While J.J. Abrams is putting the finishing touches on Star Wars: The Force Awakens for its release on December 18, things are already moving forward on the first Star Wars standalone film with The Hollywood Reporter‘s Heat Vision reporting that actresses are being tested for the female lead in the Gareth (Godzilla) Edwards-directed film.
Canadian actress Tatiana Maslany (left), who has made huge waves playing multiple clones in BBC America’s hit series “Orphan Black,” and Rooney Mara (right), nominated for an Oscar for her performance in David Fincher’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, are two of the names being mentioned with The Theory of Everything‘s Oscar-nominated star Felicity Jones also on the short list.
There still has been no word on who the focal character of the first of the planned stand-alone “Star Wars” movies will be, although Disney and Lucasfilm have already snagged the release date of December 16, 2016. They’re currently looking for a writer to step-in following the departure of Gary Whitta after turning in his draft.
A second stand-alone movie being co-written by Simon Kinberg and Lawrence Kasdan will be helmed by Chronicle helmer Josh Trank, who is currently finishing up his relaunch of The Fantastic Four for 20th Century Fox.
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