by Justin Cook
Following the news that Tatiana Maslany, Rooney Mara and Felicity Jones were all being tested for 2016’s Star Wars spin-off film, it appears that Jones has beaten out the other two actresses and is reportedly nearing a deal to star in the film.
Jones, who recently received an Oscar nomination this year for her performance in The Theory of Everything, will play the lead in the film, which is directed by Godzilla and Monsters director Gareth Edwards. Chris Weitz will be rewriting Gary Whitta’s script for the film, which is rumored to focus on Boba Fett and his family.
The actress’ newest film True Story, which she starred in with Jonah Hill and James Franco, premiered at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival just last month. She may also join the cast of Ron Howard’s Inferno, a sequel to Angels and Demons, if it does not conflict with her involvement in Star Wars.
In talks for the male lead in the film are Breaking Bad actor Aaron Paul and Deliver Us from Evil actor Edgar Ramirez. Paul has won multiple Emmys for his work on Breaking Bad, and starred in last year’s mildly successful film Need for Speed. Above all, the film proved that Paul is more than capable of playing a convincing leading man.
Paul currently lends his voice to the Netflix series BoJack Horseman, and he will star in such 2015 films as Triple Nine, Fathers and Daughters, The 9th Life of Louis Drax and Eye in the Sky.
Ramirez, on the other hand, has constantly received acclaim for his work, and even earned a Golden Globe and Emmy nomination in 2011 for the mini-series Carlos. The Venezuelan actor is set to star in future projects such as the Point Break remake, David O’Russell’s Joy, Hands of Stone and Holland, Michigan.
The untitled Star Wars spin-off will be released on December 16, 2016.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
