Benicio del Toro has been offered a villain role in Star Wars: Episode VIII due out in 2017.

The 48-year-old actor was in the early stages of discussions over the role, according to an article on Monday by The Wrap.

The eighth installment in the Star Wars franchise will be directed by Rian Johnson, 41, with filming expected to start in early 2016.

Sci-fi role: Benicio del Toro, shown in June in Los Angeles, reportedly has been offered the role of a villain in Star Wars: Episode VIII

Star Wars: The Force Awakens will lead off the new trilogy of films when it opens on December 18.

The seventh installment was directed by JJ Abrams, 49, and will feature newcomers John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver and Oscar Issac.

They will be joined by original Star Wars cast members Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill.

Major villain: Darth Vader is shown in a still from 1980's The Empire Strikes Back

The franchise was rebooted after The Walt Disney Company in 2012 acquired Lucasfilm for $4billion.

Benicio previously has worked with Disney as he played The Collector in the 2014 blockbuster Guardians Of The Galaxy.

The film starring Chris Pratt was produced by Disney's subsidiary Marvel Studios.

Busy actor: Benicio, shown earlier this month in Puerto Rico, currently has several films in post-production

Benicio won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Mexican police officer Javier Rodriguez in the 2000 Steven Soderbergh film Traffic.

The actor can next be seen along with Emily Blunt in the crime thriller Sicario due out in September.

He also has been cast in the Harmony Korine thriller The Trap due out in 2017 and also starring James Franco, Idris Elba and Al Pacino.