9 Rumours You Need To Know About Star Wars Episode 8

9. Two New Female Leads (One Of Whom Will Be Gugu Mbatha-Raw)

If there was one criticism both the Original and the Prequel Trilogies received, it was the lack of important and strong female roles. Sure, Leia was absolutely fantastic, and Padme, er, wasn't the worst thing in the prequels, but there wasn't much after that. The Force Awakens has set to put that right, with Daisy Ridley's Rey one of the new leads, as well as Lupita Nyong'o, Gwendoline Christie, and of course Carrie Fisher in the film as well. There's going to be even more balance in the Force in Episode VIII, if reports are to be believed. It had initially been suggested that there was one new female lead being cast, with Tatiana Maslany, Gina Rodriguez, and Olivia Cooke all said to be on the shortlist and having auditions to test their chemistry with John Boyega. Now it appears that there will actually be two new major female characters, with Gugu Mbatha-Raw (Belle, Beyond the Lights) reportedly snagging one of the roles. Diversity and equality is a hot topic in Hollywood right now, and while I'm in no way suggesting that's why they're adding more females, it is good to see a major blockbuster supposedly going for more of an even spread. And Tatiana Maslany in Star Wars? Hell yes.