Florence And The Machine’s Florence Welch is being lined up for a role in the new Star Wars trilogy, according to reports.

The Sun says that studio executives are keen to make unexpected casting decisions rather than use established A-list actresses, and that Welch is being considered for a “major part” in the sci-fi franchise, which is being helmed by director JJ Abrams.

“She has done some acting but it was her singing on stage that initially caught the eye,” said a source. “Almost every actress in Hollywood wants a role in the new movies but we are keen to cast people who are unexpected. Florence is being considered for a major part that would turn her into an A-list actress overnight.”


Lucasfilm – which is now owned by Disney – has slated Star Wars: Episode VII for release in 2015 and hired Toy Story 3 writer Michael Arndt to pen the script. Original cast members Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill have all hinted very strongly that they will be returning.

In April of this year, Florence And The Machine recorded a new track titled ‘Over The Love’ for the soundtrack to The Great Gatsby. Their second album, ‘Ceremonials’, was released in October 2011 and Welch subsequently claimed that she wanted to take a 12-month hiatus from music before she began work on a follow-up – although in September last year, she revealed she’d written a whole new album in her head.