Josh-da-man

Tatiana Maslany certainly looks like she could be the offspring of Han Solo and Leia
Organa...

Spoilered for size.

joe_b

I suggested this in the Episode VII thread a year and a half ago:How awesome if it came true... but if Jane the Virgin is up for the same part, it's safe to say she's not Han and Leia's daughter.

While I really like Cooke, I'd also be happy if Maslany got the part. She's an extremely versatile actress who deserves more recognition.

dex14

Maslany all day.

joe_b

I noticed the role is being referred to as "the female lead". I know there can be more than one lead female role in a movie, but the phrasing makes it sound like Daisy Ridley will be taking a back seat to the new girl. The report mentioned these actresses will undergo chemistry tests with Boyega later this month, which implies this character is one of the good guys.

Speculation/spoilers:

MBoyd

Are we sure that Daisey Ridley will even return in episode 8. Maybe this is a recast? Might not be something they want to announce before Force Awakens opens.

Obi-Wanma

All the actors are locked into long term deals. If they were recasting, it would be because they were unhappy with Daisy, and I haven't heard anything like that.

kgrogers1979

Yeah, Disney would sign their actors to long term contracts like they are with the Marvel movies. If Daisy was unwilling to sign a long term contract, then Disney would not have hired her and would have gone with someone else. The only reason Daisy might be recast is if Disney was unhappy with her like they were unhappy with Edward Norton in the Hulk movie.

joe_b

No way this is a recast -- not with a Latina actress like Gina Rodriguez in the mix.

They've been putting Ridley out front and center to promote The Force Awakens. I believe they already confirmed her involvement in Episode VIII when she signed with a new talent agency last year.

Rob V

The movie launches in 95 days or so... In 45 days there will be private screenings... My point is, there is no re-cast happening.

Ranger

Tatiana was close to getting the Rouge One lead, wasn't she? And probably a non-Jedi role.

And there's the rumor that VIII would have a

And we sitll don't knwo if Rey is related to anyone from the big three.

Kind of interesting Gina Rodriguez is being mentioned. I thought Jane the Virgin was doing well and might get a couple more seasons.

Oliver Clothesoff

Not recasting for VII, but for VIII. Though I don't think there's discussion about recasting Ridley at all. This is clearly another actress for a different part.

That said, no to Olivia Cooke from me - her idea of acting is not blinking and making her eyes wide or slightly sad. Almost to a distracting degree. She's terrible. The other 2 would kill in a Star Wars role.

Ranger

Maybe this role is for a love interest for Poe.

windom

Why not a love interest for Rey or Finn?

joe_b

Benicio did a radio interview in Spain where he apparently let slip that he's playing a villain. He also mentioned he thinks filming will begin in March.

joe_b

They've started filming on Skellig Michael Island today. Reports mention Mark Hamill has already been spotted, as well as Daisy Ridley's stunt double Chloe Bruce. This is definitely for Episode VIII, not a reshoot for The Force Awakens. I believe production at Pinewood won't begin until March, but I suspect they had to film on the island early because of the strict rules regarding the disruption of the local bird mating season.

One report from the BBC mentions Hamill almost fell down a steep mountainside at the location. A witness claims it could have been fatal if a guide hadn't saved him. Yikes.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/articl...and-of-skellig

Obi-Wanma

I read the report about Mark Hamill yesterday, but the report I read said it happened during the original Force Awakens shoot and just went unreported until now.

joe_b

Thanks, it wasn't clear in the BBC article. You never know how exaggerated these stories are -- but between this and Ford's leg injury, I'd hate to think we could have lost two of the big three in tragic on-set accidents.

EDIT: Hamill tweeted that he never so much as stubbed a toe on Skellig Michael, so that story was fabricated. It also sounds like Rian Johnson and crew have already wrapped filming early. Reports out of County Kerry mentioned Hamill and Daisy Ridley were both present, along with dwarf actor Jimmy Vee -- who is rumored to be stepping in for Kenny Baker as Artoo. With the sophistication of the radio controlled units, you'd think having a little person in the can would be unnecessary. Maybe there were restrictions on what type of equipment they could use on the island? Or Rian just prefers kicking it old school?

Solid Snake

Damn. This is so weird. Disney isn't joking w/ SW. They're working that property and (properly, if one can say) working it steadily.

coli

This has to be a joke?

dex14

hanshotfirst1138

Is there a curse on the production or something? All of these injuries and near-misses are really messed up.

coli

My reaction was more like

JeremyM

Hamill confirmed that his supposed fall was BS and nothing of the sort ever happened, according to a link above.

I think Hollywood sometimes likes to churn out these stories to make their jobs look more dangerous and give them something to talk about in the media besides the film. Stallone has got 4 or 5 of them that he often brings up--First Blood, Rocky IV, I think there was one for Cliffhanger, and The Expendables--which was legit, but I think it was dramatized a bit. The others, it's hard to say. I can remember Arnold talking about nearly drowning in The 6th Day and he's rattled off a few near deaths as well.

Of course, Ford did legitimately break his leg and crash his plane so it's not always BS...

milo bloom

There's a part of me that would like to see them try to redeem certain aspects of the PT. Not sure if this is the best way to do it.

stvn1974

Disney needs to let us know if that rumor is true so I can go ahead and just skip The Force Awakens if it is.