Benicio Del Toro Confirms Role in Star Wars: Episode VIII

Puerto Rican actor/producer Benicio Del Toro is in Spain promoting his new movie A Perfect Day, and during an interview with one local radio station, the actor seemed to confirm that he will in fact be in Star Wars: Episode VIII. Del Toro also semi-revealed that his character he is a villain, and that filming begins in March of 2016. The entire interview can be heard — in Spanish — at RAC 1, but for the purposes of getting the the important bits, we’ve got a translation from Star Wars 7 News.

"Interviewer: And are you going to shoot something after that?Benicio Del Toro: No, just… *pause* Star Wars is coming up, we will see how that turns out. I think we start shooting in March.Interviewer: And what’s your role in this new Star Wars chapter?Benicio: Ehhh…. the thing is…. They don’t let me talk too much about it, I’m like the villain.Interviewer: Oh wow!Benicio: But…. we’ll see…*laughs*"

For months now, speculation of Del Toro’s involvement in Star Wars: Episode VIII has been rampant among Star Wars fan sites, and it would seem that now, that speculation can be put to rest. Now as to what type of character he will play, is up in the air. As SW7News points out, the Spanish to English translation leaves a little question up in the air: Is Benicio Del Toro actually going to be a villain?

"“When Benicio explains that his role is the villain he doesn’t seem to be 100% sure. He says “es como el villano”, “he is like the villain”. Which is odd. If he was sure about it he would have said: “es el villano”, “he is the villain”.”"

Perhaps there is just something lost in translation, and Del Toro is going to be a villain. Although, he could be a villain on a redemption arc, much like Darth Vader in Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. Much like with Adam Driver (Kylo Ren), Gwendoline Christie (Captain Phasma), Andy Serkis (Supreme Leader Snoke), and Domhnall Gleeson (General Hux), Del Toro’s villainous role will most likely be kept secret until the marketing for Episode VIII begins, next year.

H/T – Star Wars 7 News

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