12 Years a Slave actress Lupita Nyong'o rumoured to be female lead in new Star Wars film

The Oscar-winning actress is believed to have met with director JJ Abrams

The force is strong within you: Lupita Nyong'o could be playing the lead in the next 'Star Wars' film

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Lupita Nyong’o could be starring in the new Star Wars film after meeting with director JJ Abrams, according to reports.

The 12 Years a Slave actress, who recently won Best Supporting Actress at the Oscars, is said to have met with Abrams to discuss the female lead in Star Wars: VII.

Sources told the Hollywood Reporter that a meeting between the pair took place shortly before the Oscars ceremony earlier this month.

Nyong’o is a relative newcomer to the Hollywood scene and is currently starring in action thriller Non-Stop alongside Liam Neeson and Julianne Moore.

Previously, she has worked behind the camera on the The Constant Gardener and starred in Kenyan television series Suga.

Last month Variety said that Girls’ star Adam Driver could be taking on the role of a villain in the next instalment of the film franchise. Driver’s character is described to be ‘in the vein’ of Darth Vader.

There are several actors in the running for the male lead, including Ed Speelers from Downton Abbey and Breaking Bad’s Jesse Plemons.

The Star Wars franchise was bought by Disney in 2012 and the company is creating a trilogy of films, with Star Wars: VII slated for release in 2015.

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