The force is really going strong for Star Wars fans after two more exceptional actors were cast in Star Wars Episode VII today.

Following months of ongoing speculation, it has finally been confirmed that recent Oscar-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o will star in the hotly-anticipated seventh installment of the sci-fi saga.

The Kenyan-born star clinched the Best Supporting Actress Oscar earlier this year for her powerful role as the tragic cotton picker Patsey in Steve McQueen’s brutal award-winning drama 12 Years a Slave. Since then, she has briefly appeared in the Liam Neeson action-thriller Non-Stop.

The other lucrative signing is British actress Gwendoline Christie who is best known for her role as female knight Brienne in HBO’s renowned fantasy series Game of Thrones. She is also due to appear in the upcoming sequel of another successful film franchise, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay.

On the double coup, LucasFilm president Kathleen Kennedy said:

“I could not be more excited about Lupita and Gwendoline joining the cast of Episode VII. It’s thrilling to see this extraordinarily talented ensemble taking shape.”

The character details for Star Wars are not yet known so neither actresses details will be confirmed until later this year.

The pair join an already fascinating ensemble which includes original stars Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher as well as fellow newcomers John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Domnhall Gleeson, Oscar Isaac, Adam Driver, Andy Serkis and Max Von Sydow.

Star Wars: Episode VII will be released in cinemas on December 18th 2015.