casting

Lupita Nyong’o in the Mix for Star Wars VII Lead

HOLLYWOOD, CA - MARCH 02: Actress Lupita Nyong'o poses in the press room at the 86th annual Academy Awards at Dolby Theatre on March 2, 2014 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jason LaVeris/WireImage)
Photo: Jason LaVeris/WireImage

Seeing as how Lupita Nyong’o is an ethereal space princess — no, really, that’s what they engraved on her Oscar — it was only a matter of time before her name was thrown into the mix for the female lead in Star Wars Episode VII. (Some of us have been waiting for this for ages, people.) Anyway, THR reports that Nyong’o did indeed meet with director J.J. Abrams just before she won her Oscar for 12 Years a Slave; she was also among the contenders for Tiger Lily in Pan (a part that went to Rooney Mara), and is said to be “in the running for a role in The Whole Truth, a courtroom drama starring Daniel Craig.” Ugh, that one sounds boring. Let Lupita cavort in outer space!

Lupita Nyong’o in the Mix for Star Wars VII Lead