Episode 8 is due in cinemas in December, and will introduce long-time fans to a raft of new characters.
Among them will be Vice Admiral Holdo, played by Laura Dern – a character that could identify as LGBT+.
The evidence that some fans have picked up on is in new novel Leia: Princess of Alderaan by Claudia Gray, during which a brief exchange between Leia and Holdo alludes to the latter’s sexual preferences.
They’re discussing their preferred types of partner when Holdo calls Leia’s heterosexuality “limiting”.
As reported by Screenrant, she says: “‘A pair of pretty dark eyes… Or more than a pair, if you’re into Grans. Or Aqualish, or Talz. Or even –‘
“‘That’s all right!’ Leia said through laughter. ‘It’s just humanoid males for me.’
“’Really? That feels so limiting.’
“’Thank goodness it’s a big galaxy.’”
It’s a brief moment, of course – and there’s every possibility that the subject won’t even come up at all on-screen in Episode 8.
But even so, just this very vague allusion towards an LGBT+ character is a big step for the long-running franchise.
There’s been a lot of interest, too, in a possible same-sex relationship between John Boyega’s Finn and Oscar Isaac’s Poe, after the two struck up a dynamic friendship in Episode 7.
There is, however, no evidence just yet that anything will develop between them in The Last Jedi.
Star Wars: Episode 8 is out in the UK on December 14.