The Wrap is reporting that Benicio Del Toro is in early talks to play the villain in the upcoming Star Wars Episode VIII, claiming that multiple insiders familiar with the casting process have reported it to the site. If Del Toro gets the role, it’s most likely that he would play the new trilogy’s equivalent of Emperor Palpatine, as Del Toro is well known for being menacing.
Famous Hollywood insider, El Mayimbe, went on Twitter and reported that Joaquin Phoenix passed on the role that Del Toro is currently in talks for.
Benicio Del Toro is also an Academy Award winner, winning Best Supporting Actor in 2000 for his role in Traffic. Del Toro’s latest blockbuster appearance was in Guardians of the Galaxy, where he played the mysterious being known as The Collector.
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