Lupita Nyong’o, the 31-year-old Mexican-Kenyan actress who won an Oscar for her performance in director Steve McQueen’s 12 Years a Slave, has met with American film and television producer JJ Abrams to discuss a potential role in his forthcoming film, Star Wars: Episode VII. It is rumoured that the role Nyong’o is being considered for is a descendent of Obi-Wan Kenobi.Production on the film is set to commence from mid-May to September 2014 and the film is due for release in December 2015.

A list of Hollywood stars have been attached to the production including the likes of Benedict Cumberbatch (The Hobbit: There and Back Again), Gary Oldman (The Dark Knight Rises), Michael Fassbender (12 Years a Slave), Alex Pettyfer (Magic Mike), Saoirse Ronan (Hanna) Michael B. Jordan (Chronicle), Ed Speleers (Downton Abbey), John Boyega (Half of a Yellow Sun), Jesse Plemons (Breaking Bad), Matthew James Thomas (Britannia High), Adam Driver (Girls) and Ray Fisher (Off-Broadway production: Fetch Clay, Make Man), though none have been confirmed for roles in the film.