Tatiana Maslany Scores Lead In ‘Star Wars’ Movie: Is She Playing A Bounty Hunter Or Princess Leia?

Tatiana Maslany might make the transition from TV treasure to big screen queen if recent rumors prove to be true. The Orphan Black star has reportedly beaten out a number of big names to score a role in the first Star Wars spinoff movie.

Tatiana Maslany hasn’t just scored any role in the Star Wars spinoff directed by Gareth Edwards — she’ll actually be playing the lead. Total Geeks claims that her casting has been confirmed by a source close to the production of the film, and a recent Entertainment Weekly article may provide proof that Tatiana is making room in her schedule for the Star Wars movie — the actress recently withdrew from the off-Broadway play The Way We Get By because of movie scheduling conflicts. She’ll be replaced by Amanda Seyfried.

The competition for the lead role in the Star Wars spinoff was fierce. Tatiana Maslany had to top the auditions of actresses Kate Mara, Rooney Mara, and Felicity Jones to score the part. Perhaps playing half a dozen different people on Orphan Black helped her beat out her competition.

Total Geeks’ source didn’t provide any information about the character that Maslany will be playing, so it’s unknown whether she’ll be trading one clone war for another. According to Screenrant, Disney’s Star Wars spinoff movies will “tell stories from other corners of the universe.”

Once upon a time, it was rumored that the Stars Wars spinoff would focus on a group of bounty hunters who set out to steal the Death Star for the Rebel Alliance. Boba Fett is one of the most beloved Star Wars characters, so it would make sense to capitalize on his bounty hunter mystique by introducing more of his kind in the spinoff. However, this time they’ll be on the good guys’ side. Most female Star Wars fans would probably love to Tatiana Maslany playing the leader of the bounty hunters.

As the Inquisitr previously reported, there’s also been some speculation that Maslany may be playing a young Princess Leia. It does seem pretty telling that many of the actresses who competed for the spinoff role were brunettes who could pass for younger versions of Star Wars: Episode 7 actress Carrie Fisher. However, this casting would be unlikely if Tatiana is really playing the lead and the movie’s main focus is really on a group of bounty hunters.

There’s also been speculation that Boba Fett will appear in the movie, and he would certainly make an interesting antagonist (or maybe he’ll actually be working with the other bounty hunters).

The Star Wars spinoff starring Tatiana Maslany is set to hit theaters on December 16, 2016.

[Image via Collider]