Ever since reports surfaced that Benicio Del Toro had been cast in Star Wars: Episode VIII there’s been speculation that he’d be playing a villain. The Puerto Rican actor even seemed to confirm that in a recent radio interview. But now he’s, once again, being coy about the nature of his character. 

Here’s what he had to say:

“I don’t know if he’s a villain. People are saying that, but it’s like they read a different script than I read. It’s nice to keep people in the dark, a little bit of mystery is good. If they want to believe it’s the villain, then good.”

In all honesty, it just looks like Del Toro is having fun with us, and he’s not lying. He’s likely using the idea that most villains don’t see themselves as villains. So the character’s motivations and machinations are justified within their mind because they’re just doing what they think is the right thing. So, technically, he’s not being dishonest by saying that he doesn’t read that script and see “villain.” 

In this interview, with Entertainment Tonight, he also talks about the impact that the original Star Wars had on him when he first saw it at the age of 10.

“I saw the original one when it came out and it marked me. I was impressed by the film and by the characters and by the story and the message.”

Del Toro joins a legion of actors and filmmakers who were inspired by the Original Trilogy and whom, in all likelihood, got into the field because they wanted to help create works of art as transcendent as those films. 

Here’s video of the interview:

Star Wars: Episode VIII has begun filming, and is expected to be released on May 26, 2017.

SOURCE: Entertainment Tonight