Lupita Nyong'o, Gwendoline Christie cast in 'Star Wars: Episode VII'

Fans wanting more female characters in the next "Star Wars" movie have just been granted their wish. Lucasfilm on Monday morning announced Academy Award winner Lupita Nyong'o and "Game of Thrones" actress Gwendoline Christie as the latest cast members of "Star Wars: Episode VII."

Lupita Nyong'o's character in the new movie has yet to be revealed. This year, her breakthrough performance in "12 Years a Slave" earned her an Academy Award for best supporting actress. Gwendoline Christie, who stars in "Game of Thrones" as Brienne of Tarth, is also cast to play a yet-to-be-named "Star Wars" character. She will also appear in "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2."

"I could not be more excited about Lupita and Gwendoline joining the cast of Episode VII," Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy said on the official StarWars.com website. "It's thrilling to see this extraordinarily talented ensemble taking shape."

This is great news, especially for fans who wondered whether there would be more female characters in the new "Star Wars" film considering how male-heavy the recently named cast had been. Actors John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, and Max von Sydow will also join the original stars of the saga -- Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew, and Kenny Baker -- in the new film.

"Star Wars: Episode VII" is being directed by J.J. Abrams from a screenplay by Lawrence Kasdan and Abrams. Kathleen Kennedy, Abrams, and Bryan Burk are producing. The legendary John Williams will return as the composer. The film opens worldwide on December 18, 2015.