"Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" details have been kept under wraps, except for a select tidbits that the production lets out. However, there is no stopping information from leaking and fans from curating all that they can about the stand-alone full-length film that explores other characters in the "Star Wars" Universe.
Officially, we know that "Rogue One" is set prior to the events of "Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope" and focuses on the rebels who are out on a mission to steal the plans for the Death Star. We know that the Empire is not happy about the Rebels' actions and Darth Vader himself will most likely get in on the action.
"It goes into new territory, exploring the galactic struggle from a ground-war perspective while maintaining that essential 'Star Wars' feel that fans have come to know," LucasFilm President Kathleen Kennedy said.
So what do we actually know about "Rogue One" from what has officially come out and been leaked so far?
Director And Cast
Gareth Edwards is serving as the director for "Rogue One" and considering that he is behind the rise of a more proper "Godzilla," one can say that the stand-alone "Star Wars" story is in good hands. He also chose some of the most talented actors to be part of the cast: Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Ben Mendelsohn, Donnie Yen, Jiang Wen, Forest Whitaker, Mads Mikkelsen, Alan Tudyk and Riz Ahmed.
Story
There are no Jedi knights coming in to save the day. As Kennedy pointed out above, "Rogue One" will take the perspective of the war from the ground. That is, fans are more likely to witness the more nitty gritty moments of the battle between the Empire and Rebels. Fans should not expect cameos of established characters or X-wings flying about, although it could happen.
"When Gareth speaks about Rogue One, he spoke about it in terms of a war movie. And he compares it to other War movies," Ahmed said.
Rumors
Black Stormtroopers will be present in "Rogue One" and a new type of droid that may function similarly to C-3PO was seen. However, it was not confirmed whether it is the character Alan Tudyk will be playing. There are also whispers that Darth Vader will have a much larger role than initially believed. Perhaps he will be hands-on in thwarting the mission of the rebel group, but we don't know for sure at this time.
Felicity Jones' character is supposedly seeking redemption for her family's contribution to the completion of the Death Star. This makes her related to Mads Mikkelsen's character, who is believed to be the scientist who took over the plans for the Death Star and solved most of its flaws prior to construction.
When Is The Official Trailer Coming Out?
There is no official word yet on when LucasFilm will finally allow the world to see a glimpse of the mysterious project. However, there are some who believe that Disney may hold the key.
There has been a rumor going around that "Captain America: Civil War" will usher the release of the first trailer for "Rogue One," but then again, it could be a ruse. We have nothing to lose, though, because the next "Captain America" film looks very promising.
"Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" is slated for release on Dec. 16, 2016.
