Two newcomers added to Star Wars:Episode VII cast

Filming is underway at Pinewood Studios on the new Stars Wars film, after wrapping in Abu Dhabi, and two new cast members, found by the international open call, were announced today by Disney.

They are Pip Andersen a 23 year old British professional free-runner from Taunton in Somerset, who will play Thomas, and Crystal Clarke, who has just graduated from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, who will play Rachel - although the character names may well change, both fit the original brief of being good-looking and athletic.

Crystal (represented by Tavistock Wood) was born in Belleville, New Jersey and has just graduated from RCS. She will appear in her first feature film The Moon and The Sun next year

Disney held an open casting call for the film last year in eleven cities across the UK and the US, which an estimated 37,000 attended, as well as another 30,000 sending applications in online.

LucasFilm president Kathleen Clarke said of the castings:

 "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.

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."