Producers confirmed the addition of the Kenyan star, who claimed Best Supporting Actress for her performance in 12 Years a Slave at this year’s Academy Awards, on the Star Wars website.
It has also been announced that Gwendoline Christie, best known for playing the warrior Brienne of Tarth in the television series Game of Thrones, will star in the newest rendition of the famous sci-fi saga.
Kathleen Kennedy, the President of Lucasfilm which was founded by Star Wars creator George Lucas said, “I could not be more excited about Lupita and Gwendoline joining the cast of Episode VII.”
“It’s thrilling to see this extraordinarily talented ensemble taking shape.”
It is not yet known what roles the duo will play in the film with details being kept firmly under wraps.
While Nyong’o has had a meteoric rise to fame through her acclaimed film debut and long been touted for a spot in the Star Wars production, the opportunity will build on Christie’s relatively unknown cinema presence, with the British-born actress also featuring in the next two instalments of The Hunger Games series.
Directed by J.J. Abrams and due for release in December next year, the movie will feature a combination of original cast members and newcomers including Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew and Kenny Baker from the original production and John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, and Max von Sydow.
