Star Wars: Episode VIII - 16 Biggest Rumours You Need To Know (July 2nd)
10. Leia Uses The Force, Poe Dameron Leads The Resistance
According to a rumor on the IMDB forums from a poster with something of a track record for posting spoilers correctly, Leia Organa will use Force to escape an attack that takes her out of the mix for a while.
And according to Latino Review, she is replaced by the morally ambiguous Laura Dern who ends up making the situation far worse. That eventually leads to Poe Dameron taking over the Resistance as interim leader.
Rating: 7/10
MakingStarWars say the details about Leia being taken out and replaced by Laura Dern's Resistance leader are "spot on", suggesting that we will get to see fan favourite Poe Dameron rising to a more important position of power.
The Force situation is far more up in the air, but it would fit the fact she would only use her powers in extreme situations (JJ Abrams said she chose to avoid her powers to distinguish herself as a military leader rather than a Jedi). Almost dying would presumably fit that bill.