Everything We Know About Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
Shortly after Disney announced that they had acquired Lucasfilm in 2012, news came that the company would not only be planning to release Star Wars episodes VII to IX but, alternating between the years when these movies would be in production, they would also release a series of standalone anthology movies designed to expand and showcase the sheer amount of stories yet to be told in a galaxy far, far away.
Whose fantastic idea was this?
George Lucas.
Producer Kathleen Kennedy told Empire: “It was really George’s idea. In fact, one of the first things he sat down and talked to me about (following Disney's acquisition of LucasFilm) was not only picking up the saga again - which he never envisaged he would do, but was ready to do - but also exploring all the stories that might exist inside the Star Wars universe."
The first of these films, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, is due to arrive this December and here’s you handy up to date guide to the development of Rogue One and its place within the Star Wars universe.
Rogue One sees Gareth Edwards take the helm after directing studio behemoth Godzilla; he’ll be working from a script originally written by Gary Whitta from an idea developed by VFX man John Knoll. Whitta then made way for About a Boy helmer Chris Weitz to take a stab at the story before last minute rewrites were undertaken by Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation director Christopher McQuarrie.
Cast
In the lead role, The Theory of Everything’s Felicity Jones, who’ll play a rebellious solider named Jyn Erso. As the first trailer hints, she grew up on her own from the age of fifteen, where she developed a reckless, rebellious streak; one that comes with a criminal record which includes: he forgery of Imperial documents, possession of stolen property, aggravated assault, and resisting arrest.
In other words, she’s perfect fodder for the rebellion.
Y tu mamá también star Diego Luna will play Capt. Cassian Andor, a somewhat more calming figure than Erso who was brought in to temper her rebellious nature.
Four Lions, Riz Ahmed plays Bodhi Rook, a tightly-wound, hot headed lead pilot of the rebel’s squad – who rely upon him for his technical knowhow.
Yip Man and martial arts star Donnie Yen will play Chirrut Imwe, a blind warrior monk. While he doesn’t believe in the Force, he does believe in the Jedi. He’s aided by Baze Malbus, played by Let the Bullet’s Fly star Jiang Wen, a close friend of Chirrut, but more of a straight forward, shoot first kind of guy.
The Color of Money star Forrest Whittaker plays Saw Gerrera – a name that Star Wars fans will recognise from The Clone Wars, the animated spin off series. He’s a battle-hardened Rebel extremist who could prove to be a thorn in the rebel alliances side.
And then there’s the rebels new security droid K-2SO, who will be brought to life by I,Robot star Alan Tudyk. If you were expecting something in the vein of C3PO, think again. This is no prissy protocol droid; he doesn’t mince his words.
Which brings us on to the villains.
Up first is cape enthusiast Director Orson Krennic, played by Slow West’s Ben Mendelsohn, a snake in a whole nest of manipulative vipers looking to rise through the ranks of the Empire as the Death Star solidifies their stranglehold on the galaxy. Expect him to survive several attempted coups as ‘loyalties’ are tested.
Then there’s the real McGuffin of the piece, Galen Erso, played by Hannibal himself Mads Mikkelsen, who has been described as a galactic version of nuclear pioneer J. Robert Oppenheimer, with doomsday knowledge that is sought by both the Empire and the Rebellion. And as you’ll note by the surname, he’s the father of Felicity Jones Jyn Erso.
Plus, in perhaps the biggest news to come out of the recent Star Wars Celebration weekend, the film will also see the return of the galaxies greatest villain, Darth Vader – who will once again be voice by James Earl Jones and, taking over from David Prowse for the physical performance of Vader, will be Wales born Spencer Wilding – standing at an impressive 6’7”.
Producer Kathleen Kennedy has ruled out any of the cast making an appearance in future Stars Wars productions but one actor who we can expect to use this film as a launch pad for his own Star Wars spin off will be the new Han Solo himself, Alden Ehrenreich who is rumoured to be making his debut in Rogue One.
Another potential spin off debutante could be Bobo Fett – earlier this year the Rogue One range of LEGO sets appear to reveal that the bad ass bounty hunter may at least perform a fly-by.
Also amongst the cast are Sherlock’s Jonathan Aris and World War Z’s Eunice Olumide. Genevieve O'Reilly reprises her role from Revenge of the Sith as the young Mon Mothma.
Timeline
Rogue One takes place in the time between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope – although If rumours are true it will be the latter that it hews closest to. Some have even said it takes place moments before the opening crawl of A New Hope disappears from our field of vision (rumours are that in a break in tradition, Rogue One won’t even get its own opening crawl.
So it’s more the beginning of hope where, away from the Skywalker/Solo lineage, the rebels began to form the plans that led to the events of A New Hope.
Story
So what’s it all about then?
The official synopsis pegs the movie as a heist film, where, a band of rebels set out on a dangerous mission to steal the plans for the original Death Star but director Gareth Edwards sees it as a war movie, drawing comparisons to Saving Private Ryan, Black Hawk Down and Zero Dark Thirty.
Sidestepping the high fantasy of the franchise as we know it, he's aiming for a more grounded tone, exploring the moral grey areas rather than the binary good vs evil/black and white world of the prequel/original trilogy.
Rogue One has lofty ambitions; seeking as it does to show us the importance of making the ultimate sacrifice for the greater good – it’s very much the backbone the rest of the franchise is built upon.
So no pressure then.
This change of tone and tact is very much in keeping with the ‘A Star Wars Story’ edict of telling a variety of stories across the Star Wars universe and using other genres and filmmakers to do so in a self-contained, straight forward way.
The film will be the first set in the Star Wars universe not to feature the Jedi.
Music
In another first, John Williams will not be providing the score for a Star Wars. Instead, that job falls to The Grand Budapest Hotel composer and Oscar winner Alexandre Desplat – who let’s face it, has some big shoes to fill.
Trailers
Release Date
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story will be releasing first across mainland Europe December 14th, 2016 before arriving a day later in the UK and other European territories, and on December 16th for North America. Chinese fans must wait until January 12th, 2017.
Shooting Locations
Principal photography took place at Elstree Studios, with further locations in the UK, Iceland, Jordan, and on Laamu Atoll in the Maldives.
