Star Wars spinoffs was the first thing that came to mind when Disney announced that they would be releasing a Star Wars film every year when they acquired LucasFilm. So with Star Wars: The Force Awakens already in post-production, its time to look forward to 2016.

Godzilla‘s Gareth Edwards will direct a standalone film based on a draft written by Gary Whitta, who amicably left to write Starlight. He was then reportedly replaced by Simon Kinberg, who was a consultant on The Force Awakens and is an executive producer on Star Wars Rebels. With the script looking like its near completion, Edwards is setting his sights on finding a cast. And it looks like he has narrowed the female lead to three stars.

Rooney Mara (The Social Network, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo), Tatiana Maslany (Orphan Black), and Felicity Jones (The Amazing Spider-Man 2, The Theory Of Everything) are all reportedly testing for the lead female role.

According to THR, Maslany is testing, with Mara due in for her test this week. The team is eyeing Oscar nominee Felicity Jones, who may not be able to test for the role as it conflicts with her schedule for Ron Howard’s Da Vinci Code sequel Inferno this spring and summer.

If the rumors of the film being about the rebel forces hiring bounty hunters to steal the plans to the Death Star are true, then the idea that all of this could be lead by a female character would be fantastic. The three potential stars are all very talented.

While testing is currently going on, Edwards is continuing to look for a full-time writer to polish the script. In the same report, it is said that Kinberg will not take over as the writer.

Edwards’s film is scheduled for release on December 16, 2016.

[Source: THR]