“Girls” star Adam Driver has done the auteur thing—Clint Eastwood (“J. Edgar“), Noah Baumbach (“Frances Ha“), Steven Spielberg (“Lincoln“), Coen Brothers (“Inside Llewyn Davis“) and soon Martin Scorsese in “Silence“—but now’s getting his blockbuster shoes on, joining the biggest damn franchise in the planet galaxy.
Variety reports that the actor has bagged the villain role in J.J. Abrams‘ “Star Wars: Episode 7.” Since he is the first actor to be officially signed on to the sequel, naturally, plot details are being kept under wraps, though he is said to be playing a character in the vein of Darth Vader (though let’s hope he’s not related to him in some way). Michael Fassbender and Hugo Weaving were also named as contenders for the part, but for whatever reason, they did not nab the role.
Lawrence Kasdan and Abrams have penned the script, taking over from Michael Arndt last fall, and things are ramping up for a shoot that begins next month at Pinewood London. Which means that more official casting will be coming very soon.
This first reveal is a pretty exciting one, and we’re stoked to see Driver take the tentpole leap with such a potentially meaty role. Thoughts? You know where to leave ’em.
