‘Star Wars 8’ rumored to be adding Donnie Yen in Jedi role

With production underway on Star Wars: Rogue One, fans can expect to be getting more news on the other Star Wars as early as SDCC. The latest rumor is that Hong Kong action star Donnie Yen (Ip Man) has landed a role in Star Wars: Episode VIII, continuing Hollywood’s trend of inserting a famous Asian actor or actress into their biggest blockbusters for more international appeal at the box office.

Jedi in Star Wars: The Force Awakens is still a mystery, so Yen’s role is indeed mysterious. Most interesting, Yen is rumored to be shooting scenes with Harrison Ford next month

The news comes Hong Kong tabloid Apple Daily, who had heard Star Wars: Rogue One director Gareth Edwards was casting a number of Chinese actors for a role in the spin-off. This film just started shooting last week, so a Rogue One would make more sense. That said, there aren’t supposed to be any Jedi in Star Wars: Rogue One, so if Yen or any of these other Asian stars do end up with a role, don’t count on any of them carrying a lightsaber.

Other names in consideration for the role supposedly include Jet Li, Stephen Chow, Tony Leung, Chiu Wai, Daniel Wu, Wang Leehom and Chang Chen.

Rogue One is set to arrive next year on December 16, 2016 with Star Wars: Episode VIII opening on May 26, 2017.