Lupita Nyong'o in the 67th Annual Cannes Film Festival on May 15, 2014 in Cannes, France. (2014 Getty Images)
Only three months ago Lupita Nyong’o was on top of the world after winning an Oscar, and now she is going to a galaxy far, far away.
The Mexican-Kenyan actress and the Walt Disney Co. announced Monday that she would be joining the cast of the highly anticipated “Star Wars: Episode VII.”
“I can finally say it out loud and proud: I'm going to a galaxy far far away!” the 31-year-old actress posted on Instagram with a photo of the franchise’s logo.
Nyong’o, who became a breakthrough star with her award-winning performance in “12 Years a Slave,” will be joined by Gwendoline Christine, who is best known for playing the hulking Brienne of Tarth on HBO’s “Game of Thrones.”
“I could not be more excited about Lupita and Gwendoline joining the cast of Episode VII,” said LucasFilm president Kathleen Kennedy in a statement. “It’s thrilling to see this extraordinarily talented ensemble taking shape.”
Their roles in the film have not been announced.
The main cast of “Episode VII,” announced last month, includes members of the original cast and newcomers Oscar Issac, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega and Andy Serkis. The lack of women had raised some eyebrows.
Production is underway in Abu Dhabi for the film, which is being directed by J.J. Abrams. It's slated to open in December 2015.
Pictures from the set, obtained by TMZ, have already leaked. The photos, though, don’t give much insight into the film’s plot, but consider this a warning: one notable image is of a giant alien creature that’s reportedly manned by five men crammed inside its belly, TMZ reported.
According to previous reports, producers intend to use less CGI in the new movie, relying heavily on practical effects like in the original trilogy.
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