A month ago, it was reported that Gina Rodriguez (Jane the Virgin), Tatiana Maslany (Orphan Black) and Olivia Cooke (Me and Earl and the Dying Girl) are in competition for an unspecified role in Rian Johnson’s Star Wars: Episode VIII. Now Latino-Review claims those actresses are actually competing for two roles, not one, and another name is among that shortlist.
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“We’ve heard that it is not one role, but TWO female roles, both substantial, that share the same shortlist,” Da7e of LR reports. “Not only that, but can report there’s a fourth name on that short list that wasn’t reported and an important one: British actress Gugu Mbatha-Raw.” They add that Gugu has already auditioned.
Gugu, 32, began to get recognition for her acting abilities when she landed a recurring role on Doctor Who (2007), playing the sister (‘Tish Jones’) of Martha Jones, a companion of the Tenth Doctor. Since then, she starred in J.J. Abrams’ (Star Wars connection!!!) short-lived Undercovers television series and Fox’s equally short TV series Touch. She has also appeared in feature films, like Jupiter Ascending, Beyond the Lights and Larry Crowne.
Rian Johnson’s Star Wars: Episode VIII will arrive in theaters May 26, 2017.
