'Star Wars Episode 7' Cast Gains 2 New Unknown Actors: Crystal Clark and Brit Pip Andersen

By Vincent Funaro, Christian Post Reporter Tuesday, July 08, 2014

The cast of the upcoming "Star Wars Episode 7" gained two new unknown actors this week.

Crystal Clarke, an American stage actress, and Brit Pip Andersen, a parkour expert, will join veterans Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher for the next installment of the immensely popular sci-fi epic.

The two were discovered during an open casting call held last year by Lucasfilm in 11 cities across the U.S. and U.K. Clarke and Anderson were chosen from 30,000 actors and actresses.

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Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy commented on them joining the cast in a recent statement.

"The Star Wars universe has always been about discovering and nurturing young talent and in casting Episode VII we wanted to remain absolutely faithful to this tradition," she said. "We are delighted that so many travelled to see us at the open casting calls and that we have been able to make Crystal and Pip a part of the film."

The cast will also be joined by Carrie Fisher's daughter Billie Lourd, who will play a younger flashback version of her mother's character Princess Leia.

Director J.J. Abrams chose Lourd, an aspiring actress, due to her resemblance of her mother. Lourd will even have scenes in the film where she will sport the classic Leia-style buns, according to a report from the Daily Mail.

Lourd is the daughter of Fisher and entertainment agent Bryan Lourd.

Abrams father Gerald and father-in law James H. McGrath will also appear in the film making it even more of a family affair for the cast.

Harrison Ford broke his leg a few weeks ago and is recovering. The shooting schedule has been altered to accommodate him as all his scenes have been pushed back to the end of filming.