Star Wars Episode 7: Deleted Scene of Maz Kanata Gives Her Role Significance

Star Wars Episode 8 is currently under production at Pinewood Studios in the United Kingdom. News broke recently that master puppeteer Frank Oz would be working within Pinewood Studios as he's been confirmed to be currently in the United Kingdom for work purposes. But the most interesting aspect of Star Wars doesn't have to do with the possibility of Frank Oz returning to puppet and voice Yoda. New photos provided by Rian Johnson, show Johnson gearing up to film Lupita Nyong'O in her motion capture attire as her character of Maz Kanata in Star Wars Episode 8. We only witnessed Maz Kanata in a small instance during Star Wars Episode 7: The Force Awakens. However, her role is likely to be expanded in Episode 8, as well as her history being discussed.

Maz Kanata introduced to the Star Wars universe.

A new revelation has been reached on the status of Maz Kanata in the Star Wars universe. We're introduced to the alien Maz Kanata in Star Wars Episode 7 as Han Solo, Rey, and Finn arrive at her temple on planet, Takodana seeking Maz's help. Before she can help them get out of the star system, away from the First Order, the First Order attacks Takodana. Maz gives Finn the lightsaber she found, previously belonging to Luke Skywalker. After that scene, Finn leaves the temple to fight the First Order stormtroopers attacking. We no longer see Maz Kanata in the film. However, a deleted scene from Episode 7 released in the Star Wars Episode 7 Blu-Ray shows Maz Kanata in action after her last scene.

Deleted Scene from Star Wars Episode 7 reveals Maz Kanata's true nature.

After Finn leaves the temple to assist in the fight against the First Order, Maz Kanata is confronted by a group of Stormtroopers. Without hesitation or struggle, Maz uses the Force to stop an entire squad of Stormtroopers. The scene draws up many questions as to who Maz Kanata is. We know now that she's a Force-wielder and also has intimate knowledge of the Force and past events in the universe. It's even presumed that she's a character of vast age, which means with the implication of Maz Kanata being a Force-wielder, it's plausible that she is a Jedi. Her age is a huge implication of being a Jedi because of her ability to prevent her own death in regards to the passing of time. Yoda is the only known Force-wielder/Jedi capable of that feat. Now with Maz Kanata revealing herself to be a Force-wielder and possible Jedi, it's more than plausible to assume her role in Star Wars: Episode 8 will expand to see Maz as more of a featured character in the film. Star Wars Episode 8 just recently began filming which could lend credence to the theory of Lupita Nyong'O filming for an extended length of time based on her expanded role in future Star Wars films, including Star Wars Episode 8 requiring her character of Maz Kanata to be involved in more scenes in Episode 8 over Episode 7.

Star Wars: Episode 8 is still untitled but has a release date set for December 15, 2017. Full cast and credits provided by IMDB. Star Wars Episode 8 is directed by Rian Johnson, starring Oscar Isaac as Poe Dameron, Daisy Ridley as Rey, John Boyega as F1NN, Adam Driver as Kylo Ren, and Lupita Nyong'O as Maz Kanata.