( CNN ) -- It continues to be the year of Lupita Nyong ' o . The Oscar-winning actress has joined the cast of `` Star Wars : Episode VII , '' it was announced on Monday . Also joining the J.J. Abrams-directed film cast is Gwendoline Christie , best known for her role as Brienne of Tarth in `` Game of Thrones . '' `` I could not be more excited about Lupita and Gwendoline joining the cast of Episode VII , '' Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy said in a press release . `` It 's thrilling to see this extraordinarily talented ensemble taking shape . '' The two will join the already announced cast of John Boyega , Daisy Ridley , Adam Driver , Oscar Isaac , Andy Serkis , Domhnall Gleeson , and Max von Sydow . Former stars of the franchise Mark Hamill , Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher will be reprising their 1977 roles from the original , hit film . Following the announcement Nyong ' o tweeted `` I can finally say it out loud and proud : I 'm going to a galaxy far far away ! '' along with an Instagram picture of the `` Star Wars '' logo . This year Nyong ' o won a best supporting actress Academy Award for her breakthrough performance in the film `` 12 Years a Slave . '' She was also named one of CNN 's Fresh Faces for 2014 and People magazine 's 2014 most beautiful person . Lupita , a Cinderella for everybody . Lupita named People 's most beautiful person of 2014 .
Nyong ' o 's casting was announced later . ` ` Game of Death '' star also was cast . Nyong ' o tweeted the good news .