The Wrap and Variety are both reporting that Benicio Del Toro has been offered the role of a villain in Episode VIII.

Says Variety...

This is no longer in question now as Del Toro confirmed a few days ago with ET.com

http://link.brightcove.com/services/pla ... 0672083001

QUOTES:

“I can’t tell you much about it but I think that it might happen. 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.”

“I saw the original one when it came out and it marked me,” Del Toro, who was 10 when the first Star Wars hit theaters, recounted. “I was impressed by the film and by the characters and by the story and the message.”

Benicio says he's the main bad guy in VIII and that shooting starts in March 2016 (link via rac1.org).

so assuming Kylo survives 7, as does Snoke, Phasma, and Hux just how many friggin bad guys will there be? He says main bad guy, what does this mean for Snoke?

The Emperor wasn't really revealed until the third OT film maybe Snoke won't do much until the third ST film either. I think Benicio is great I just wonder what this means for the bad of episode 7 and if they survive? I still have trouble seeing past fear and loathing Benicio. If he is a Sith his apprentice has to be Kevin Corrigan, the universe demands it.

Considering that Andy Serkins Plays Snoke, considering him beeing present when they made the famous Cast Shot when the movies Cast was announced I'd say he will be present in the movie.

"There has been an acid trip... have you felt it?

Interesting speculation:

http://movieweb.com/star-wars-rebels-la ... a-bridger/

Could he be Ezra? Could Ezra be Rey's father?

Del Toro would have to play much older than his real age, as Ezra would be approximately Luke's age.

Ezra=Snoke

It all sounds a bit too derivative of TESB re. the parenting reveal... but in lieu of anything else, I could buy Snoke being Ezra...

I've been saying that forever, but usually get as a reaction.

If the story group made Rebels references barely visible in a Star Wars spinoff, what chance do Rebels characters have being part of a MAJOR reveal in Episode 8?

0.0%

So youre saying theres a chance?

Agreed. Its a small group that even knows who ezra is. Easter Egg material at best.

Of course, delToro could be both Ezra and Snoke, merely using the hologram as a disguise. It seems they are setting Ezra up to fall to the dark side, so I like to think that he becomes Vader's secret apprentice. That way Yoda is right when he observes Luke is "the last" of the jedi, and yet Ezra can still be around, a hidden apprentice. Then, after Endor, he can pick up Vader's quest to bring balance to the force - whatever that means! Plus he can hang out in Vader's Mustafarian castle in the time of the Last Jedi.

I wonder if the Mustafarians have good music? Was Jabba Flow a parody of the galactic Mustafarian hit Lava Flow?

Snoke = Hologram = Ezra = Del Toro is possible, but more than a bit convoluted.

How does the speculation below mesh with the Ezra theory?

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Hey! D.J. stands for don't join.