????Oscar-winning Kenyan actress Lupita Nyong’o has joined the cast of the new “Star Wars” movie, alongside the original stars of the legendary series, producers said on Monday. ????“Game of Thrones” star Gwendoline Christie will also appear in “Star Wars: Episode VII,” which began filming last month and is due for release in December next year. ????Nyong’o, who won the best supporting actress Academy Award in March for her role in the historical drama “12 Years a Slave,” had already been rumored to be joining the “Star Wars” cast. ????Her casting was confirmed on the new movie’s official website. ????“I could not be more excited about Lupita joining the cast of Episode VII,” said Kathleen Kennedy, president of Lucasfilm, which was founded by “Star Wars” creator George Lucas and is now owned by Walt Disney. ????Original cast members Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew and Kenny Baker will star in the new movie, scheduled for worldwide release on December 18, 2015. ????Nyong’o was born in March 1983. She is an actress and a film and music video director. After graduating from Hampshire College with a bachelor’s degree in film and theater studies, Nyong’o worked as a production assistant on several Hollywood films. In 2008 she made her acting debut with the short film “East River.” In 2009, she wrote, produced and directed the documentary film “In My Genes.” ????(SD-Agencies) | 