Benicio Del Toro has signed up to appear in Marvel Studios’ new superhero movie Guardians Of The Galaxy.
According to Deadline, the Che actor’s role is currently been held under wraps but said he has agreed to a deal with options for his character to appear in future Marvel spin-off films.
Del Toro joins a swelling ensemble cast that already includes former Doctor Who actress Karen Gillan, Glenn Close, Zoe Saldana, Chris Pratt from Parks And Recreation, The Walking Dead‘s Michael Rooker, John C Reilly and former WWE wrestler Dave Bautista.
Guardians Of The Galaxy will follow a team of superheroes – including Star-Lord, Drax The Destroyer and Rocket Raccoon – who appear in a 2008 comic book series of the same name. Marvel is hoping the film will kickstart another big screen franchise like The Avengers.
The film is being directed by James Gunn, whose previous credits include Super, the 2010 superhero comedy starring Ellen Page and Rainn Wilson. Shooting is due to begin this month (June) and Marvel has set a release date of August 1, 2014.
Benicio Del Toro recently joined the cast of Paul Thomas Anderson’s Inherent Vice. The actor can next be seen in Jimmy P, which premiered in competition at last month’s (May) Cannes Film Festival. He is also starring in the currently untitled new Terrence Mallick film.