The first ‘Star Wars’ standalone film is set to hit theaters in 2016, and although it’s currently seeking a replacement screenwriter, it looks as though production is gearing up on the Gareth Edwards project. Both Rooney Mara and ‘Orphan Black’ star Tatiana Maslany are testing for a leading role in the untitled film, which has been rumored as a heist film involving Boba Fett.

THR reports that Mara and Maslany are testing for unspecified roles in the new film, which is the first of two planned standalone ‘Star Wars’ films—the first will be helmed by ‘Godzilla’ director Gareth Edwards, and is currently seeking a replacement for screenwriter Gary Whitta, who recently left the project. It’s been rumored that the story centers on a heist, with a mission to retrieve the stolen plans that are the key to constructing the Death Star. Bounty hunter Boba Fett is also rumored to be involved.

Maslany is no stranger to clones as the star of the hit series ‘Orphan Black,’ in which she plays the roles of various women from different backgrounds who discover that their existence is the result of a secret cloning program. Maslany has rightfully earned tons of critical praise for her roles on the series, showing incredible versatility and range, to the point where you often forget that it’s the same actress playing each of the leading roles. Although Mara is also greatly talented, we've been dying for someone to cast Maslany in a major film like this.

Mara, on the other hand, is best-known for her roles in ‘The Social Network’ and ‘The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo,’ and appears in the upcoming films ‘Carol’ and ‘Pan.’ Both actresses have a particular coolness and edge about them, and the idea of either one of them joining the ‘Star Wars’ universe is fantastic.

THR adds that Felicity Jones, star of ‘The Theory of Everything,’ is also on the studio’s shortlist for the part, although scheduling conflicts with Ron Howard’s ‘Da Vinci Code’ sequel ‘Inferno’ may keep her out of the running.

It was recently reported that ‘X-Men: Days of Future Past’ writer and producer Simon Kinberg would replace Whitta as the writer on the untitled standalone film, but sources say that while Kinberg is very much involved with the new ‘Star Wars’ universe, he has enough projects on his plate. Kinberg is also scripting and producing ‘X-Men: Apocalypse,’ and is the producer on the ‘Fantastic Four’ reboot, which is currently undergoing reshoots which Kinberg scripted and is overseeing with director Josh Trank.

Trank is the director of the second ‘Star Wars’ standalone film, which does not currently have a release date. Edwards’ ‘Star Wars’ project is set to hit theaters on December 16, 2016, about a year after the release of ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens,’ which hits theaters later this year on December 18.

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