The casting search for Star Wars: Episode VII has been huge, and if this casting rumor is accurate, Lupita Nyong’o may be close to signing.
Latino Review is saying they’ve learned that Lupita Nyong’o is very close to signing on for a role in Star Wars: Episode VII. They aren’t accurate on everything, but they have gotten some big scoops correct in the last few months. A more reputable publication, The Hollywood Reporter, adds that “sources say” talks are in place, but there is no word on if those sources are their own or not.
The report from Latino Review says Nyong’o has been reading for a role over the past month and that the role is not a role tied by family to any characters we’ve seen on screen so far. They say it sounds like she might be reading for the role of a Sith, the enemies of the heroic Jedi.
A female Sith would be a first in the episodic Star Wars films, and it would be great to see for numerous reasons. An actress with Nyong’o’s talents would be the right one to pull it off. There have, of course, been female Sith in the Star Wars expanded universe, but Episode VII will reportedly not borrow from those storylines or characters.
At the tail end of last month it was revealed that Adam Driver would play the lead villain in Star Wars: Episode VII. It was seemingly confirmed by his Girls co-star Lena Dunham, but Disney has yet to make an official announcement.
We learned earlier in the week that J.J. Abrams has a shortlist of actors to lead Episode VII, and it reportedly includes Ed Speleers, John Boyega, Jesse Plemons, Matthew James Thomas, and Ray Fisher.