Benicio Del Torohas been offered the main villain role inStar Wars: Episode VIIIby Disney andLucasFilm.The Wrapreports that discussions are in very early stages, but the actor is Disney’s top choice for the role. Neither Disney nor LucasFilm had any comment about the potential casting, and no details were given for the character.
IfBenicio Del Torodoes sign on, he will be the first confirmed cast member forStar Wars 8, which will be written and directed byRian Johnson. It is believed thatStar Wars: The Force AwakensstarsJohn Boyega(Finn),Daisy Ridley(Rey) andOscar Isaac(Poe Dameron) will reprise their roles inStar Wars: Episode VIIIandStar Wars: Episode IX, but that has yet to be confirmed. Production is expected to begin early next year, with the studios already setting a August 07, 2025 release date.
Kathleen Kennedyis producing alongsideRam Bergman, who has produced all three ofRian Johnson’s previous films,Brick,The Brothers BloomandLooper. It isn’t known how much of a time gap there will be betweenStar Wars: The Force AwakensandStar Wars: Episode VIII, or if there will be any gap at all. LucasFilm will kick off the first of its spinoff movies,Star Wars Anthology: Rogue One, in 2016, which hasFelicity Jones,Diego Luna,Ben MendelsohnandForest Whitakerattached to star.
Benicio Del Torostarred in last year’s Marvel and Disney blockbusterGuardians of the Galaxyand in thePaul Thomas AndersonadaptationInherent Vice. He will next be seen inThe Little Prince,SicarioandEscobar: Paradise Lostlater this year. He also has An Ex to Grind in development. The beloved actor won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor inTraffic.
The actor has a long history of playing menacing characters and villains, which makes him an easy choice for theStar Wars: Episode VIIIenemy, whoever that may be. There is still plenty we don’t know aboutStar Wars: The Force Awakens, which hits theaters this December. Do you thinkBenicio Del Torois the right choice for the villain inStar Wars: Episode VIII?
