Felicity Jones Set to Star in First Star Wars Stand-Alone Film

1 minute read

British actress Felicity Jones has reportedly been tapped as the female lead in the Gareth Edwards Star Wars standalone film.

The Oscar-nominated The Theory of Everything actress is in talks with Disney and Lucasfilm for the role, which hasn’t been revealed yet, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Actresses including Orphan Black lead Tatiana Maslany and The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo star Rooney Mara had been reading and testing for the role last week, when Chris Weitz was hired as the film’s screenwriter to replace Gary Whitta, who wrote the first draft.

Little else is known about the project, which will be the first of multiple Star Wars standalone films, but The Hollywood Reporter also reports that Breaking Bad‘s Aaron Paul and Wrath of the Titan‘s Edgar Ramirez are in talks for the male lead role.

The film is due out Dec. 16, 2016.

See the Concept Art For the Original Star Wars Movie Trilogy

C-3PO and R2-D2Courtesy of Lucasfilm
The Millenium FalconCourtesy of Lucasfilm
Darth VaderCourtesy of Lucasfilm
Y-Wings line up against the Death StarCourtesy of Lucasfilm
An X-Wing versus TIE fightersCourtesy of Lucasfilm
HothCourtesy of Lucasfilm
Echo BaseCourtesy of Lucasfilm
Battle of HothCourtesy of Lucasfilm
Battle of HothCourtesy of Lucasfilm
Cloud City of BespinCourtesy of Lucasfilm
Luke versus Darth VaderCourtesy of Lucasfilm
Luke Skywalker versus Darth VaderCourtesy of Lucasfilm
DagobahCourtesy of Lucasfilm
Jabba's PalaceCourtesy of Lucasfilm
Jabba's PalaceCourtesy of Lucasfilm
Luke Skywalker versus a rancorCourtesy of Lucasfilm
Jabba's fallCourtesy of Lucasfilm
EndorCourtesy of Lucasfilm
B-WingsCourtesy of Lucasfilm
Luke Skywalker versus Emperor PalpatineCourtesy of Lucasfilm

[The Hollywood Reporter]

More Must-Reads From TIME

Contact us at letters@time.com