5 actors competing for the lead role in Star Wars: Episode VII

(Image credit: Facebook/Star Wars)

J.J. Abrams' quest to cast the next generation of Jedi for Star Wars: Episode VII is reportedly nearing its end. According to multiple sources at Variety, five young actors are currently battling to secure the film's lead role. They are:

* Jesse Plemons, of Friday Night Lights and Breaking Bad fame

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*John Boyega, who starred in Attack the Block

*Matthew James Thomas, a theater actor who had a supporting role in 2000's Billy Elliot

*Ray Fisher, who played Muhammad Ali in New York Theatre Workshop's Fetch Clay, Make Man last year

Specifics of the role remain unclear, but Variety says the character "is believed to be a Jedi apprentice." May the Force be with all of them.

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Scott Meslow is the entertainment editor for TheWeek.com. He has written about film and television at publications including The Atlantic, POLITICO Magazine, and Vulture.