Star Wars Episode 7 News

Thursday, April 10, 2014

UPDATE! Unknown Oxford Actress Rumored for a Role in Star Wars: Episode 7.

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In the last few days we heard that people are still auditioning for the male lead in the US. Now another report suggests that auditions are also taking place in the UK for the role of the young black or mixed-race woman...



Pretty strong week for THR, most of the latest scoops came from them. Here's their latest one:
The production is meeting with actors in London as it tries to find its cast before shooting begins in May.

Could an Oxford-educated actress with no movie credits to her name land a key role in Star Wars: Episode VII?
Speculation is swirling like the mists of Dagobah around newcomer Maisie Richardson-Sellers. Several sources tell The Hollywood Reporter that she is in line to nab an undisclosed and possibly major role in the high-profile Disney/Lucasfilm production, which is in the middle of an extended casting search in London in advance of a May production start date.
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One of the roles yet to be filled is that of a young black or mixed-race woman who may be a descendent of Jedi Knight Ben Kenobi. In the film, which takes place 30 years after the events of 1983's Star Wars: Episode IV: Return of the Jedi, the character would cross paths with the children of Han Solo, Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia.
Star Wars filmmaker J.J. Abrams and his casting directors have seen hundreds of actors for the coveted lead roles. The operation is taking place under a cloak of secrecy, with actors and their representatives sworn to secrecy. At the same time, certain representatives have taken to quietly promoting around Hollywood their clients' involvement in the casting process, given the extreme level of interest in the project and the belief that the actors who land lead roles will become instant global stars. 
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As such, all casting speculation must be taken with a grain of salt, and two sources say Richardson-Sellers has not been offered a role.

UPDATE!

More from Deadline:
We hear it’s not a lead, but the producers have their eye on Maisie Richardson-Sellers, an Oxford-trained actress whose credits seem to range from local stage plays to, well, more local stage plays. With the scarcity of real Star Wars: Episode VII casting news, any hints from the London set have fans and media making the jump to light speed. 


86 comments:

  1. This may be stretching it a bit... but I looked at pictures of a young Alec Guinness and this actress does have the jaw structure as well as the heavy lidded eyes of a young Alec Guinness.

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    1. Maybe her traits are more like her mother?

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    2. P-Lease. She looks like Alec Guinness? I think some of the biggest buffoons on the internet post here. Every comment is about Mara Jade, or Ben Skywalker. I don't believe this role will have any ties to Obi-Wan, the fact you think they look alike makes me want to puke. You people beLIEve anything.

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    3. Actually, the biggest buffoons here are the Original Trilogy fanatics who insist every little thing in episodes 4-6 are brought back in 7 for the sake of keeping your childhood memories alive, regardless if they make sense in the overall story arc.

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    4. I'm not seeing it. Alec Guiness had a big ol' chin but focusing on actors looking like other actors is a weak basis for casting. Honestly though, I support hot actresses with British accents so show me more.

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    5. Ewan McGregor was chosen because he had a resemblance to Alec Guiness. Star Wars movies take thought and preparation.

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    6. That's true was was posted about these OT fanatics. Nothing is good unless it was done in the 70's or 80's. She looks like Alec Guiness? He was WHITE.

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    7. The biggest idiots are the EU fans period.

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    8. Anonymous April 10, 2014 at 4:26 PM. I'm an OT fan, ever since the age of 5. I have never insisted that "every little thing in episodes 4-6 are brought back in 7 for the sake of keeping your childhood memories alive". That's absurd to me. I want too see new stories, new characters, new planets. The only things I want to see from the OT are Luke, Han and the rest of the crew. Do you want to know why? Because the story is a continuation from Episode VI. I want to see what's happened since then. I don't want a rehash of movies I've seen hundreds of times before.

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    9. Yeah Fettman you tell um! And no Boba Fett either!

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  2. She will be Satine Kenobi, grand-daughter of Obi-Wan and Duchess Satine, and the new Mandalore :-)

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    1. ohh yes daughter of Sabine and Lando.

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    2. Forgive me a moment.... But both Obi-Wan and the Duchess were white.... ?

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    3. They are grand-parents, NOT parents...

