Lupita Nyong'o's 'Star Wars' Character Maz Kanata Returns in Rian Johnson's 'Episode 8'

The still-untitled Star Wars: Episode 8, directed by Rian Johnson, has been in production for weeks, with most key cast members returning to reprise their roles in the franchise, plus a few more additions. Now, it has been revealed that Oscar winner Lupita Nyong'o, who played Maz Kanata in last year's Star Wars: The Force Awakens, will be back for the next installment!

Ever since production for Episode 8 began, Johnson has taken to Tumblr from time to time to post bits and pieces from shooting, and last Monday he confirmed the character through that medium. In the filmmaker's recent snap, Nyong'o can be seen in the background in full motion capture gear, with two monitors showing Maz Kanata's face.

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A couple of weeks back, Johnson shared another exciting snap from the set, showing cinematographer Steve Yedlin in what appeared to be the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon, the starship once piloted by Han Solo that now has Rey on board.

Of course, Maz Kanata, one of the most fascinating new additions to Force Awakens, is the former smuggler and pirate who owns the new Star Wars tavern, and, most interestingly, gives Daisy Ridley's Rey the lightsaber that once belonged to Skywalker father and son Anakin and Luke.

According to Cinema Blend, a theory regarding Maz shook the internet a couple of months back: the character may have appeared in a Star Wars films. The Force sensitive character might be famous around the galaxy, considering she's around 1,000 years old, and it turns out that, in Anakin's room in Star Wars Episode I: The Phanton Menace, there's a statue that looks a lot like the recently introduced character.

Even if it's not her, it could be someone from the same planet or alien race.

Maz Kanata can be seen in Episode I - The Phantom Menace #StarWars pic.twitter.com/f5hBC9dnd0

— Dave Kelly (@DaveFGKelly) January 23, 2016

Still, that's only one of the theories flying around the new character. There's another running one claiming Maz is actually a Jawa with a strong connection to the Skywalker family.

Hopefully, we'll find out more in the next films. Episode 8 will reach theaters on December 15, 2017.