Yesterday sources at Variety released a story speculating that Benicio Del Toro could play the role of a villain in “Star Wars: Episode VIII.”
Casting for Disney and Lucasfilm’s “Star Wars: Episode VIII” is already in motion, as Benicio Del Toro has been offered the role of the villain in the upcoming sequel, sources tell Variety.
Daisy Ridley, John Boyega and Oscar Isaac, who will first be seen in “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” bowing this Christmas, are all expected to return, with Rian Johnson helming the pic.
Currently much of what we know about this years Star Wars: Episode VII is still shrouded in mystery, so it may be a bit of a leap to start the rumor mill for the film to follow. It would, however, give a great lift to the franchise to have the Oscar winner in a leading role. Benicio Del Toro is loved for his roles in many of his films including “The Usual Suspects,” “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas,” “Snatch,” and “Traffic.” An out-of-this-world role he most recently wet his science fiction chops with was as The Collector in Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy,” so maybe this relatively small role was practice or a transition into an even more vast galaxy.
One of the criticisms “Star Wars: Episode VII” has garnered is the lack of star power they are bringing to the new characters. With the exception of Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, and Carrie Fisher’s classic roles there will not be much familiarity in the franchise’s new faces. This, in my opinion, has up-side potential to the lay the groundwork for a new generation of stars to be born, but I don’t think anyone can go wrong casting Benicio Del Toro. With eyebrows like his, he would fit perfectly into the role of a villain in a “Galaxy Far Far Away”.