Following the news that JJ Abrams will be helming the new Star Wars movie, casting rumours are slowly beginning to surface – but this one actually seems likely! Could John Noble really have been brought aboard?

The news that the Star Wars franchise will be resurrected for a sequel trilogy might have been met with mixed reactions, but the JJ Abrams supporters were elated to learn that the Star Trek director would be taking on the project.

No details about storylines, characters or actors have yet been revealed, but now, Joblo has unearthed a statement by an Australian radio show host who claims that actor John Noble will be appearing in Star Wars VII as “the villain” (which we presume to mean the main antagonist, as opposed to a Jabba the Hutt-level bad guy).

John Noble is best known for playing Denethor in The Lord of the Rings, and most recently the loveable Walter Bishop in Fringe – which, you might recall, was created by JJ Abrams. His tie to Abrams definitely lends credence to this rumour, but beyond that, there’s really not a lot to go on here.

Could you see Noble starring in the new Star Wars movie? Would he make a good villain? Considering his turn as Denethor, as well as his work on Fringe (particularly as Walternate), we’re inclined to hope that these rumours are true!