Hot News: British actor John Boyega is set to appear in Star Wars VII - but who is he?

The relative unknown will be joining veteran Star Wars cast members Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher



Rex John beat off stiff competition for a 'main role' in the latest Star Wars flick

After month of anticipation, the cast list of Stars Wars VII has finally been announced.

And the roll call is a mixture of familiar faces, like Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher, as well as a few 'who?' moments.

One surprise is 22-year-old British actor John Boyega, best known for the 2011 film Attack the Block, about a teenage gang defending their neighbourhood from aliens.

So, what do we know about him?

John was born in Peckham, London, to Nigerian parents. He caught the acting bug early and made a compelling appearance as a leopard in a primary school play when he was five.

The new cast of Star Wars VII make small talk

He went on to study acting at the Identity Drama School in Hackney and won roles in productions with the National and Tricycle Theatres before his breakthrough role in Attack the Block.

The cult film helped launch his career and he went on to star in 2012 film My Murder, gangster movie Imperial Dreams earlier this year and is set to appear in the upcoming season of 24, called 24: Live Another Day.

John is rumoured to have bagged a 'main role' in Star Wars VII, and is thought to have beaten off competition from the likes of Breaking Bad's Jesse Plemons and Downton Abbey's Ed Speleers.

He'll be the first black lead in the series, if you don't count James Earl Jones who voiced Darth Vader.

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