Gwendolin Christie Joins 'Star Wars VII' Cast

We have officially reached the two best consecutive holidays of the year: May the 4th, followed by Cinco de Mayo. Disney's marketing department is obviously treating May the 4th with the respect it deserves, as they've been releasing Star Wars news all day. From new photos to role confirmations, Star Wars fans are getting quite the treat today. One particularly exciting tidbit was the confirmation that Gwendoline Christie will play Captain Phasma in the new film, prompting me to contemplate all the reasons why Gwendoline Christie is perfect for the new Star Wars film.

Gwendoline Christie, who plays the fierce warrior Brienne of Tarth on Game of Thrones, is an exciting addition to the cast of Star Wars: The Force Awakens which is teeming with fresh talent, as Adam Driver (as the villanious Kylo Ren) and Lupita Nyong'o (as a space pirate) have both recently been confirmed as part of the cast for the film.

Brienne of Tarth is a strong, imposing character but from the looks of the promotional photo that was just released of Christie's Captain Phasma, it appears as if Christie will take menacing to a whole new level in her role for The Force Awakens.

The above photo shows Christie as Captain Phasma, looking utterly fearsome and unstoppable. This first look at Captain Phasma is intriguing and it would seem that Gwendoline Christie is the perfect addition to the already magnificent cast of Star Wars Episode VII for a few reasons.

She Is Used To Playing Strong Women Who Defy Gender Stereotypes

Gwendoline's Brienne of Tarth breaks gender stereotypes in every possible way. She's a warrior with an androgynous appearance and a masculine energy. Christie was drawn to the character of Brienne because of her defiantly un-stereotypical portrayal of femininty. In an interview for the HBO production diary, Making Game of Thrones, Christie said of Brienne:

Women are all brought up with a series of conventional expectations, so one cannot help but want recognition or affirmation in those areas. I think what’s so beautiful and interesting about the character of Brienne of Tarth is yes, she’s strong; she’s a badass; she has vulnerability.

But in all of her lack of convention and her uniqueness, all women can identify with her because she wants to be loved in the way that as human beings – male or female – we all want to be loved. We see the pureness of her humanity, and that she’s something that isn’t so far away from all of us.

Christie's inspiring desire to eschew gender conventions seems as if it will lend a very intriguing edge to her Captain Phasma in Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

Christie Is A Straight Up Badass In Game of Thrones

Brienne of Tarth doesn't suffer fools. She knows how to kick ass and take names. Based on what we've seen of Captain Phasma so far, I doubt her character in Star Wars: The Force Awakens is going to be a softie.

Christie Is Joining a Phenomenal Cast With Strong Female Characters

With each new Star Wars film that comes out, we constantly hear talk of a stronger female presence in the cast, only to be disappointed. I don't want to get my hopes up too much, but it seems as if we might finally get a cast with more gender diversity this time around. Gwendoline Christie joins Lupita Nyong'o, Carrie Fisher, Daisy Ridley, Christina Chong, and newcomer Crystal Clarke in what looks to be the strongest female cast we have seen in a Star Wars film thus far.

If you haven't seen the trailer for Star Wars: The Force Awakens, check it out below and get excited for the film's debut on December 18.

Images: Giphy (3)