Del Toro is said to have an offer, although whether a deal can be made remains unclear.

Daisy Ridley, Oscar Isaac and John Boyega are expected to return for the movie, as are certain legacy actors (Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill).

The release date is May 26, 2017.

For some, Del Toro joining Star Wars makes sense as the actor, who tends to work in the world of dark and edgy indie, was introduced into the Disney family via his cameo as the Collector in Guardians of the Galaxy, from Lucasfilm’s sister company, Marvel Studios. (Both are owned by Disney.)

The actor next stars in Sicario, a drug drama from director Denis Villeneuve.