While everyone’s focus is currently on Star Wars: The Force Awakens, it’s easy to forget that Star Wars: Episode VIII is around a year and a half away from release. With that in mind, it’s hardly a surprise that Rian Johnson is now putting together his cast, and it appears as if the latest addition is Gugu Mbatha-Raw.
In a story about her joining Netflix’s upcoming Black Mirror series alongside The Martian‘s Mackenzie Davis, The Wrap reports that it’s believed Mbatha-Raw has landed a role in Star Wars Episode VIII.
Her name was first mentioned as being in the running alongside Tatiana Maslany, Gina Rodriguez, and Olivia Cooke, but as The Hollywood Reporter tells us, she’s no longer in the running and is instead “widely expected” to be joining Johnson’s upcoming sequel.
Star Wars Episode VIII‘s only confirmed cast member as of right now is Benicio Del Toro, though several of Star Wars: The Force Awakens‘ cast members are expected to return as well (we won’t know which ones until the new movie is released on Thursday).
We’ll keep you posted when we get confirmation on Mbatha-Raw, but for now, tell us, would you like to see the actress join the film?