Felicity Jones is going from standing by the side of a theoretical physicist to starring in a big-budget blockbuster. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Jones, who recently earned an Oscar nom for her portrayal of Jane Hawking in The Theory of Everything, is in negotiations for the part of the female lead in the Star Wars stand-alone film.
Orphan Black’s Tatiana Maslany was previously rumored for the role, as was Rooney Mara. A male lead has yet to be revealed, though according to sources, Zero Dark Thirty’s Edgar Ramirez is being eyed along with Breaking Bad’s Aaron Paul. Lucasfilm and Disney are keeping details of the project seriously under wraps — it isn’t 100% clear which character, male or female, the stand-alone is focusing on but the wind and the media seem to be shifting in Jones’s direction.
Jones just appeared at Sundance to premiere True Story, which explores the bizarre relationship between a journalist and an FBI Most Wanted List murderer who lives under his name. It was at Sundance 2011 that Jones first arrived on the scene, generating a lot of positive critical attention for her performance in Like Crazy, a romantic drama co-starring Anton Yelchin (who went on to appear in the Star Trek reboot, taking the star-crossed lovers thing to a whole different level).
The movie is set to be released December 16 2016.
[via The Hollywood Reporter]
