Academy Award winner Lupita Nyong'o and Game of Thrones actress Gwendoline Christie will be joining the cast of Star Wars: Episode VII, Lucasfilm announced Monday.
Nyong'o won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Patsey in 12 Years a Slave, while Christie is best known for her role in Game of Thrones as Brienne of Tarth.
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Star Wars: Episode VII is being directed by J.J. Abrams, and co-written by both Abrams and Lawrence Kasdan, the latter of whom previously co-wrote The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. It has a planned release date of Dec. 18, 2015.