Say what you will about The Force Awakens, but even the most adoring of fans admit that its plot was incredibly similar to the seminal films that had come before it. The return of Star Wars meant that new stories could be told, so why spend so much time in familiar material (albeit well-made and with some exciting new spins)? Enter Rogue One, the first in a series of various standalone films that Disney is making in addition to their new trilogy. From the very beginning of the trailer it is clear that this is Star Wars like you’ve never seen it. J.J. reintroduced us to the world we loved and gave us a great reminder of why we loved Star Wars in the first place. Without that reintroduction, a movie like Rogue One could never exist. Isn’t it great to be in a word where it does?
Taking place just before the events of A New Hope, the film stars Felicity Jones stars as Jyn Erso, who from this trailer alone is already in the running for one of the great Star Wars characters. She is recruited by Mon Mothma (Genevieve O’Reilly, reprising her role from Episode III) to join a group of rebels hoping to steal the plan’s for the Empire’s new weapon. That weapon, of course, is the Death Star, and the adventure that Gareth Edwards and Chris Weitz have created looks bursting with intrigue, action, and excitement.
The film also features Diego Luna, Mads Mikkelsen, Alan Tudyk, Donnie Yen, Ben Mendelssohn and Forest Whitaker. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story opens December 16, 2016.
