Latino-Review claims to have an inside source on the Pinewood Studios set of Star Wars: Episode 8 with new details about Laura Dern’s role in The Force Awakens sequel. Benicio del Toro and Laura Dern joining the cast of Episode 8 was phenomenal news, but leaks from the set suggest that the addition of Dern may come at the expense of General Leia.
According to the leaks, Laura Dern will play an officer in the Resistance. After General Leia is injured, Dern takes over. This doesn’t sit well with Poe Dameron, with leaks from the set describing an eventual mutiny, as Poe takes command.
It seems that while Rey trains with Luke Skywalker, Poe Dameron takes a central role in a struggle for control of the Resistance. While nothing is yet known about Dern’s character’s motivations, we did see some hints of tension between the Resistance and the New Republic government in The Force Awakens, with the Resistance largely acting against the First Order outside of official government sanction. Could Dern represent a faction inside the Republic against open conflict with the First Order?
After the destruction of Hosnian Prime, the Republic must be in a state of disorder. So while we don’t know the exact contours of the political conflict, it seems Dern’s character has exploited General Leia’s wounds to grab power (it’s way too early to start the false flag speculation, but had Dern’s character caused General Leia’s injuries that’d be the perfect pretense for Poe Dameron to assume command of the Resistance by force).
Whoever Dern turns out to be in Star Wars: Episode 8, the leaks portray a conflict inside the Resistance that largely sets General Leia off to one side. Instead, it seems likely that Episode 8 will be about Poe Dameron’s rise from Black Squadron leader to the highest echelons of Resistance command.
Carrie Fisher had a relatively minor role in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, which looks to be the case in Episode 8 as well. Instead of killing her off, like Han Solo, this leaked Episode 8 plot line suggests a way to gradually phase her out, as Poe Dameron assumes her power.
