Warning: The following contains possible spoilers for "Star Wars Episode 8" and definite spoilers for "Star Wars: The Force Awakens."
Barely anything is known about "Star Wars Episode VIII" beyond what we can gather from "Star Wars: The Force Awakens." What we assume the sequel will include are answers regarding the mysterious pasts of Adam Driver's Kylo Ren and Daisy Ridley's Rey. Several questions integral to their characters were left purposely ambiguous or un answered such as why Kylo Ren turned to the Dark Side and who/where Rey's parents are.
Aside from these lingering loose ends, we can only assume that director Rian Johnson will introduce several new elements into "Episode VIII" as well. One of those elements is actress Laura Dern, who was cast in a mystery role earlier this year.
Who is she playing? Does her character connect to "The Force Awakens" and, if so, how? "Star Wars" fans have so many questions about what is coming and today we may have some answers.
Leaked scene details involving Dern's character and Oscar Isaac's Poe Dameron have reportedly surfaced online. This is completely unconfirmed at this time so take it with a grain of medicholrians.
"In one of the scenes shot in this stage, a rag-tag group of Resistance fighters have seen some battle," the report reads. "Cut and bruised, they and Poe Dameron are on this ship when Laura Dern, playing some sort of captain or officer. She tells the fighters that they are the last of the rebellion/resistance (I'm unclear on the exact phrasing of the line, so no capitalizing the Resistance) and that Princess Leia has been gravely injured and is receiving medical attention."
According to the report, Poe then holds Dern's character at blaster point as they remove crew from their work stations.
It's unclear which side Dern is on based on this information. Is she an enemy or is she an ill-informed ally? Why does Poe feel the need to take command of the situation by force? Will Leia be following Han Solo to the great Jedi Temple in the sky?
Again, this rumor is unconfirmed, but it is the first to surface that involves Dern in a non-wish based casting such Rey's mother and/or Luke Skywalker's wife.
"Star Wars: Episode VIII" will be released on Dec. 15, 2017.
Follow Brandon Katz on Twitter: @Great_Katzby
