Chloe Bennet has really been getting those steps in lately. By the time Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. finally reached its conclusion, she had established herself as a powerhouse in the acting world through her fan-favorite performance as Daisy Johnson, a.k.a. "Quake." Many have been hoping to see Bennet return as Quake in the Marvel Cinematic Universe at some point, but in the meantime, she clearly hasn't seen fit to slow down in the slightest, and now her sights might have even been set on that biggest of the fish, Star Wars.
A new rumor has decided to join its ever pulsating cloud of brethren, this time the object of interest involves a Star Wars character many have been hoping to see come to the big screen. Doctor Aphra, a character who's spent her existence mostly confined to comic books and the occasional ill-fated mobile game, captured the hearts of fans with her rebellious personality and interesting backstory, and now there could be a chance of her getting her own mainstream Star Wars project.
Naturally, since this is a rumor, it should be taken with a grain of salt. The sometimes right and sometimes definitely not right crew over at We Got This Covered apparently got word from one of their sources that Bennet is currently Lucasfilm's top choice to play the rogue archaeologist in an upcoming project. If it ends up being true, it could be a pretty big step forward for LGBTQ+ representation in Star Wars, as Doctor Chelli Lona Aphra is canonically a lesbian. Having such a character in a lead role for a mainstream Star Wars series or film would mark an important milestone for the franchise.
Doctor Aphra's story connects her with Darth Vader, having been recruited by the Sith Lord for her archaeology expertise. However, after getting on Vader's bad side (who would have thought?), she fakes her own death and sets out to make her own way in the galaxy. Such a tale allows for plenty of original storylines as well as the occasional callback to some classic Star Wars staples, which makes her an ideal subject for her own series.
Bennet, meanwhile, is currently busy shooting Powerpuff, the live-action CW pilot that continues the story of Cartoon Network's The Powerpuff Girls. She plays Blossom alongside Dove Cameron as Bubbles and Yana Perrault as Buttercup, with Scrubs star Donald Faison on board to play their father figure Professor Utonium. So perhaps her potential casting in Star Wars might depend on whether the pilot is picked up as a series.
Either way, Bennet is a solid choice for the character of Doctor Aphra. There's still no official source to back up this particular claim, but if it does end up being true, Star Wars fans will definitely be in for a ride. Besides, even without her, Star Wars can always use more LGBTQ+ representation.
The Star Wars saga is now available on Disney Plus.
Source: We Got This Covered