Benicio del Toro 'to play villain in Star Wars Episode VIII’
He would make a fantastic baddie!
Oscar winning actor Benicio del Toro is reportedly in the mix to play a villain in the eighth Star Wars movie.
According to separate sources quoted by Variety Magazine and The Wrap, the 48-year-old Puerto Rican star is in the “early stages” of negotiating a deal for the sci-fi movie.
Variety adds that fellow Puerto Rican born actor Joaquin Phoenix is also auditioning for the role.
Set for release in May 2017, Episode VIII is the follow-up to seventh instalment Star Wars: The Force Awakens, which hits cinemas at Christmas.
Daisy Ridley, John Boyega and Oscar Isaac, who also star in The Force Awakens, are expected to reprise their roles in Episode VIII, which will be directed by Rian Johnson.
The third of the sequels trilogy, Episode IX, will hit cinemas in 2019.
There will also be an offshoot called Rogue One coming out in 2016 and a Han Solo film getting a release in 2018.
Benicio del Toro won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his role as drug enforcement officer Javier Rodriguez in 2000 movie Traffic.
Among his many acclaimed acting credits are Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Snatch, Sin City, 21 Grams and Guardians of the Galaxy.