Lucasfilm made the official announcement today that Academy Award winner Lupita Nyong’o and Game of Thrones‘ Gwendoline Christie have joined the cast of Star Wars: Episode VII.
There was a bit of backlash following the first cast reveal in April regarding the relative lack of female leads (besides Carrie Fisher and newcomer Daisy Ridley). But news that additional roles were still to be revealed was quickly put out there to fight that fire.
Nyong’o’s addition does not come as a complete surprise. The 12 Years A Slave star has been on the Star Wars rumor radar for some now and it was reported in March that she had taken an official meeting with director J.J. Abrams.
The 6’3″ Christie, who has demonstrate her imposing and impressive warrior skills with a sword as Brienne of Tarth on HBO’s Game of Thrones is also an exciting addition to the cast.
Here is what StarWars.com had to say on the record:
Lupita Nyong’o joins the recently announced cast of Star Wars: Episode VII. This year, her breakthrough performance in 12 Years a Slave earned her an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.
Gwendoline Christie, currently starring in the hit television series Game of Thrones as Brienne of Tarth, has also been cast in the production. She can next be seen in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2.
“I could not be more excited about Lupita and Gwendoline joining the cast of Episode VII,” says Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy. “It’s thrilling to see this extraordinarily talented ensemble taking shape.”
Actors John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, and Max von Sydow will join the original stars of the Saga Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew, and Kenny Baker in the new film.
Star Wars: Episode VII is being directed by J.J. Abrams from a screenplay by Lawrence Kasdan and Abrams. Kathleen Kennedy, Abrams, and Bryan Burk are producing and John Williams returns as the composer. The movie opens worldwide on December 18, 2015.
The Empire also has a new threat this time all ready to unravel all the secrecy it possibly can: TMZ.
The gossip website obtained 45 photos from the Abu Dhabi Episode VII set, which is likely to have replaced Tunisia as the shooting location for Tatooine. We got an official glimpse from the set last week courtesy of Abrams, and these new images promise a welcome return to practical effects over CGI.
You can check out the TMZ photos HERE.
Star Wars: Episode VII is set to open on December 18, 2015, and stars Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew, Kenny Baker, Andy Serkis, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Oscar Isaac, Domhnall Gleeson, and Max von Sydow.
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