Casting for Star Wars: Episode VIII, the follow-up to this December’s highly anticipated Star Wars: The Force Awakens, began this summer with Benicio del Toro being tapped to play a villain in the sequel. It seems Beyond the Lights star Gugu Mbatha-Raw will be joining the cast for Episode VIII, Collider reports.
Disney hasn’t officially announced the casting but Collider is “confident” that Mbatha-Raw has been cast. Collider however doesn't know any information about her role. In early September they reported that Gina Rodriguez (Jane The Virgin), Tatiana Maslany (Orphan Black), and Olivia Cooke (Me and Earl and the Dying Girl), were in the running for Episode VIII's female lead and that they were testing with Force Awakens' John Boyega.
Audiences will see Mbatha-Raw later this year in the Will Smith-starring Concussion and in the live action remake of Beauty and the Beast, where she will co-star.
Star Wars: Episode VIII opens May 26, 2017.
[via Collider]
