Benicio Del Toro signed 'Star Wars...' for Rian Johnson

Oscar winning actor Benicio Del Toro came on board for a role in "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" for its director Rian Johnson.

Going by the nickname "DJ" in the movie, Johnson teased that Del Toro's character will have a huge role in the battle between the First Order and the Resistance in 'Star Wars: The Last Jedi'.

"I came into the film because of Rian Johnson, the director. He called me up and wanted to talk to me about a character. I knew his work, so just the fact that I'd get a chance to meet with a filmmaker like him, but then on top of that for a 'Star Wars' film, was interesting to me," Del Toro said in a statement.

"He didn't say anything about what this character was. We talked about movies, my background, just casual. Then, I got the script. I read it, and the script is very cool. The character is also very cool," he added.

Recollecting his memories with the the franchise which began in began in 1977, Del Toro shared that he still has the first book.

"I remember that I was in New York City in the summer of 1977. I remember being at a restaurant and a stranger came over to the table and handed me a little booklet of a movie he had just seen. It had just opened. It was Star Wars. He told me that I have to see this movie. That was my introduction to 'Star Wars'. I think I still have that book," said the "Escobar: Paradise Lost" star.

"Star Wars: The Last Jedi" also features Mark Hamill, late actress Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong'o, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, Gwendoline Christie, Kelly Marie Tran and Laura Dern.

The film is scheduled to release worldwide on December 15.

--IANS

ks/sug