Gugu Mbatha-Raw Rumored For STAR WARS: EPISODE 8

If you've seen Belle, Jupiter Ascending, Beyond The Lights, or the cancelled-after-one-season J.J. Abrams spy TV show Undercovers, you're familiar with the work of the talented up-and-coming actress Gugu Mbatha-Raw. And while her name might sound a little like a Star Wars character, the English star could be heading to a galaxy far, far away very soon.

Latino Review reports that Mbatha-Raw is on the shortlist for Rian Johnson's Star Wars: Episode VIII, joining the previously rumored Orphan Black star Tatiana Maslany, Jane The Virgin star Gina Rodriguez, and Bates Motel actress Olivia Cooke. Not only that, but they also claim the shortlist is not just for one role, but two separate parts in the movie, both of which are described as "substantial." It's too early to speculate about what characters they could be playing, but I really hope Mbatha-Raw ends up securing a role in this franchise. She's a terrific actress who would be a great addition to the ever-growing Star Wars universe. 

We do know for sure that one major character will make it through Star Wars: The Force Awakens into Episode 8, and we know that Benicio Del Toro is playing a villain-type character. Other than that, we're waiting to hear more from the Rian Johnson-directed sequel, and since production has already gotten underway in some capacity, we expect to hear more about casting very soon.