented and she would have been perfect.
LOL. As soon as I saw Maisie in TFA, I was like “Oh, nooooo!” <8^O
To be fair, it sounds like Maisie had a much bigger role but was cut down to a bit part.
I do agree though, we need to calm the fuck down with these casting rumours. They keep treating like everyone is gonna be playing a major role.
Bel Powley doesn’t strike me as a Star Wars type, but who knows ? Maybe she is playing a traditional girl character.
Yeah, the “lead” aspect confuses me. My only thought is perhaps Rey and Luke have one story arc and Finn, Poe, and this new lead have their own mission apart from the main group. Either way, never a mistake to add talent.
I think Gugu is in, Rian Johnson went out of his way in praising her, her movie that had just come out and also followed her instagram (take that for what its worth)
guess #1: a ex stormtrooper that finn used to know and they get reacquainted.
guess #2: an officer in the remnants of the republic’s fleet and they are trying to get to join the resistance.
either way this character will be an action character, kennedy has been making it a point have as many of these roles for the ladies as possible.
My point below is that Bel Powley doesn’t match the “action character” type. Most of her previous roles were traditional girl types, of the the kind that KK seems to dislike.
I wouldn’t mind either of them being in the next film, though I’m not that familiar with their work…
I’d love Rey to face a female villain in the next film or in IX.
Rey v Phasma confirmed
I’m curious if there are really “leads.” The cast is pretty full already.
calling it. Rey is a random and Bel will play Luke’s Jedi daughter that he’s been training on Skellig.
I hope we get a real female villain this time and not merely one for marketing purposes like with Phasma. We finally got to see a woman fight with a lightsaber in TFA in a duel that it would be only be a logical next step to see two fight against each other in this one.
That won’t happen (the lkightsaber fight), but you can probably expect Phase a to be way more badass in VIII.
It should! We gotten badass female force users in the EU for decades that it’s time the films caught up.
Only way to redeem Phasma is to make he a Resistance double agent (“you have no idea what you are doing”) or a bounty hunter like Ventress. I can’t believe Kylo or Snoke would let her live after essentially handing over Starkiller over to the enemy withouta fight
1. But it wouldn’t make sense. Rey is the Jedi, and Kylo is the villain (and a dude).
2. Or you could redeem her by just making her cool.
3. Who says they know about it?
1. We don’t know the gender of any of The Knights Of Ren.
2. Pretty hard to make her cool after getting snuck up on by a 70 something year old man and a sanitation worker even though she’s a combat expert then being forced into a trash compactor for a cheap one liner.
3. Someone had to help her out and it was basically her job to protect the base.
Looks like a young Rey, so we will get flashbacks of her on Jakku and how she got there and lived.
Bel Powley is nearly the same age as Daisy Ridley, lol.
Snoke is Bel Powley
SPOILERS!