The largely testosterone-fueled Star Wars movie franchise has added an important new female character in the eighth film, “Star Wars: The Last Jedi”, director Rian Johnson said on Friday at a fanfest in Orlando.
Johnson said the movie, scheduled for release in December, is still in post production.
Kelly Marie Tran plays Rose, a maintenance worker in the Resistance. Johnson said her character embodies the notion that even the most unlikely person can step up and become a hero. He said her part is the biggest new role in the film. Lucasfilm also live-streamed to fans worldwide the first movie trailer that features Rey, played by Daisy Ridley, wielding a light saber under the guidance of Luke Skywalker who tells her that it’s time for the Jedi to end.
Ridley was brought into the franchise in the seventh movie, “The Force Awakens”, as a lead character. Fans have been expecting Lucasfilm to add more females to the cast.