Academy award-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o has landed a role in the next Star Wars film. 

The film’s earlier casting announcement was met with criticism for its lack of female roles. 

From Entertainment Weekly:

Nyong’o, 31, a graduate of Yale’s drama school, made her breakthrough in 12 Years a Slave last year as Patsy, the fearsomely powerful but agonizingly trapped field slave who forges a sisterly bond with the movie’s main character, the kidnapped free man Solomon Northup.

Ever since claiming the Oscar, the industry has been wondering which role she will take next — although there have long been rumors that Nyong’o was under consideration for Star Wars. Many industry-watchers have speculated that the film business might be at a loss for how to utilize the actress. EW’s own Mark Harris even asked, “Why can’t Lupita Nyong’o find a role worthy of her?“

Read more at Entertainment Weekly

Nyong’o will join stars Harrison Forn, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill and Peter Mayhew in the J.J. Abrams-produced-and-directed film. Star Wars: Episode VII is slated to be released in December 2015.

No word on what role Nyong’o will play in the film.

Thoughts on the casting?

Do you agree that Hollywood doesn’t really know what role to place Lupita in?

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