Last month, the title of the first Star Wars spinoff film was announced to be Star Wars: Rogue One, and since November of last year a rumor has circulated that the story would follow a group of rebels undertaking a mission to steal the plans for the Death Star. Today, during a panel at Star Wars Celebration, we got our first official news about the film’s plot.
First things first, let’s give huge props to Germain Lussier over at /Film: they had the original scoop before anyone else, and they were right on the money. Here’s the official word:
A band of resistance fighters unite for a daring mission to steal the Death Star plans in Star Wars anthology film, Rogue One #RogueOne.
— Star Wars (@starwars) April 19, 2015
So there you have it, fans: Star Wars Rogue One, which is the first of the Star Wars Anthology series, will deal with a heist of galactic proportions. Director Gareth Edwards, who appeared onstage to reveal a teaser trailer for the film, says the film will explore the complexities and realities of war, including the moral grey areas and the ambiguity of good and evil.
And don’t expect to see or hear much from the Jedi, as Star Wars: Rogue One takes place between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope, a time period during which the Jedi are essentially extinct. As Edwards put it, there are no warriors with “magical powers” that will be swooping in for a rescue. “It’s about the fact that God’s not coming to save us,” said Edwards. “The absence of the Jedi hangs over the movie.”
Star Wars: Rogue One will begin shooting this summer, with Edwards in the director’s chair and Zero Dark Thirty cinematographer Greig Fraser in charge of the visuals. Felicity Jones is confirmed to star as a rebel soldier, but no other casting information is available at this time. The film is currently slated for release on December 16, 2016.
disney lucasfilm star wars star wars anthology star wars: rogue one