Star Wars Episode 8: The Last Jedi Directed and written by Rian Johnson and set to be released May 26, 2017, 40 years after the release of Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope
Re: Star Wars: Episode 8 It appears the shortlist for the new female lead has been released and they include Tatiana Maslany, Gina Rodriguez and Olivia Cooke. Reports started coming out late in August that Episode 8 would be adding a strong female lead to the films, which many have theorized may be Han Solo's daughter.
Of the three names, Gina Rodriguez has been gaining a lot of buzz for Jane the Virgin while this is the 2nd time Tatiana Maslany who has a cult following thanks to Orphan Black, which earned her an Emmy Nomination this year, she was on the shortlist for Rogue One and reportedly all but had the part but another commitment kept her from doing the film. Felicity Jones would end up winning the role in the end. Olivia Cooke is best known for Bates Motel and earned rave reviews for Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, she's also the frontrunner for Steven Spielberg's Ready Player One.
Re: Star Wars: Episode 8 Gugu Mbatha-Raw has been cast in an unknown role, reports however state this isn't the role that Tatiana Maslany, Gina Rodriguez and Olivia Cooke were said to be on a short list
Re: Star Wars: Episode 8 Noah Segan, a frequent Rian Johnson actor, has landed a role in Episode 8. Segan has worked with Johnson with several of his projects including Episodes of Breaking Bad, and Looper
Re: Star Wars: Episode 8 For the first time in Star Wars, Episode 8 will not jump forward in time instead it will pick up where Episode 7 ended. Historically there was always a time jump between films, 10 years between Episodes 1 and 2, 3 between Episode 2 and 3, 18 between episodes 3 and 4 and so on.
Re: Star Wars: Episode 8 I can't help thinking that it'll be the same with 9, because it would be weird to have 7-8 together and then 9 set some years after. Which could mean 8 will have a cliffhanger ending too...
Makes sense. Though the final meeting from 7 could've been finished with a flashback if 8 was set later, the galactic situation requires film to continue where left: Order is likely in offensive (despite loss of a major weapon/base, Republic was removed) and at same time Resistance is rallying an army in the wake of Republic's destruction; they are now in open, total war with the Order.