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    4. That's right! Barack Obama's grand-father and grand-mother (on its mother side) were both white

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    5. Really? You see this girl and think of Ben Kenobi? How do you guys not see the reseblence between this beautiful actress and the legendary Billy Dee Williams? I really hope they don't introduce her as Obi-Wan's grand daughter. It'd be even worse than giving Luke offspring. I didn't see Obi-Wan ever involved in a romantic relationship of any kind. It was never implied so why would they introduce it now? The continuity of the story would be skewed beyong belief. It'd be so much smoother and comfortable for the audience if this girl played the daughter of Lando. Much better for the story too, if you ask me.

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    6. well Joe if Sabine is obi and Satines offspring and Lando is rumored to have a part in Rebels. You can then have a romance between Sabine and Lando and maybe an offspring that is bought Landos Daughter and Obis granddaughter.

      (well that's just madness.)

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    7. It was pretty explicit when Obi Wan told Satine that all she had to do was, "say the word," and he would've left the order to be with her. Granted, he was the prototypical-good-soldier jedi...alternatively, what else do you do for 19 years on Tatooine?

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    8. "what else do you do for 19 years on Tatooine?"
      Ben Kenobi fled to tatooine because he had to. He wanted to ensure Lukes safety since he was the galaxy's last hope and he feared for his own life.
      "It was pretty explicit when Obi Wan told Satine that all she had to do was, "say the word," and he would've left the order to be with her"
      Just another reason why I cant stand TCW. That series botched up the continuity 10x worse than the PT, but you're right. It's not really for me to decide. In the eyes of Disney the animated series are just as canon as the films no matter how much of a disgrace I believe that to be.

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    9. Is Satine one of those lame EU characters that WON'T be in the films? It sounds lame regardless.

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    10. She's the Duchess of Mandalore in the Clone Wars series...

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    11. WTF seriously WHY!!!! why would he tell her that it's not like he is Anakin Skywalker or anything

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    12. Obi-Wan discourages Anakins affection for Padme in episodes II and III. Why would be allow himself to fall in love, especially during a time of severe civil unrest like the Clone Wars? It doesn't seem very Jedi-like.

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    13. Because Lucas let the creativity of Star Wars go on like a bad run-on sentence. Please JJ and Kasden ...your our only hope!

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  3. Replies
    1. Myself, the boy, two droids and no questions asked.

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    2. Myself, my Black Mistress, two cans of Lube and no questions asked.

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    3. Lube Skywalker :D

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  4. They are still doing casting?! If we are talking about Jedi roles, aren't the actors supposed to have some lightsaber combat training (even months) before shooting? Maybe this is all done to mislead us. Our throughs are clouded by the dark side :).

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    1. All the main roles probably have been cast.

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    2. I like it. At least they are not choosing anyone...It's a hard work to find really good actors. I think think they are doing things well.

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    3. I agree Duke. The main actors have certanly been cast. I think they let some information about this minor roles out, just to tease as a bit. And it works! :D

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    1. She is the best pick so far, hope she gets it!

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  6. I can't wait to see the full cast. it will be funny to see what wasn't a rumor at all.
    Like the old casting of Han Solo.

    But I still hope that Tilda Swindon has a part and that she will be a villan. Maybe an old asajj ventress

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    1. i hope she is not in ep.7, i kind of liked her in the first Narnia movie, but she ruined the two ones coming after, they forced her character in even though it was not in the books, but who knows? Maybe she can redeem herself in my eyes if she is in ep.7 & does an awesome job

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    1. @Duke Okay…umm…and why not? We don't know anything about the film besides rumors, nor do we know how talented this young lady is. Being baseless and cryptic doesn't help your comment.

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    2. I don't need anything to "help" my comment, and what i said is to be left to interpretation.

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    3. ^ Thanks for your input. Very insightful. Please come again.

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    4. i hope she is not in ep.7, i kind of liked her in the first Narnia movie, but she ruined the two ones coming after, they forced her character in even though it was not in the books, but who knows? Maybe she can redeem herself in my eyes if she is in ep.7 & does an awesome job

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  8. She reminds me of Freema Agyeman ( http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1303956/ ).

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    1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    2. That was my first thought too! (And I can sure think of worse young ladies to look like.) ;^)

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  9. Shooting starts in 5 weeks... cant wait to see who the cast is!

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  10. Lovely girl, anyway. I wouldn't mind her in the movie. Heck, maybe we are looking at the lovechild of Lando Calrissian ...

