Game of Thrones’ Gwendoline Christie (Brienne) Returning to Star Wars

Although she did not have that many scenes in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Gwendoline Christie’s chromed-out stormtrooper Captain Phasma was definitely the topic of many an Episode VII discussion. And, despite her character suffering a seemingly unceremonious end, Gwendoline Christie will in fact be returning in the as yet subtitled Star Wars: Episode VIII.

Christie was interviewed at the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards by People, where she spilled the galactic beans:

"I will be in the next Star Wars movie."

Gwendoline briefly discusses what went into her getting the role of Captain Phasma in The Force Awakens:

"I was very over excited. I made no secret of the fact that I really campaigned for the part for a long time. And then I was delighted when J.J. Abrams wanted to have me in the film and then wanted to cast me in this role that had originally been designed for a man."

Here’s a couple of fun facts about Gwendoline Christie’s The Force Awakens character: the chromed armor look for Captain Phasma was originally slated for main baddie Kylo Ren. Lead costume designer Michael Kaplan originally conceived of Kylo as Lord of the Stormtroopers before J.J. Abrams scrapped that idea. It wasn’t until later, when Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy saw the Phasma drawings, that she fell in love with them and decided to cast the role with a woman.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens: The Visual Dictionary tells us that the shiny chrome is actually called Chromium, and was salvaged from the now deceased Emperor Palpatine’s yacht from his homeworld of Naboo. I wonder if Phasma has a connection to the former Dark Lord of the Sith? I suppose we’ll have to wait until Episode VIII to find out.

The worldwide theatrical premiere of Star Wars: Episode VIII has been pushed back to December 15, 2017, which means if Brienne survives Game of Thrones Season 6, she will once again be doing press for a new Star Wars movies while filming a new season of the show.

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