Star Wars Episode VII Casts Lupita Nyong'o And Gwendoline Christie

Academy Award-winning actress Lupita Nyong'o and Game of Thrones' Gwendoline Christie have been added to the cast of Star Wars Episode VII. Nyong'o won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress at this year's Oscar Awards ceremony for her performance in 12 Years a Slave. Christie plays Brienne of Tarth on HBO's Game of Thrones and will also appear 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." Following the first casting announcement for Star Wars Episode VII some criticism was levied at the film for only featuring two female characters – Carrie Fisher returning as Princess Leia and Daisy Ridley in an unconfirmed role - in a large, ensemble cast. Word later circulate that there was at least one major female role that was still unannounced. Rumors began circulating that the role would be played by Nyong'o when she was seen speaking to director J.J. Abrams at the Oscars. Nyong'o and Christie join a cast that already includes John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, and Max von Sydow, as well as the returning stars of the original trilogy, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew, and Kenny Baker. Star Wars Episode VII will come to theaters December 18, 2015.