Despite the rumors of Benedict Cumberbatch taking on a role in "Star Wars Episode 7," the British actor has confirmed he will not be starring in the upcoming Disney title.
Cumberbatch took over The Iris', an Australian entertainment site, official Twitter account for a Q & A session at OzComicCon, according to The Playlist. The actor confirmed he is not a part of the director J.J. Abrams' cast.
"I would've liked a part in J.J.'s new Star Wars but it won't happen sadly," Cumberbatch tweeted.
However, Abrams may have found an actress to take on the role of Obi Wan Kenobi's daughter. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Maisie Richardson-Sellers, an Oxford-educated actress, has caught the attention of the Lucasfilm/Disney production.
I would've liked a part in JJ's new Star Wars but it won't happen sadly
— The Iris (@TheIrisAU) April 12, 2014
"One of the roles yet to be filled is that of a young black or mixed-race woman who may be a descendent of Jedi Knight Ben Kenobi," THR reports. "In the film, which takes place 30 years after the events of 1983's Star Wars: Episode III: Return of the Jedi, the character would cross paths with the children of Han Solo, Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia." (Click here to see a photo of the actress)
Richardson is an "unknown" actress in mainstream media, which fits the description of what Abrams is looking for in his leads, according "Lost" actor Dominic Monaghan. The actor recently spoke to DweebCast about the "Star Wars" director's vision.
"[Abrams and I] talked about it a few times. Once I knew that he was doing 'Star Wars' I sent him a little congratulatory message and stuff," Monaghan told DweebCast. "We've talked a few times about it and he said 'We're putting together a cast of essentially unknowns. We want to follow the '77 'New Hope' cast'."
"Because obviously Harrison Ford wasn't well known at that point, Mark Hamill wasn't and Carrie Fisher wasn't either," he added. "What he said was, 'We don't want to fall into that mistake of people going 'Oh it's that guy from that thing!' and then you're completely out of the 'Star Wars' universe.' "
"Star Wars Episode 7" will be released to theaters Dec. 18, 2015.
