Felicity Jones at Oscar luncheon. (Image courtesy: AP)
Los Angeles:
The Theory of Everything star Felicity Jones will play the female lead in Lucasfilm and Disney's standalone Star Wars film.
Felicity earned a Best Actress Oscar nomination for her role in the Stephen Hawking biopic, where she portrayed the role of the physicist's first wife.
Gareth Edwards is directing the film and Chris Weitz has written the script. Chris has replaced Gary Whitta, who penned the first draft, reported the Hollywood Reporter. (Also Read: Felicity Jones Says Red Wine Puts Her in 'Slightly Suicidal Depressed State')
The makers are keeping the project under tight wraps, but there are speculations that actors Aaron Paul and Edgar Ramirez are in the race for the male lead.
The movie is slated to release on December 16, 2016.
