Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens doesn’t open until December, but it appears casting is already underway for Rian Johnson’s as-yet-un-subtitled Episode VIII.
The news is that Oscar-winner Benicio del Toro has been offered the villain role in the upcoming sequel. The actor, last seen in Inherent Vice, is no stranger to blockbusters, having appeared as The Collector in “Guardians of the Galaxy.” Like Star Wars, that was distributed by Disney so it appears they’re keeping things in the family.
del Toro was previously up for the villainous role of Khan in “The Force Awakens” director JJ Abrams’ previous film Star Trek Into Darkness. Indeed, if del Toro had been cast instead of eventual star Benedict Cumberbatch, we may had been mercifully spared the whole John Harrison ruse.
The current rogues gallery of villains confirmed for The Force Awakens include Adam Driver, Gwendoline Christie, Andy Serkis and Domhnall Gleeson. We’ll find out in December is del Toro’s casting spells doom for one or more of these characters.
Star Wars: Episode VIII will be released in May 2017. Episode VII is unleashed on December 18th this year.
Source: The Wrap