'Star Wars 8' Cast, Plot News: Benicio del Toro Villain Role for Director Rian Johnson?

So many new Star Wars movies are hitting theaters soon, starting with 2015's The Force Awakens, which means we better get used to plenty of casting and plot rumors in our news feeds! The latest reports are claiming that Benicio del Toro has been offered the main villain role in the yet-to-be-titled Star Wars: Episode VIII, the direct sequel to J.J. Abrams' upcoming blockbuster for Disney/Lucasfilm. If del Toro is indeed the antagonist of the next chapter of the franchise, which has a 2017 release date, he'll be taking direction from filmmaker Rian Johnson. Read more on this news below.

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We know that del Toro could easily play a villain and that he's caught the bug for sci-fi projects after appearing in 2014's Guardians of the Galaxy.

This casting rumor comes from The Wrap, which claims that many insiders familiar with the production have said that del Toro has been offered the role (via Slash Film / IGN). We haven't heard a confirmation yet, but we don't even know if the actor would consider the role.

Meanwhile, Variety is saying that director Johnson and Lucasfilm wanted Joaquin Phoenix for the same role that del Toro was allegedly offered. This report also suggests that other A-list talents have been and possibly will be called in to audition for the role if the del Toro rumors are false.

Also, if the film calls for a new villain, what's going on in The Force Awakens with Kylo Ren, Supreme Leader Snoke and General Hux, all of whom have been deemed villainous in numerous reports? Are we just adding a new villain or replacing one?

Let us know what you think of the latest Star Wars casting rumors in the comments section below!