Keri Russell is in early talks to join the Star Wars universe.
Star Wars: Episode IX director and writer JJ Abrams and Lucasfilm execs met with several actresses for the new role in the franchise’s next installment. Variety reports that the Abrams settled on the 42-year-old actress right before the Fourth of July holiday.
Abrams was tapped to helm Star Wars: Episode IX after Colin Trevorrow exited the project last September. Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy officially announced Abrams’ return to the franchise saying in a statement, “With The Force Awakens, JJ delivered everything we could have possibly hoped for, and I am so excited that he is coming back to close out this trilogy.”
If Russel ends up joining the project it would mean a Felicity reunion as Abrams and she collaborated in the past on the late ‘90s show Felicity which Abrams co-created and shot Russell to fame. The two most recently worked together on Mission: Impossible III.
Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, and Adam Driver are all expected to return for Star Wars: Episode IX, the final film of a third trilogy.
Star Wars: Episode IX is scheduled to hit theaters December 20, 2019.
