While we’re still in the thick of all the rumors and counter-rumors about The Force Awakens, casting for the following Star Wars installment, Episode VIII, seems to have already begun, and will shortly spur a whole new set of theories.The Hollywood Reporter announced today that Benicio Del Toro has supposedly been asked to play a villain role in the film. And it makes perfect sense — the gravely voice, the long, unnerving stare. Sign him up, please.
There is still virtually nothing known about the plot to The Force Awakens (an impressive feat, given how much it’s talked about), so it’s futile to speculate about what villain Del Toro could play in the following film — though surely many will.
It seems more than likely, at least according to THR, that the leads — Oscar Isaac, Daisy Ridley and John Boyega — will all return for Episode VIII. Rian Johnson — whose credits include Looper, Brick and Breaking Bad magnum opus Ozymandias — is confirmed to direct (while The Force Awakens is directed by J. J. Abrams).
Disney plans to release Episode VIII in May 2017.