"Star Wars Episode VII" Update, Premiere: Amybeth Hargreaves joins Female Stormtroopers; Is there a Sign of New Diversity on "The Force Awakens"?

By Adam Bellotto

Jan 23 2015, 07:25 AM EST

A lot's changed since "Star Wars" was set a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away. Even if that time frame probably still applies to the upcoming "The Force Awakens." Before, stormtroopers were all men (and if the prequels' timeline still holds through the original three films, then they'd all be clones- thus, all Maori men, as they were cloned from New Zealand actor Temuera Morrison).

Now, "Star Wars's" Stormtrooper population has just swelled to include its first woman. Mirror reports that Amybeth Hargreaves may have just been cast in a new role in the film- and that role may be a Stormtrooper.

Now, this isn't 100% set in stone. For one thing, it's not clear if Hargreaves is actually playing her own character, or is just a stunt double or stand-in for Gwendolyn Christie, who's long been rumored to be playing some kind of Stormtrooper commanding officer in "The Force Awakens."

Also, as far as Stormtrooper diversity is concerned, that first trailer did have John Boyega (who is black) dressed in near-full Stormtrooper gear. So we definitely shouldn't be expecting an all-Maori army this time.

That's not the only "Star Wars" news circulating right now. Warwick Davis, would be returning to the "Star Wars" franchise in the latest film. It's not clear who he'll be playing (as is the case for basically every single character in the film), but Davis originally played one of the Ewoks in "The Empire Strikes Back," so that may have something to do with his newest role.

And either way, Davis was posting multiple "Star Wars" selfies recently- one of them alongside Chewbacca (who'll be played by Peter Mayhew in the new film) and one of them alongside... Darth Vader?

It's not clear whether this is just a gag or a real part of the film- Inquisitr points out that it could just be a decoration for the crew on set, and not actually be proof that someone will be donning Darth Vader's costume in the film. Reportedly, they are, indeed, taken from the set, so "The Force Awakens" might have far more Darth Vader than we initially thought.