The makers of Star Wars: Episode VIII have had conversations with Benicio Del Toro about a role as a new villain, but he is far, far away from joining the galaxy. So just because Star Wars: Episode VIII may have extended an offer to the Traffic star doesn’t necessarily mean that he’ll wind up accepting.
Advertisement
Starring Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew, Kenny Baker, John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, Max von Sydow, Lupita Nyong’o, Gwendoline Christie, Crystal Clarke, Pip Anderson, Christina Chong and Miltos Yerolemou, Star Wars: The Force Awakens will debut in theaters on December 18. Remember the Emperor was first introduced in The Empire Strikes Back, not A New Hope, so a late reveal would have precedence.
More on these stories below.
Though Variety also mentions Del Toro in their report, they add that the studios have also been talking to Joaquin Phoenix for the same villain role.
Del Toro is said to have an offer, although whether a deal can be made remains unclear.
Del Toro has shown an interest in genre projects in recent years, having played The Collector in Guardians of the Galaxy (also for Disney). Ram Bergman is producing the film with Lucasfilm’s Kathleen Kennedy.
Advertisement
And we don’t know much about Star Wars Episode VIII other than the fact that Rian Johnson wrote and will direct, with a planned release date of May 26, 2017. He was once up for the role of Khan in Star Trek Into Darkness before negotiations fell through, with Benedict Cumberbatch playing as the main villain.
