British/Nigerian actor John Boyega who starred in the Nigerian epic Half of a Yellow Sun, the cult British film Attack the Block and recently wrapped up a recurring role on the Fox series “24: Live Another Day along with fellow Nigerian/American Star Gbenga Akinnagbe as beaten follow actors “Downton Abbey’s Ed Speleers, Jesse Plemons, Matthew James Thomas and Ray Fisher to a leading Jedi role in the upcoming J.J. Abrams Star Wars: Episode VII.”
Boyega went through several months of a very vigorous casting process to get the role with a Hollywood source saying JJ Abrams wanted to have a more diversified cast, which helped.
Boyega will join the other more experienced cast members of Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew, Andy Serkis and Kenny Baker in the film.
Star Wars Episode VII” is scheduled to begin shooting in a few weeks at London’s Pinewood Studios.
