Lupita Nyong’o is in talks to star in a new thriller from Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Entertainment.
The Hollywood Reporter confirmed that the 32-year-old Oscar-winner is in negotiations to join the cast of the sci-fi film titled Intelligent Life.
Production of the movie – written by Jurassic World director Colin Trevorrow and his collaborator Derek Connolly – is set to start in the summer.
THR also revealed Ava DuVernay (Selma) is being approached to direct and is expected to be offered the gig in the next 24 hours.
Intelligent Life is a reworking of an earlier project by Trevorrow and Connolly titled The Ambassador about a U.N. worker in a dystopian future who is employed to represent humankind in the event of alien contact.
Foray into sci-fi: Nyong’o, pictured out looking stylish in New York on Wednesday, also starred in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Photo: Felipe Ramales/Splash News
The man falls in love with a mysterious woman who turns out to be an alien.
If she accepts the role, Nyong’o will play the alien.
Frank Marshall is producing with Trevorrow as well as production banner Big Beach.
According to THR, the tone of the flick will be similar to Trevorrow’s 2012 indie flick Safety Not Guaranteed, which starred Aubrey Plaza, Mark Duplass and Jake Johnson.
The quirky comedy drama received rave reviews with a 90% score from critics on Rotten Tomatoes.
Intelligent Life won’t be Nyong’o’s first foray into sci-fi as she played the role of Maz Kanata in Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
The Mexico City born actress won an Academy Award in 2014 for best supporting actress in 12 years a Slave.
It was her first ever role in a feature film.
Coming up she has lent her voice to Disney’s The Jungle Book, which hits theatres April 15.