It’s no secret that Disney and Lucasfilm have kept Star Wars: The Last Jedi on a pretty tight leash, but even beyond the leaked intel and all of those alleged story details weaned from the sequel’s merchandise line, one character who has consistently eluded the spotlight is Benicio Del Toro’s DJ.
The former Guardians of the Galaxy actor is one of two high-profile additions to Disney’s cast sheet – the other being Laura Dern as Vice Admiral Holdo, a commander operating within the “vulnerable” Resistance – and all we know so far is that Del Toro’s DJ is an “enigmatic figure” replete with a “lackadaisical attitude.” Sound familiar?
Piercing through that radio silence today is Entertainment Weekly, after the outlet detailed the franchise newcomer and, perhaps most important of all, his dubious motivations. He fights for neither the Resistance nor the First Order, as John Boyega tells EW.
We just need a codebreaker and he’s the best in the galaxy. Unfortunately, he’s very dodgy and only in it for financial gain. He doesn’t fight for any side.
A “lackadaisical” character who’s only in it for “his own financial gain” certainly sounds a lot like Han Solo, while Boyega’s comments also suggest that DJ will play an active part in Rose and Finn’s “dark” mission aboard Canto Bight.
He has distinct opinions. The Resistance bombs the First Order one day, the First Order bombs the Resistance on another. It’s an ongoing war that will never end. For him, he’s trying to benefit off of that — which doesn’t make him the person you want to trust.
If you aren’t familiar with Rose now, don’t worry; Rian Johnson says Kelly Marie Tran’s Resistance mechanic is the “biggest new part” of The Last Jedi. However, the actress has her own thoughts on Del Toro’s intimidating character.
When I was on set with that character, I felt like there was a tiger in the room, and I always had to be watching. Like an animal, at any moment he could do something, and I didn’t know what.
The real question now is whether DJ’s arc will carry over into Episode IX in 2019, or will Del Toro’s time in the Star Wars universe be limited to one film? We’ll be able to form a clearer picture once The Last Jedi enters theaters on December 15th.