Felicity Jones Cast in Star Wars Movie, Possibly Opposite Aaron Paul

By  · Published on February 3rd, 2015

Focus Features

So much for recent rumors that Tatiana Maslany had been cast in the first Star Wars spin-off. One of the other actresses on the shortlist for the female lead, Oscar nominee Felicity Jones, has reportedly been offered the part instead. The Hollywood Reporter says she’s still in talks for the movie, which will be directed by Gareth Edwards (Godzilla), yet implies that it’s a done deal. Others in the running were sisters Rooney Mara and Kate Mara.

This is great news for the Theory of Everything star, who seemed to be headed for a major role in Sony’s Amazing Spider-Man franchise (she briefly appears as Felicia Hardy/Black Cat in The Amazing Spider-Man 2) before everything began stalling on future installments. That’s not to say Jones has now bagged a part we’ll see in multiple movies, but there’s always a possibility with a franchise as huge as Star Wars. And as of yet, we still don’t have a clue what this supposedly “standalone” movie is about, let alone who Jones will play in it.

One other thing we do now know, however, is that there are two actors named as possibilities for her male counterpart in the feature. Breaking Bad’s Aaron Paul and Deliver Us From Evil’s Edgar Ramirez are apparently on the short list, which could very likely contain more than two contenders. Would the final choice play a young Han Solo? Boba Fett? Again, we know absolutely nothing concrete about this thing.

Well, we know three things, other than Edwards being at the helm. We know that Chris Weitz is now writing the script, taking over from Gary Whitta, that he has a very short time before filming begins in the Spring and that we’ll at least get to see what it’s all about when it hits theaters on December 16, 2016.

Jones will next be seen in True Story, but our own Kate Erbland reported in her review from Sundance that the actress is given very little to do in the film.

Christopher Campbell began writing film criticism and covering film festivals for a zine called Read, back when a zine could actually get you Sundance press credentials. He's now a Senior Editor at FSR and the founding editor of our sister site Nonfics. He also regularly contributes to Fandango and Rotten Tomatoes and is the President of the Critics Choice Association's Documentary Branch.