12 Years a Slave star Lupita Nyong'o has been cast in Star Wars: Episode VII.
The Oscar-winning actress - who earned critical acclaim for playing tortured slave Patsey in 12 Years a Slave - has joined the eagerly anticipated sci-fi sequel along with Game of Thrones star Gwendoline Christie.
Producer and Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy said in a statement: "I could not be more excited about Lupita and Gwendoline joining the cast of Episode VII. It's thrilling to see this extraordinarily talented ensemble taking shape."
The two actresses join cast members old and new in the seventh Star Wars film, which is directed by J.J. Abrams and currently in production in Abu Dhabi.
Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew and Kenny Baker are all back for the new film.
They will be joined by newcomers John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Oscar Isaac, Andy Serkis, Max Von Sydow and Domhnall Gleeson.
Nyong'o shot to worldwide fame with her starring role in 12 Years a Slave. She is next set to voice a character in a live action adaptation of The Jungle Book.
Meanwhile, Christie is best known for playing the towering Brienne of Tarth in Game of Thrones. She recently signed up for a role in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2.
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