Star Wars Episode VII: Saoirse Ronan Has Auditioned For Role

2015 is shaping up to be one hell of a year for geeks. We’ve got 20th Century Fox’s Josh Trank-helmed Fantastic Four reboot, the highly anticipated Avengers: Age of Ultron, new entries in the Terminator, Jurassic Park and James Bond franchises, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2, Batman vs. Superman, a live-action Assassin’s Creed film, and, of course, the grand-daddy of all sequels: the J.J. Abrams-helmed Star Wars: Episode VII. 

Though information about the plot of Abrams’ Star Wars sequel, which boasts a screenplay by Michael Ardnt (Toy Story 3), has been incredibly scarce, the audition process is currently in full swing. We reported earlier today that Sullivan Stapleton, of Cinemax’s Strike Back and the upcoming 300: Rise of an Empire, has been rumored to have read for a part, and now we have word that Academy Award-nominated actress Saoirse Ronan (Atonement) has also auditioned, for one of two central female characters in Episode VII.

Speaking with Sky News, Ronan confirmed that she has auditioned for a role, though she also cautioned that, “So has everyone.” Other young actresses who are reported to have read for one or both of the lead female roles include Rachel Hurd-Wood (Peter Pan) and Ksenia Solo (Lost Girl). 

Sources previously noted that Abrams’ Star Wars: Episode VII will be an original story, not based on Timothy Zahn’s acclaimed Thrawn Trilogy as many fans had expected. However, news of Ronan’s involvement could indicate that the film will feature Han Solo and Princess Leia’s twins, Jacen and Jaina Solo, both major characters in the Star Wars Expanded Universe series of books.

Though many series’ purists have balked at news of forthcoming Star Wars installments, I’m excited to see what Abrams will do with such a culturally significant sci-fi series – after all, he resuscitated the long-dead Star Trek franchise with respect, grace, vivacity and flair. Especially if he goes with actresses as talented as Ronan, there’s every indication he could pull off the same trick for Star Wars.

Are you excited for Episode VII, or should Abrams have left the series alone? And what would you think of the possibility that Saoirse Ronan could land a role? Sound off in the comments section.

Star Wars: Episode VII will land in theaters sometime in 2015, though whether it will move from its currently planned summer release to a winter holiday slot is currently uncertain.