Female Characters from the Expanded Universe for Episode VII?

For months we’ve seen persistent rumors of a female protagonist for Episode VII. Alyssa Rosenberg is optimistic, too. In her article at ThinkProgress she considers existing Expanded Universe characters who might fit the bill.

Who’s her number one choice?

1. Jaina Solo: The most obvious way, and one of the coolest, to pass the torch from the generation of actors who defined Star Wars to their characters’ children. Jaina Solo is Han Solo and Leia Organa’s daughter, and in the Expanded Universe, she grows up to be an incredibly talented fighter pilot, Jedi Knight, and half of a hot will-they-or-won’t-they romance with the descendant of an Imperial officer. There’s a ton to be done there, and a natural bridge for small roles for Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher, as well as Mark Hamill as Jaina’s famous uncle.

Rosenberg also suggests Tenel Ka, Mara, Daeshara’cor, and Tionne.

Jaina Solo is my number one choice too, of course, and she’s the perfect generational fit if the Sequel Trilogy mirrors the Prequel Trilogy alongside the Original Trilogy. But hopefully we could see other great strong female heroines from the EU in supporting roles, as well, like Mara Jade Skywalker and Tyria Sarkin Tainer.