Game of Thrones swordsman joins Star Wars film

Actor Miltos Yerolemou, best known for his role in the first series of fantasy drama Game of Thrones, has joined the cast of Star Wars: Episode VII.

He played expert and athletic swordsman Syrio Forel in Thrones and has taken on several other parts which involve sword fighting during his career.

His extensive experience will inevitably lead to speculation that he may use a lightsabre in the film.

However, his character in Star Wars is not thought to be a major one.

Yerolemou has appeared on stage with the Royal Shakespeare Company, and has recently been filming a role in a BBC adaptation of Hilary Mantel's booker prize winning novel Wolf Hall.

He is the latest member of the Game of Thrones cast to join Star Wars. In June it was announced that Gwendoline Christie who plays Brienne of Tarth would have a role in the next instalment of the sci-fi saga.

Lucasfilm declined to comment on Yerolemou's casting.

Star Wars: Episode VII has recently resumed filming at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire after a hiatus of a few weeks following an on-set accident where Harrison Ford, who plays Han Solo, broke his leg.

As well as Ford, Mark Hamill, who plays Luke Skywalker, and Carrie Fisher - Princess Leia - have returned to reprise their roles from the original trilogy.

They are joined by newcomers including British actors Daisy Ridley and John Boyega.

Star Wars: Episode VII will be released in December 2015.