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  11. As for a mixed-race actress I'm all for it.
    As for a daughter/granddaughter of Kenobi it's the dumbest idea in the history of dumb ideas. It would totally destroy SW as we know it and ruin the grand saga in one fell swoop by opening up a plot hole to rival the black hole at the center of our galaxy -- IF Kenobi had offspring why didn't he just train them to be Jedi when they were kids to team up with Luke to rebuild the Jedi Order and defeat the Empire??? IT makes zero sense!!!

    Just in case someone says, "Oh he knocked-up someone and didn't know he had a daughter." BS sound familiar??? So Obi-Wan and Anakin both didn't know they had Jedi kids???? How convenient. Not to mention it destroys Kenobi's character completely.

    Most likely this character is a Calrissien.

    Unfortunately there will be planty of people supporting this lame-brain idea.

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    1. I agree, an Obi-Wan daughter would be a lame idea. Maybe it wouldn't destroy SW as you said, but it would raise too many questions about the OT, especially how could Obi-Wan not know about his daughter, why did he refuse the Jedi "no attachment" rule and why did he decide to go out from his hiding and start flirting with girls on the sands of Tatooine (that in particular evokes creepy and unwanted images in my mind)...

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  12. I like her. She could also be the lead, for me. Some months ago there were rumours of a girl as the lead, and also rumours of a black lead. I wouldn't mind some change in the new generation, the stereotypical arian blonde guy is getting a little boring.

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    1. I agree, I hope this Star Wars is so absolutely new, not typical. I hope it is just like the first movie called Star Wars. It needs to go in a direction not any of us would have expected.

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    2. i agree. please god don't give us any of that derivative EU junk. those stories are about as original and creative as a Disney direct-to-video sequel

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  13. for episode VII they should just use that EU story where Hans son is taken prisoner by Boba fetts daughter and sold to Jaba the huts niece and than he is rescued by Luke's son, Chewies younger brother, Lando's grand-daughter and r2d2 /c3po 2.0

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    1. I`d fully support Maisie`s casting,even as one of the 3 leads - she looks a pretty girl...does anyone else think her character could tie in with the rumoured Tatooine part of the film;if she`s related to Obi-Wan then Tatooine could be her likeliest abode...Andrew.

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    2. LMAO. I peep your sarcasm.

      That's really what EU fans are asking for. A rip off of the OT. Luckily, I think Abrams is smart enough to remember: Never give the fans what they THINK they want...

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    3. "never give fans what they think they want."

      Soooo.... JJ Abrams gives us Lawrence Kasten, old-fashioned cameras, real backgrounds and so-called practical effects. He's probably going to give us the Big 3, R2D2, the OT's "original spirit," and probably the ghost of yoda. I'm sorry, but that sounds to me like he's giving fans "what he thinks they want," and fans are going to get it because you OT fanatics are so demanding.

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  14. Obi-wans daughter?... seriously? this film is set 35 years after Jedi so the daughter would need to be at least 38 as obi-wan died 38 years ago in the timeline, plus obi-wan surely couldn't have been bumping any lady friends for another 20 years before that. so that would make his daughter 58... So then to have a younger daughter, that would mean that obi-wans daughter had a daughter??? So then it's not actually the child of obi-wan? So then what's the point? How does a childs grandad being obi-wan make the film any better apart from mind-fuck the audience?? It's so dumb it's melting my brain.. The only descendants to the original characters should be of Han, Leia and Luke. Having anymore children plotlines will be completely stupid.

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    1. Agree w/everything, except for the Luke having a son part.

      Lucas never intended for that, not to mention that having the OT's main character romance played out offscreen would be as stupid as this Obi-Wan daughter/grand daughter BS.

      The only characters that should have children in the ST are Han and Leia, period. Give Luke a Padawan (that he cares for like a son or daughter), make them human, alien, white, black or multi-colored for all I care, and THAT would make sense.

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  15. I'd love a female lead but I highly doubt they will do it. Instead they will do what's done a million times before, and cast a mixed race actor in an important role, and everyone pretends it's a really brave thing to do. They do need to be careful when it comes to mixed race characters. Anything that takes you out of the film in regards to the lead character is pretty bad, secondary characters and sideckicks are fine. But then again I thought the main trio would be the kids of Han Leia and the lead being Luke's kid, so logically they actually can't hire a black lead as they were white families. I hope they're not shifting what's best for the plot to compensate for a black lead, when that's not remotely impressive anyway unlike making the lead gay or female lead or something.

