'Star Wars: Episode IX' eyes Keri Russell

"Star Wars: Episode IX" is eyeing Keri Russell. Sources tell Variety, the 42-year-old actor may join the JJ Abrams directorial, which he is also writing.

The actor-director duo has earlier worked together in 2006's "Mission: Impossible III".

The role calls for action-heavy fight scenes. Russell has previously performed stunts in projects like FX's "The Americans", "Mission: Impossible" and "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes".

Abrams and Lucasfilm executives met several potential actors for the role in the last two months and decided that Russell was the right choice before the Fourth of July holiday.

The director is likely to cast two more actors by the time the film begins production at the end of the month.

Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac and Adam Driver are expected to return.

This is Abrams' return as director - he helmed "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" (2015) and was asked to come back to direct the latest instalment after Colin Trevorrow exited following creative differences.