As J.J. Abrams continues production on his highly anticipated Star Wars: Episode VII, fans of the galaxy far, far away are left with a frustratingly little amount of official information regarding the project. We know which actors will be lending their talents to the film, and that Abrams is using practical models and locations to fill out his take on the universe, but not much else. Everything from what the plot will entail to the movie's subtitle is up for grabs at this point.

Well, today moviegoers learned about a new development in the Star Wars sequel trilogy. While it doesn't cover any of the really juicy bits fans are eager to learn, there's a new report that Episode VII up-and-comer cast member Daisy Ridley will be making appearances in both Episode VIII and Episode IX. That should give fans something to chew on, while they speculate on about the rest of the details.

Deadline broke the story, stating that the plan is for Ridley's character to turn up in both sequels to next December's installment. There still isn't any word on who Ridley will be playing (and how large her role is), but this report lends credence to the earlier rumor that stated both Ridley and John Boyega would be dual protagonists in Episode VII. One could guess that Ridley has a fairly sizable part in this affair, since she's been asked to return for two more features.

For those not in the know, the belief right now is that Ridley and Boyega's characters will embark on a journey for AWOL Jedi Master Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) after discovering a lightsaber on a desert planet. There are also rumors circulating that the two leads will, in fact, be Jedi in training, opening the opportunity for a student/teacher relationship (similar to Luke and Obi-Wan in the original) to become the emotional core of the sequel.

Whether or not any of that is true seems to be moot at this point. Ridley could be playing the daughter of Han Solo and Princess Leia (that's her sitting between Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher in the cast photo) or a new character unrelated to the famous Skywalker family. Either way, she is set to be one of the faces of the franchise moving forward, meaning that Abrams, Rian Johnson and whoever helms Episode IX has big things in store for the newcomer.

The question will now shift to if the series is in capable hands with Ridley front and center. Due to her young age, her résumé is quite small with only two film credits and a handful of television roles under her belt. That said, she's made the most out of her limited screen time, earning a BAFTA nomination for her turn in the interactive movie Lifesaver.

Abrams (always one with a keen eye for casting) saw something in Ridley to give her a big part in one of the most beloved franchises of all-time, and the classic trilogy succeeded with three unknowns shouldering the weight. One way or another, Ridley is poised for a breakout. Fingers crossed it's for the best.

Star Wars: Episode VII will hit theaters December 18, 2015.

Follow Chris on Twitter @ChrisAgar90.

Source: Deadline