With plans for a May 26th, 2017 release, things will get moving relatively soon in regards to Star Wars: Episode VIII, which is currently untitled but has Rian Johnson set to write and direct it. What we’ve known about the next film is next to nothing, which includes casting in general because they’re trying to keep that air of uncertainty for a bit long about who will survive The Force Awakens and have a role in the next installment.
But what’s surfaced is that Benicio Del Toro is apparently in talks with Lucasfilm and has been offered a role in the eighth installment as a new villain for it. That doesn’t mean any of teh villains from the seventh installment won’t be in it, as there are three current named ones with Domhnall Gleeson’s General Hux, Gwendolyn Christie’s Captain Phasma, and Adam Driver’s Kylo Ren, but the potential for any of them to be offed is certainly there. But one can also see the intent on expanding the overall universe when looking at both story potential in other media as well as toys and the like. So an expansion seems mostly likely at this point.
Del Toro had a small role in last years Guardians of the Galaxy as the Collector and is appearing next in Sicario.