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    1. What if they changed Mara Jade's race? She wasn't in any of the movies, so that's a possibility. Whether they choose a Caucasian, Black, Mixed or whatever lead, I'm confident the actor or actress will be well suited for the role.

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  16. Maybe a Sith, Darth Talon? Or a padawan, even a member of the New Jedi Council

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    1. yes, Darth Talon, seeing as EU characters are going to be in the films. READ READ and Re-READ those articles. , please.

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  17. To whoever said this amazingly beautiful young woman resembles Alec Guiness.....WTF are you smoking???

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  18. The whole idea of them casting anyone to play obi's daughter is ridiculous. Episode 4 was 19 yrs after episode 3. If kenobi had a daughter son or whatever they wouldn't be much younger than Luke. And considering mark hammil is what 70's. Why would they be looking at actors in their early 20's?? Episode 7 is going to be a complete mess

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    1. Grand-daughter, not daughter. But I don't like that idea either.

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  19. You people really suck..... I'm an artist. If I was to draw you, it would look like you, not a stick figure. Which means I've studied anatomy and know a thing about facial structure. I'm not smoking crack. Or weed! It's possible for a girl to have the facial features of her father....It's an observation, nothing more. Are most of you 12 years old? Think before you post on here you morons.

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    1. I'm on weed and i think most of these fan boys are morons as well.

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    2. You wanna buy some death sticks?

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    3. You don't want to sell me death sticks. You want to go home and rethink your life.

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  20. So sad to see people's complete and utter lack of imagination these days, especially folk who are supposed to have been inspired by the creation of one of our time's most creative minds.

    Now, why does a black/interracial character have to be necessarily blood-related to any of the PT or OT characters?

    Why does Luke have to have offspring? Only because some EU author decided that he and the Jade woman should have a kid named Ben?

    Couldn't this girl (if she's in the film, indeed) be a Jedi apprentice, raised and trained by Luke, just as if she were his own daughter?

    Try to think for yourselves and use your own imaginations for once, people. Not only will you like it, but you'll start to make sense of a lot of things and find the humor in far-fetched, absurd rumors.

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    1. No it doesn't make sense what would be the point of making an episode 7 if it's not about the Skywalker bloodline? Defeats the purpose of calling it episode 7

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    2. Which is exactly why Anakin had twins. Leia could've easily had a kid or 2 with Han, thus keeping the Skywalker line going, while Luke followed the lonely, detached path of the Jedi. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that this is exactly the way things are headed at the end of RotJ.

      Then again, since the ways of the Jedi are based mostly on Eastern spiritual philosophies ( Buddhism, especially), one needs to have a basic understanding on how all that stuff works in order to see what the whole point of the Force, detachment, etc. truly is all about.

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  21. I knew it. As much as we like to assume Han went soft and settled down, its simply not his style. Leia ended up with Lando instead (who had stability and ties to the new republic) after Han goes rogue again. It's also a bold decision on Disney's / Lucasfilm's behalf and I applaud them for it. Also, it's very progressive, which aligns nicely with our own reality. It all makes sense now.

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    1. Setting up a brilliant relationship between Han and Leia, to then crush it and shove Leia with Lando, who Leia never even liked... would not be 'bold' or 'brave' it would be stupid.

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    2. While I don't think Leah and Lando have chemistry, I do think Han and Leah should be separated by the time of episode 7 (like a more extreme version of how they avoid each other at the start of Empire).The harmony of their post-carbonate ROTJ relationship was dramatic dead space. To create a compelling story you have to be willing to be "unkind" to your characters.

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    3. Well, Indy spent a lot of time setting up a brilliant relationship with Marion (they even had a backstory) but Dr. Jones went on his separate way without her.

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  22. She is a very beautiful young woman with a "strong" look to her. She sorta reminds me of Michelle Rodriguez' character in Avatar, from looking at the first picture.

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  23. "There is another"
    http://i.imgur.com/yG1WKMb.jpg

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  24. mace windus grand daughter would make more sense

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  25. Star Wars Episode 7 "The African Invasion"

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    1. Hey Viral is this not insulting? You dig this? I sure don't!
      You ban comments in all caps but for belligerent racist comments are OK?

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  26. And she's not 'black or mixed-race', She's British. Those other labels are American labels stemming from an unfortunate past.

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