Sam Claflin & Riz Ahmed Rumored For Star Wars Anthology: Rogue One

Not long after Celebration, we already have some potential Star Wars movie casting news. Badass Digest and TheWrap are reporting that actors Sam Claflin and Riz Ahmed are in talks for roles in the first Star Wars Anthology film, Rogue One.

The fact that two actors are being rumored for roles in Gareth Edwards’s Rogue One may be indicative that the cast for the film will be larger than we anticipated. Devin Feraci from Badass Digest, who reported about Ahmed, writes, “Dirty Dozen and Magnificent Seven are the comparisons I’m hearing, and I’m hearing it’s going to be aa big cast where not everybody makes it to the other side.”

TheWrap also added to the casting buzz, with the additional claim that Sam Claflin may be making an appearance in the galaxy far, far away, as well.

Image from ceasefiremagazine.co.uk

I’ll admit, I had never heard of Riz Ahmed until I saw these rumors. Notably, he appeared in the critically-acclaimed Jake Gyllenhaal-led film Nightcrawler. On a more cultural level, Ahmed’s Pakistani heritage would add some welcome racial diversity to Rogue One.

Image from celebhealthy.com

Sam Claflin, on the other hand, is a name that is much more familiar to me. I watched him in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and Mockingjay – Part 1, in which he played the handsome yet troubled Hunger Games contestant, Finnick. He also played Prince William in Snow White and the Huntsman, starring alongside Kristin Stewart and Chris Hemsworth. He seems a competent actor, though I have yet to witness him in a leading role. According to TheWrap, however, Claflin “is being eyed for a more substantial role in ‘Rogue One.'”

It will be interesting to see if these rumors play out; the sites that initially reported them seem confident in their accuracy. Hopefully we’ll get some more updates soon. As of right now, however, Felicity Jones remains Rogue One‘s only confirmed cast member.

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