According to Variety, Brit actor John Boyega (Attack
the Block, Imperial Dreams) is one of five actors who is currently being considered
for the lead role of a Jedi apprentice, in J.J.
Abrams’ upcoming Star Wars: Episode
VII, for Disney and Lucasfilm.

While the article
does state that the search for a lead is still going on, Boyega, along with Ed
Speleers (Downton Abbey), Jesse
Plemons, Matthew James Thomas, and Ray
Fisher have “moved to the top of the
list.”

In
Boyega’s favor is the fact that, according to the article, director Abrams has
been quoted as saying that he “wants to have a diversified cast” for
the film.

However, Disney
and Lucasfilm execs and creatives will also have their significant say as to whether the lead
will be played by “someone of a different ethnicity
from the previous Caucasian leads.”

Shooting is
expected to start sometime later this summer, for a previously scheduled Dec. 18, 2015 release.