The Theory Of Everything‘s Felicity Jones, Orphan Black actress Tatiana Maslany and The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo star Rooney Mara are reportedly in the running to front Disney’s new female-led Star Wars spin-off.
The spin-off film is currently untitled and all plot details are being kept tightly under wraps. Godzilla‘s Gareth Edwards is on board as director and Disney has set a release date of December 16, 2016 – nearly a year to the day that Star Wars: The Force Awakens opens in cinemas.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Disney has brought in Maslany and Mara to test for the role, and Jones is also on the wish list depending on her schedule. The actress is due to shoot Inferno, the forthcoming sequel to The Da Vinci Code, this spring and summer and this could clash with the filming of Edwards’ Star Wars spin-off.
Edwards’ female-led film is one of two Star Wars spin-offs in the works. The other is being directed by Chronicle‘s Josh Trank – who will also be behind the camera for the forthcoming reboot of The Fantastic Four – and currently has no release date.
Meanwhile, George Lucas has recently revealed that his ideas for this year’s Star Wars: The Force Awakens were discarded by Disney.