The new "Star Wars" trilogy is shaping up to be one centered on women. The upcoming "The Force Awakens" has a female lead in Rey to take the mantle from Princess Leia. However, there looks to be more women making their mark in the franchise's forthcoming episodes.

According to TheWrap, "Golden Globe winner Gina Rodriguez ('Jane the Virgin'), Golden Globe nominee Tatiana Maslany ('Orphan Black') and 'Me and Earl and the Dying Girl' star Olivia Cooke are considered the top contenders for the new female lead in Rian Johnson's 'Star Wars: Episode VIII.'"

These are all fascinating choices for the role as they strengthen the diversity that the franchise has always supported.

Maslany was reportedly one of the finalists for the role in "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story," but Felicity Jones ultimately earned the role.

If Rodriguez joins the party, she would join Oscar Isaac and potentially Benicio Del Toro as Latin Americans in the new franchise. Del Toro has been rumored to join the cast of the eighth episode as a villain. However there has been no confirmation to this point.

Meanwhile, Cooke came to stardom this summer in the one of the starring roles in the tragic "Me and Earl and the Dying Girl." Despite the film's summer release, the actress could be earning an awards campaign. She is also in the running for Steven Spielberg's "Ready Player One."

Rian Johnson is slated to direct the eighth episode of the "Star Wars" franchise. He is also writing the script and the movie is slated for a May 26, 2017 release date. In order to meet that launch date, he has to shoot the film in the first half of in 2016 with the latter part of the year being dedicated to editing.

Who do you think will get the next female role in the hotly anticipated "Episode VIII?"