Benicio Del Toro Joins Marvel's GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY

Benicio Del Toro has officially joined the all-star ranks of Marvel's GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY, according to Deadline.

Though his role is being kept under wraps, the publication notes it's a big one: his contract extends his role into multiple future Marvel films.

Del Toro joins previously announced cast members Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Lee Pace, Michael Rooker, John C. Reilly, Karen Gillan, and Glenn Close in the space adventure project that will be tied into the AVENGERS universe.

For the original report, head on over to Deadline.

Though Guardians of the Galaxy was originally a 1969 Marvel comic, it was not until the 1990s that it got its own series. Then in 2008, the stories were re-imagined, upon which this film, slated to come out in August 2014, will be largely based. The story is about Peter Quill (Pratt) and his posse of alien superheroes from the future who join forces to protect the solar system from the evil aliens. As is often true of Marvel Comics, the Guardians worked with other Marvel characters, including The Avengers, so there is also speculation as to whether the characters from that recent film will appear in this one as well.