Benicio Del Toro on Star Wars Villain Role: 'It Looks Like It's Going to Happen'

"I can't tell you much about it but I think that it might happen," he told ET Online . "It looks like it's gonna happen so I'm very excited."

"I can't talk too much about it. The script is hard to get. They told me they'd cut my finger if I talk about it."

There have been persistent rumors that Benicio Del Toro will play the lead villain in the sequel to Star Wars: The Force Awakens, the untitled Episode VIII. Now, the actor has weighed in on the rumors, and while he comes just shy of actually confirming his casting, he says that it "looks like it's going to happen."This could mean that the role is actually still up in the air, as in negotiations are still coming together, or it could mean that he has the role and is just sworn to secrecy. He even specified that Lucasfilm had sworn him to secrecy, which makes it sound like the deal is at least pretty far along:Del Toro is an accomplished character actor, appearing in classics like Traffic (for which won an Oscar), The Usual Suspects, and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. He's also no stranger to passionate geek fandoms, as he portrays The Collector in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (Thor: The Dark World and Guardians of the Galaxy so far), as well as Jackie Boy in Sin City.If he does play the lead villain in Episode VII, this could provide clues as to Kylo Ren's fate in Episode VII. Adam Driver's villainous character could go the way of Darth Maul and only appear in one film, although there have been widespread reports that he signed a multi-picture deal. So instead, it could mean that Ren just has a decreased presence in the second film to make way for a new baddie, and then will return for the final film in full force.Star Wars: The Force Awakens hits theaters on December 18, while Episode VII is slated to come out on May 26, 2017.