Benicio Del Toro Confident He'll Play Villain In STAR WARS: EPISODE VIII

Benicio Del Toro Confident He'll Play Villain In STAR WARS: EPISODE VIII

After The Force Awakens, J.J. Abrams is stepping back to let Looper director Rian Johnson take the reigns for Star Wars: Episode VIII. Not much is known about Episode VIII (or VII) other than the fact that Benicio Del Toro is being eyed for the villain.

By MarkJulian - Aug 14, 2015 06:08 AM EST
Filed Under: Star Wars
Source: ET

Benicio Del Toro Star Wars Episode VIII


Guardians of the Galaxy actor Benicio Del Toro may go from playing The Collector to Sith Lord in Rian Johnson's  Star Wars: Episode VIII.  Speaking to ET, Del Toro confirmed an earlier report from The Wrap that he is indeed in contention to play the villain in Episode VIII.  "I can’t tell you much about it but I think that it might happen. It looks like it’s gonna happen so I’m very excited.  I can’t talk too much about it. The script is hard to get. They told me they’d cut my finger if I talk about it.  I saw the original [Star Wars] when it came out and it marked me.  I was impressed by the film and by the characters and by the story and the message."

After the report from The Wrap surfaced, Variety also reported that Lucasfilm/Disney were also meeting with Joaquin Phoenix for the role but if Del Toro is to be believed, it looks as if the role is his for the taking.  Could Del Toro's role in Episode VIII have something to do with the mysterious Knights of Ren? Maybe he's Kylo Ren's superior?

Episode VIII will be released in North American theaters on May 26, 2017.
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Nadj76
Nadj76 - 8/14/2015, 7:21 AM
Not a bad choice.
ColonelSanders
ColonelSanders - 8/14/2015, 7:24 AM
He'd kill it. Great actor!
0bstreperous
0bstreperous - 8/14/2015, 7:25 AM
Taking about it is what got Asa. Butterfield fired
FriendORFaux
FriendORFaux - 8/14/2015, 7:25 AM
Talk about it anyway!!! What's so special about having 10 fingers anway, Benicio??

Minty
Minty - 8/14/2015, 7:30 AM
This news... it's...

Starfox
Starfox - 8/14/2015, 7:33 AM
FriendORFaux
FriendORFaux - 8/14/2015, 7:34 AM
@Minty Challenge?

GreenLantern519
GreenLantern519 - 8/14/2015, 7:35 AM
I'd bet that he's part of the Knights of Ren. I saw a video on youtube that theorized Kylo-Ren would be a Prince Zuko type character and an anti-hero who is at first a bad guy, but kind of teeters the line between ally and foe throughout the series. I think that would be way more interesting than another Skywalker/Solo gone bad and needing to bring him back to the light.
FilmDork1221
FilmDork1221 - 8/14/2015, 7:37 AM
I'm still hoping that the Collector returns for GotG... he was so good in that role
Fogs
Fogs - 8/14/2015, 7:41 AM
That would be awesome! He's a great actor, despite having a shitty head in real life.
slickrickdesigns
slickrickdesigns - 8/14/2015, 7:43 AM
and Chris Pratt for Young Han Solo film!!!!
JorL5150
JorL5150 - 8/14/2015, 7:53 AM
IS there a street in cleveland thats not bombed out?!
Starfox
Starfox - 8/14/2015, 8:09 AM
@DrDoom

I Agree. Eva Green or Marion Cotillard would be my picks.

Maybe even Alexandra Daddario
dubjon
dubjon - 8/14/2015, 8:15 AM
Just... Do it!!!

Indy
Indy - 8/14/2015, 8:17 AM
Awesome great actor!
spidey1994
spidey1994 - 8/14/2015, 8:18 AM
Give this man a red lightsaber!!
Asmodeus
Asmodeus - 8/14/2015, 8:19 AM
@slickrickdesigns Pratt is older than Ford was in 1977. How could he possibly be cast to play the young Han Solo? I am sure it will be someone in their 20ties. He would be a great Solo but really only for a post Jedi era film.
BestAtWhatIDo
BestAtWhatIDo - 8/14/2015, 8:19 AM
Eva Green would SLAY as a Sith lord. I was hoping Lupita Nyong'o would be a Sith, but it looks like she's an alien ally. Benicio was a highlight of Guardians - he clearly has a flair for genre work and fits a fantasy universe nicely. I wonder how he would fit in, though, if Andy Serkis is already the "big bad." Would be a shame to waste Del Toro in a supporting role.
slickrickdesigns
slickrickdesigns - 8/14/2015, 8:21 AM
Why couldn't Chris Pratt be in a Han Solo movie?!? You know actors play characters above and below their actual ages... You think every high school movie stars high school kids??
slickrickdesigns
slickrickdesigns - 8/14/2015, 8:25 AM
Make it happen Disney!

NeoBaggins
NeoBaggins - 8/14/2015, 8:45 AM
He's worked with Joe Johnston twice. Maybe what's left of Johnston's Padawan days with Lucas and Spielberg has rubbed off on him to give him that authentic STAR WARS presence.
sKeemAn
sKeemAn - 8/14/2015, 8:58 AM
I love this guy. He's awesome. So wil they have 3 separate villains in this new trilogy? One thing I've always liked about Star Wars is how the main villain is in the shadows
blackandyellow
blackandyellow - 8/14/2015, 9:37 AM
These new Star Wars movies sound so bad. A pile of garbage wrapped in a blanket of shit.
NovaCorpsFan
NovaCorpsFan - 8/14/2015, 9:39 AM
@blackandyellow
Topped with manure, and drowned in a vat of sewage.
blackandyellow
blackandyellow - 8/14/2015, 9:42 AM
@novacorpsfan

I like your style.

THEDARKKNIGHT1939
THEDARKKNIGHT1939 - 8/14/2015, 9:45 AM
The Collector is in my top 5 worst MCU characters.
NovaCorpsFan
NovaCorpsFan - 8/14/2015, 9:57 AM
@blackandyellow
Me too.
Asmodeus
Asmodeus - 8/14/2015, 10:15 AM
@slickrickdesigns because the LucasFilm pres says they are aiming for Solo in his 20ties no way the actor who plays him is almost 40. Maybe maybe late 20ties or early 30ties but I seriously doubt it. If the movie is a smash they would probably do a whole bunch of Han Solo movies so they will want someone that can play the role in the long term.

I love Pratt but as my good friend Ser Meryn is known to say:
Danbojohnj
Danbojohnj - 8/14/2015, 11:40 AM
Not my favorite actor,sometime good,other times hammy.
DarkModeDan
DarkModeDan - 8/14/2015, 2:15 PM
@GreenLantern519

Oh man, I love that theory!

Really hope it happens...

marvel72
marvel72 - 8/14/2015, 4:37 PM
He'd make a great Sith Lord but I'm still waiting for Darth Talon.

bropous
bropous - 8/14/2015, 4:44 PM
Er, uh, @Mark_Julian: It's "reins", not "reigns".
marvel72
marvel72 - 8/14/2015, 5:06 PM
@thekrazyness

Welcome to the mad house,Its got more crazies than Arkham Asylum,plenty of flame wars.Your Avatar looks alright to me,if that's the image you are going for.
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