J.J. Abrams Still To Cast One Major Female Role In New Star Wars Trilogy

When yesterday's Star Wars casting announcement was made, sci-fi sites and forums lit up with a frenzy of activity as people deconstructed every facet of the line-up. In large, the individual members of the cast were all met with nods of approval, which is not surprising when you consider it included Gollum, a Weasely twin and an up-and-coming young actor who has already banished alien beasts from his local housing estate.

But not all these noises regarding the cast were quite so positive. Many were in despair that, with the exception of Carrie Fisher, the cast only included one female actor - the relatively unknown Daisy Ridley. Outrage has quickly ensued, but there's a good chance it may actually be premature. Multiple sources are reporting that while yesterday's casting roll-call was mostly complete, it was in fact missing a major female character that hasn't been cast yet.

THR is speculating that Oscar winner Lupita Nyongo met with J.J. Abrams before this year's awards and therefore may be in with a shout of securing this mysterious second female lead slot. Others are speculating that in terms of Episode VII, Daisy Ridley will indeed be the only female lead, but another female character will appear on the fringes. Could it be that this female role will work her way into prominence over the course of the new trilogy - a female Sith apprentice or Dark Jedi perhaps?

Indeed, most Star Wars commentators seem to have agreed that Ridley will be playing the daughter of Han and Leia, which would mean a female antagonist would certainly help bring a bit of balance to the new trilogy. With Adam Driver looking likely to play the trilogy's lead villain and Max von Sydow looking every part the galactic bad guy, it does appear that there is room for a young female foe to emerge throughout the new saga. You only have to look to the power struggle that played out with Asajj Ventress and Count Dooku in The Clone Wars to realize that such a tale is not just doable, but incredibly entertaining.

For now though, this all remains speculation. Daisy Ridley will be the new heroine of the Star Wars universe and ultimately one of the biggest names in Hollywood over the next decade. Quite a feat for someone who made her screen acting bow in Casualty last year.