Yesterday, the world woke up to the news that Lucasfilm had announced the cast for J.J. Abrams’ ‘Star Wars: Episode VII‘. There were some very impressive names of excellent up and comers on the list including ‘Attack The Block’ star John Boyega, motion capture extraordinaire Andy Serkis, and ‘Inside Llewyn Davis’ stars Adam Driver and Oscar Isaac. However, aside from Daisy Ridley and the returning Carrie Fisher, the announcement and accompanying picture seemed a little light on ladies. Well, it looks as if that there are still some female leads that are in need of filling.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, sources say that the casting process for the next trilogy in a galaxy far, far away is far, far from finished. Word is that another substantial role is in the process of being cast and it’s a female part. No further details have been released beyond that, but we know that Abrams has been meeting with some of Hollywood’s most promising young actresses over the past few months such as ’12 Years a Slave’ standout Lupita Nyong’o, Saoirse Ronan of ‘The Grand Budapest Hotel’ and ‘Atonement’, and unknown British actress Maisie Richardson-Sellers. At this point, who even knows if the roles that they all met for is still in the script since it has gone through so many changes since Michael Arndt departed the project or if their names are even in the mix anymore? You’re guess is as good as mine as to what Disney/Lucasfilm are still looking for to fill out the rest of the cast.
No matter who ends up landing the role, it’s good to hear that more women will be featured as leads in ‘Star Wars: Episode VII’. Fans of the franchise have been critical of the previous six films for a lack of female characters in general, let alone main characters, but it looks like the post-George Lucas regime looks to remedy that in the new films. Now if only we could get them to throw some Asians into these movies, we’d be good.
Are there any young actresses that you think should be considered for a leading role in ‘Star Wars: Episode VII’? Does it make you happy that J.J. Abrams and Lawrence Kasdan’s story calls for more female leads? Sound off in the comments below.
‘Star Wars: Episode VII’ blasts off into theaters on December 18, 2015.
