Oscar-Winning Actress Lupita Nyong'o has joined the cast of "Star Wars: Episode VII" together with Gwendoline Christie, best known for her role as Brienne of Tarth in "Game of Thrones." According to CNN News, Nyong'o posted a photo of "Star Wars" logo in Instagram that she captioned, "I can finally say it out loud and proud: I'm going to a galaxy far far away!"
"I could not be more excited about Lupita and Gwendoline joining the cast of Episode VII," Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy said in a press release. "It's thrilling to see this extraordinarily talented ensemble taking shape."
The Academy Award best supporting actress for her breakthrough performance in the film "12 Years a Slave" is announced to be part of the J.J. Abrams-directed film last Monday. Reportedly, Nyong'o and Christie will be part of the already announced cast of John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, and Max von Sydow. Former stars of the Star Wars movies Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher will be reprising their 1977 roles from the original hit film.
According to Word and Film, the movie is set to take place thirty years after the events of "Star Wars: Episode VI: Return of the Jedi." Main characters Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher), and Han Solo (Harrison Ford) are all set to return, as are supporting characters Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew), R2-D2 (Kenny Baker), and C-3PO (Anthony Daniels). Disney hasn't released any information yet about the role that Nyong'o or the other actors will be assigned.
Nyong'o was honored Saturday, June 7, at the 2014 Maui Film Festival with the Rainmaker Award which pays tribute a film artist whose eclectic choices and charismatic performances encourage us all to expand our definition of what it means to be human, ET Online reported.
Aside from her acting awards, Nyong'o received several citations from other well-known publications. People magazine named her their "Most Beautiful Woman" of 2014. She was also named one of CNN's Fresh Faces for 2014 and cosmetic company Lancome chose her to represent their brand.
