Just days after a shortlist of actors for the male lead in Star Wars: Episode VII surfaced, a new report suggests that writer/director J.J. Abrams has met with Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o for a female lead part.
Sources for The Hollywood Reporter said that the 12 Years A Slave actress met with the Star Trek Into Darkness director several weeks ago, before she took home an Oscar.
Nyong’o has only made one film, but that one role already earned her an Oscar and she’s become a favorite in Hollywood. She won Best Supporting Actress for her touching performance as the slave Patsey in 12 Years. She currently does not have a next part lined up, although she did have a role in Non-Stop with Liam Neeson.
THR notes that she is in the running for a role in Warner Bros.’ Pan and The Whole Truth with Daniel Craig.
It’s obviously not clear what part she would take as we still don’t have a synopsis for the new movie. There have been rumors that the script involves an offspring for Obi-Wan Kenobi, which would be a non-Caucasian part.
Earlier this week, it was reported that Breaking Bad’s Jesse Plemons, Attack of the Block’s John Boyega and Downton Abbey’s Ed Speleers are on the shortlist for male actors. Adam Driver is in talks for the villain part.
Episode VII is currently scheduled for December 2015.
image courtesy of ABC/Rick Rowell