Suvudu Universe

Rumors have surfaced that soon to be Oscar nominated actor Chiwetel Ejiofor is either in the running for a role in Episode VII or has already been cast in the film.

Ejiofor who is receiving intense positive critical buzz for his performance as Solomon Northup in the new film 12 Years a Slave, is a 36 year old British actor. In addition to 12 Years a Slave which premiered 11/1/13, the drama Half of a Yellow Sun (11/13/13) and Z for Zachariah which is in pre-production.

According to The Times‘ reporter Rhys Blakely:

The British actor Chiwetel Ejiofor, front-runner in this year’s Oscar race, is sitting in the lobby of J. J. Abrams’ office. If you’re a sci-fi fan, this might be very big news indeed…

He looks at me, dead-eyed. “I can’t discuss casting,” he says. “But he’s(Chiwetel Ejiofor) a very talented gentleman.”

In being rumored for Episode VII, Ejiofor joins fellow black actors David Oyelowo and Michael B. Jordan. Given the difference in age it doesn’t seem likely that all three would be up for the same part, but perhaps Ejiofor and Oyelowo could be competing for the same role.

It also raises the interesting possibility of having a much more ethnically diverse cast than we saw in the largely white and largely male human population of the original trilogy. It also raises the interesting possibility that we could be seeing a planet such as Haruun Kal with a large population of dark skinned human characters. We have seen a great deal of diversity in terms of alien species in Star Wars, but we have not seen a great deal of human diversity in the franchise.

Diversity issues aside Ejiofor, Oyelowo and Jordan are all very talented actors and I would certainly be excited by the addition of any or all three to Episode VII.

SOURCE: The Times, Bleeding Cool and Jedi News.