Felicity Jones joins 'Star Wars' stand-alone movie

Los Angeles: 'The Theory of Everything' star Felicity Jones' will play the female lead in Lucasfilm and Disney's stand-alone 'Star Wars' film.

Jones earned a best actress Oscar for her role in the Stephen Hawking's biopic where she portrayed the role of his first wife.

Gareth Edwards is directing and Chris Weitz, who was just hired last week, is writing. Weitz is replacing Gary Whitta, who penned the first draft, said the Hollywood Reporter.

The makers are keeping the project under tight wraps but there are speculations that Aaron Paul and Edgar Ramirez are in the mix for the male lead. The movie is slated to release on December 16, 2016.