'Star Wars: Episode VII' cast adds Lupita Nyong'o and Gwendoline Christie

It turns out that the rumors were true. Star Wars: Episode VII casting really wasn’t finished in April. Lupita Nyong’o, who had long been linked to the project, has joined the cast, as has Game of Thrones actress Gwendoline Christie.

Disney and Lucasfilm made the official announcement today at StarWars.com.

“I could not be more excited about Lupita and Gwendoline joining the cast of Episode VII,” Lucasfilm president and producer Kathleen Kennedy said in a statement. “It's thrilling to see this extraordinarily talented ensemble taking shape.”

This is the first major on-screen role for Nyong’o since she won her Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for 12 Years A Slave. However, she is linked to a role in Disney’s The Jungle Book live-action feature, but would only be voicing an animal in that project.

As for Christie, this is the latest big project for her. She’s currently on Game of Thrones as Brienne of Tarth and was recently cast in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2.

The rest of the Episode VII cast was confirmed back on April 29, with Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac and John Boyega among the cast. Daisy Ridley was previously the only new female member of the cast.

Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill and Harrison Ford are also returning to the franchise.

Nyong’o’s casting isn’t a complete surprise, since she’s been linked to Episode VII for months. There have been unconfirmed rumors that she may be playing a long-lost daughter of Obi-Wan Kenobi’s.

Episode VII, which will be directed by J.J. Abrams, opens on Dec. 18, 2015. On set photos from Abu Dhabi leaked today, as well.

image courtesy of INFphoto.com

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