Yesterday a new Star Wars: Episode VII rumour emerged suggesting that director J.J. Abrams was set to reunite with Star Trek Into Darkness villain Benedict Cumberbatch for Disney’s forthcoming Star Wars sequel trilogy, with Badass Digest subsequently updating the story by stating that Cumberbatch was being considered for “a bad guy, almost certainly a Sith, and it’s a major role, one that will continue throughout the whole new trilogy.”
Well, it seems like the reports of Cumberbatch’s casting were full of sith, at least according to the Sherlock star’s rep, who has told the NY Daily News that, “There is no truth to the rumor Benedict has been cast in Star Wars. I think the rumours are circling because J.J. and Benedict have just recently had a wonderful time working together on Star Trek.”
There is of course the possibility that Cumberbatch’s reps are simply denying the story while his deal is being finalised, but if that were the case then surely a simple “no comment” would have been enough before an official casting announcement was made. So, at this point it doesn’t seem like Cumberbatch will be venturing to a galaxy far, far away… at least not for Episode VII anyway.
Originally published September 3, 2013. Updated April 11, 2018.
