So far the most confident rumor surrounding any possible casting in Star Wars: Episode VII revolves around the possibility of director J.J. Abrams bringing in his Star Trek Into Darkness villain Benedict Cumberbatch for what is said to be a villainous role spanning the entirety of the new trilogy. The report has been denied by Cumberbatch’s people and in a recent Hollywood Reporter profile Cumberbatch responded to a question regarding his potential involvement saying, “I don’t know. Who knows, who knows? Nothing is known of that. I worked with J.J. Obviously, he knows. Everyone who wants to be part of that film, they know about.” Not a denial, clearly, and last night Latino Review continued to stress the validity of their earlier reporting.
The site says that “[t]echnically, [Cumberbatch’s] part in Episode VII is very small but the role is much bigger in Episode VIII and Episode IX.” They say this after proclaiming in bold caps, “HE IS IN THE MOVIE!”
Next is the latest name added to the heap, Saoirse Ronan, who just wrapped up Wes Anderson‘s Grand Budapest Hotel and turned down the role of the Scarlet Witch in Joss Whedon‘s The Avengers: Age of Ultron. Apparently she has gone in to read for an unknown role for the new Star Wars film, but with nothing known about the plot, there is no way of telling which role, though speculation now involves the likelihood of a female villain.
What we know right now is Episode VII will hit theaters in 2015, Michael Arndt (The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, Toy Story 3) wrote the screenplay and this new trilogy will apparently begin thirty years after Return of the Jedi. Go forth and spread rumors like wildfire!
