When is Rogue One: A Star Wars Story Coming to Theaters?
We are only 10 days removed from the over-the-top successful worldwide theatrical premiere of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, but with only a few days until 2016, it’s time to start looking to the next film up in the Star Wars Cinematic Universe — Rogue One: A Star Wars Story…
More from Dork Side of the Force
- The High Republic Adventures (2023) 1 review
- Daniel José Older named a High Republic Adventures character after someone special
- How animation changed Star Wars: Ewoks and Droids
- Kelleran Beq comes to Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes
- The Mandalorian’s Pedro Pascal becomes No. 1 on IMDb’s Starmeter for 2023
With such a huge box-office success like Star Wars: The Force Awakens, only ten days removed from its premiere, and with the majority of fans going back to theaters for repeat viewings, it’s rather difficult to think about the next film up, in the Star Wars Cinematic Universe. However, we are only four days away from 2016, and that means we need to start looking toward Rogue One.
The film’s full name will be Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (although I much prefered the Anthology tag), and it is set to be released worldwide, on December 16, 2016. That means we are in for a whole new year of anxiously awaiting official teasers/trailers/television spots, and news/information from filming, as well as the all important leaked photos and insider information that is sure to pick up some steam in the weeks to come.
The premise of the film is something that we haven’t seen from a Star Wars film, yet. Taking place just before the events of A New Hope, the new Galactic Empire is in it’s infancy, the galaxy is now under the oppressive rule of Emperor Palpatine — The Dark Lord of the Sith — and his enforcer, Darth Vader.
The tyrannical rule of Palpatine has begun to wear thin the delicate balance of peace across the galaxy, and a Rebellion is born. The Empire begins to build a super-space station called the Death Star, and the fledgling Rebels know if it is allowed to run free throughout the galaxy, then no one is safe. The Rebel fighters comes together to carry out a desperate mission: to steal the plans for the aforementioned Death Star, before it can be used at the Emperor’s whim, to strike fear in the heart of his subjects.
So far, the cast list of Rogue One stars, is as follows:
- Felicity Jones
- Diego Luna
- Riz Ahmed
- Ben Mendelsohn
- Donnie Yen
- Jiang Wen
- Forest Whitaker
- Mads Mikkelsen
- Alan Tudyk
- Jonathan Aris
The film is being directed by Gareth Edwards (Godzilla and it’s upcoming sequel), and produced by Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy (The Force Awakens). Gary Whitta (The Book of Eli) and Chris Weitz (The Golden Compass) are screenwriting the script for Rogue One. A teaser trailer for the film, was shown at the Star Wars Celebration in Anaheim, California, early in 2015.
Sadly, there isn’t an official teaser trailer for the film, as of yet, so for now, we are stuck with this potato quality footage. Director Gareth Edwards has said that Rogue One will focus on normal people without magical powers (The Force), but rumors are beginning to swirl that Hayden Christensen who portrayed Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader in the prequels, will reprise the role of Darth Vader, for the film. It makes sense, especially since Darth Vader was very much involved with the Death Star.
As far as when we can expect to see an official trailer for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, I fully expect there to be one very soon. The first teaser trailer for The Force Awakens was shown in December of 2014, which means we are long overdue for a first teaser trailer for Rogue One. I think it’s a safe bet to look to the Super Bowl for a first trailer for the film, as the game would provide a huge spotlight and stage for rolling out the first Star Wars standalone film.