A month or so ago, the news came in that Orphan Black's Tatiana Maslany was in the running for a key role in Star Wars: Episode VIII. Now, just as we hear that Maslany has been cast in the upcoming Boston bombing drama **Stronger, likely putting her out of the Star Wars running, comes the story that Gugu Mbatha-Raw is strongly rumoured for an Episode VIII role. Coincidence?
Whether this is actually the same role that was previously in contention between Maslany, Gina Rodriguez and Olivia Cooke is, of course, unclear, since we don't actually know what any of Episode VIII's roles are yet. The film has already reportedly cast its "female lead" in Daisy Ridley, but that doesn't mean there aren't other female leads or secondary roles up for grabs.
Oxford-born actress Mbatha-Raw's first major gig was as Martha Jones' sister Tish during the David Tennant era of Doctor Who. She's since been storming the States: on television in Undercovers and Touch, and on film in Larry Crowne (with Tom Hanks), Belle and Beyond The Lights. She was also in Jupiter Ascending, so she has big-budget sci-fi previous... albeit of a rather more eccentric kind.
Her casting in Star Wars has not yet been officially announced by Disney, but Collider seem very sure of their sources.
Rian Johnson is writing and directing the second of the new Star Wars trilogy, and Benicio del Toro is aboard as some sort of villain. Episode VIII is scheduled to start shooting early next year ready for a May 6, 2017 release date.