Top of the Lake season 2: Game of Thrones' Gwendoline Christie joins cast

The Star Wars actor will appear in the mystery drama alongside Elisabeth Moss

Gwendoline Christie is joining the cast of 'Top of the Lake' (Getty)

Starring in one of the world's biggest TV shows and one of cinema's most successful franchises has probably provided Gwendoline Christie with the freedom to pick and choose her roles.

The project she's opted for is season two of Top of the Lake, the New Zealand-set drama from The Piano director Jane Campion. She will join the cast alongside the series' lead Elisabeth Moss (Mad Men).

Earlier this year, Moss revealed that the second season is scheduled to commence filming this spring. No plot details are currently known. “I’ve read three scripts so far and I’m incredibly excited where Jane is taking the story and the character,” she told Deadline.

Season one of the mystery series followed Detective Robin Griffin (Moss) and her investigation into the disappearance of a pregnant 12-year-old girl; the actress won a Golden Globe for the role in 2014.

Christie stars in HBO's Game of Thrones as Brienne of Tarth and appeared in JJ Abrams' Star Wars film The Force Awakens as Captain Phasma. She will reprise the role for the as-of-yet untitled Episode VIII.

Game of Thrones returns to Sky Atlantic for a sixth season in April, while Top of the Lake season two will be shown on the BBC in 2017.