In other words, Benedict Cumberbatch has been cast to play damn near everything.

Ha ha.

I kid, I kid.

Anyways, with Star Wars: Episode VII still being over two years away, rumors and speculation around this movie continue to run wild and now, Sir Benedict Cumberbatch is at the middle of it all.

As I teased above, Cumberbatch’s name is frequently thrown around to fill nearly every role that pops up in Hollywood. If it’s interesting, compelling, and complex, you can bet your grandma that his name has been brought into the conversation.

Moving on, even though we’re all inclined to take this “rumor” with a grain of salt, this rumor actually comes from Film Chronicles, which is being reported as a reputable site. According to Bleeding Cool, Film Chronicles focus is ironclad and is usually limited to “review, interviews, and well-sourced content rather than speculation or rumors”. So, if this is the case, maybe Film Chronicles is onto something?

Eh.

Who the hell knows?

Look people. I don’t have all the answers.

Even though I’m still inclined to slap the word “RUMOR” in front of this all, I admit that such speculation isn’t completely left-field. If most of you recall, Cumberbatch recently has to withdraw from Guillermo del Toro‘s Crimson Peak and he didn’t really give a super-specific reason either. If this rumor turns out to be true, it would actually make perfect sense.

For those of you that don’t know, Cumberbatch is a die-hard Star Wars fan; so I understand his eagerness to join to franchise if he has in fact been cast in the upcoming Star Wars: Episode VII movie. Here’s what he told Total Film in a recent interview about his love for Star Wars:

 “I was much more connected to [Star Wars] as a kid, in the way that a lot of kids are because it’s immediate storytelling, very simple – a beautifully, outrageously simple narrative in a way – and a wonderful three-act melodrama, opera. And I loved them. I really, really loved those films and I always wanted to be Han Solo. Everything Harrison Ford did I just thought was the coolest thing ever.”

Until an official announcement is made, I’m going to treat this like a very strong rumor, just like the rumor of Bryan Cranston being cast as Lex (which may not be all that true after all).

If all of this checks out, Cumberbatch will be joining Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, and Harrison Ford, along with possible candidates Alex Pettyfer and Rachel-Hurd-Wood. 

In closing, there’s a bit of speculation that Disney and Lucasfilm might be on the cusp of making a huge casting announcement for Star Wars: Episode VII; so we’ll keep you updated.

Source: Screen Rant, Film Chronicles via Bleeding Cool

Images From: Trekmate.org.uk, Schmoesknows.com

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Star Wars: Episode VII is expected rumored to descend into theaters December 2015. Stay tuned for more!