J.J. Abrams' Star Wars: Episode VII promises to be one of the biggest (if not the biggest) blockbusters arriving during the approaching storm that is 2015. As a result, there's been an endless supply of rumors in recent months, with regard to who in Hollywood has auditioned for a role in the film.

That's all the more true when it concerns which actresses have thrown their hats in the ring to play one of the two central female characters - one of whom may end up being the Luke Skywalker-esque protagonist featured in the third Star Wars live-action movie trilogy. So far, the actresses who're reported to have read for one of those roles include Rachel Hurd-Wood (Peter Pan (2003)), Ksenia Solo (Lost Girl) and, most recently, Saoirse Ronan (Hanna).

Ronan has officially confirmed to Sky News that she read for a role in Episode VII, drawing from the screenplay written by Oscar-winner Michael Arndt (Toy Story 3). However, upon admitting that she did audition for Abrams' Star Wars movie, Ronan added "so has everyone" - meaning, this confirmation shouldn't at all be taken as an announcement that the actress will be joining the cast for Episode VII (anymore than Abrams refusing to rule out the idea that Benedict Cumberbatch might sign on for the film is tantamount to confirmation that the director will reunite with his Star Trek Into Darkness star on this new project).

Jaina Solo

That said: as was mentioned in a previous article, Ronan has come very close to signing on for a Disney-backed action tentpole twice in the past - first with the cancelled Order of the Seven (i.e. a martial arts epic that originated as a Snow White retelling), followed by Avengers: Age of Ultron (when Ronan was cited as the model for Scarlet Witch) - so, it feels as though there's a reasonable chance that third time could be the charm for the actress (as far as her eventually signing on for Episode VII goes).

Not to mention, she's well known amongst cinephiles for her strong performance in several indie and/or arthouse productions released over the past 5-6 years (see: Atonement, The Way Back, Byzantium, etc.), but Ronan is the sort of lesser-known in the public's eye who's (historically) been cast as one of the leads in a Star Wars movie. Then again, if rumors are to be believed, then even if Ronan does sign on for Episode VII, she might end up playing a villain - rather than the protagonist and/or the daughter of Han/Leia Solo, that is.

UPDATE: In less-official Episode VII-related news: the latest rumor (brought to you by Latino Review) is that Sullivan Stapleton - star of the TV show Strike Back and the upcoming movie spinoff 300: Rise of an Empire - has auditioned for a role in the new Star Wars film. In addition, LR's source has commented on the recent story about the possibility that Abrams will partly shoot Episode VII with IMAX cameras, saying "this IMAX thing is out of context." 

_____

Star Wars: Episode VII is tentatively slated to reach theaters by Summer 2015, though it could wind up delayed until the Winter Holiday Season.

Source: Sky News [via Coming Soon]

Update Source: Latino Review