At long last, footage from the Gareth Edwards-directed Rogue One: A Star Wars Story has seen the light of day, thanks to a recently-released trailer. What it shows will instantly be familiar to those who love the original Star Wars trilogy, as it borrows the look and sounds of George Lucas' first film to great effect.
Though it visually looks like the original Star Wars and certainly sounds like it, the tone struck in the trailer is a much more serious one than fans of the franchise may be accustomed to. This is a war movie told in the Star Wars universe, which is something we haven't really seen before (despite the name of the franchise).
The trailer is brief, but it provides plenty of clues and context for what audiences can expect upon flocking to theaters to see the film when it arrives in December.
While the trailer definitely whets the appetite, it also conjures up plenty of questions to which fans will be dying to learn the answers. Some of these answers may come in the months leading up to the film's release, but for now, we can only speculate. Here are some of the biggest questions we have after repeated trailer viewings:
Who Are The Black Stormtroopers?
Who are these foreboding-looking troopers, and what role do they play? Obviously, they aren't your usual Stormtroopers. Perhaps they are Shadow Troopers, the deadly subset of Imperial forces taken from the old Star Wars expanded universe? What are they burning? We don't have an aswer yet.
What's In The Tube?
At around the 1:18 mark in the trailer, we see a cloaked figure enter a room with a foreboding tube in the room's center. The room is also guarded by Imperial Royal Guards, who we last saw escorting the Emperor around in the original trilogy. Does this tube (or whatever is inside it) have some special importance to the Emperor? Is he in it himself? This looks to be one of the film's greatest mysteries.
Does This Cool Space Samurai Die?
Probably. You don't don't simply bonk Stormtroopers with a stick and live to tell the tale.
Who Is The Guy In The White Cloak?
We've always been led to believe that Grand Moff Tarkin played a large role in the construction of the Death Star, but this trailer highlights what appears to be a new Imperial officer for the Rebels to thwart. Played by actor Ben Mendelsohn, you can see the character wearing a white uniform and cloak (and holding a blaster) at around the 1:01 mark in the trailer. He doesn't look like a guy you want to piss off.
Will The Rebels Actually Board The Death Star?
Certain shots from the trailer make it look like the Rebels sneak about the Imperial super weapon, but it's hard to be certain. It makes sense in a Star Wars kind of way that the Death Star plans would be hidden on the Death Star itself, but the shots in question could simply be from some unnamed Imperial base.
Will Darth Vader Make An Appearance?
It has been rumored that Darth Vader himself may make an appearance in Rogue One, and it would certainly make sense. Vader plays a large role in overseeing the construction of the super weapon and resides on the space station in A New Hope. If the heroes of Rogue One do find themselves on board the Death Star, it seems like there is a good possibility they will encounter the big bad himself. It's subtle, but the character's iconic heavy breathing might also be featured in the trailer.
Will Rogue One Connect In Any Way To The Force Awakens?
Rogue One is a tribute to the original Star Wars film, but that doesn't mean it can't connect to The Force Awakens. We know Supreme Leader Snoke from The Force Awakens is supposedly alive and well during the time period, so perhaps Rogue One will provide some clue about what he's up to during the events of A New Hope. There's also the rumor running around that Jyn Erso (see below) could be Rey's mother ... though that seems like a bit of a stretch.
Does Felicity Jones Go To The Dark Side?
The final shot of Jyn Erso (played by Felicity Jones) wearing an Imperial pilot outfit is certain to set many fan theories ablaze, but it's unclear what exactly is going on. The voiceover in the trailer asks "if you continue to fight, what will you become?" before showing the final shot of the trailer, seeming to imply that Erso will become what she despises. There is, of course, the possibility that her character is simply donning the gear of the Empire to go undercover and steal the Death Star plans. The two objects on her back are also mysterious. They could be weapons, but they also kind of look like the glowing sticks one might see used on an airstrip to guide aircraft to the runway. Part of her disguise? Hard to say, but color us intrigued.
These are just some of the questions that popped into our mind upon watching the trailer for the fifth time. What questions do you have about the next entry in the Star Wars saga? Let us know in the comments below.
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is in theaters Dec. 16.
