We live in a magical time where we’re going to get a new
Star Wars movie roughly every year for the foreseeable future. That’s enough to make my childhood self retroactively explode with
glee. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, the first of the series
of films to exist outside of the main narrative line of that far, far away
galaxy, is up next, and Lucasfilm just dropped this awesome new behind the
scenes look. Check it out.
Star Wars Celebration is on right now in London,
and this video was the centerpiece of the Rogue One panel.
This is similar to how they played it last year with Star Wars: The Force Awakens, showing off behind the scenes glimpses instead of a new
trailer as many anticipated, and there’s a ton to see. (They did reportedly
show a new trailer, but only in the room, not on the live stream. Though it is
supposed to debut later tonight on a special ABC broadcast, so we still have
that to look forward to.)
One of the big narratives of the new wave of Star Wars
films after the Disney buyout of Lucasfilm, has been a return to practical
effects, and that is on full display here. The green screen nightmare of the prequels
is a wound that still hasn’t fully healed, but director Gareth Edwards and company
are doing what they can.
We get quick peeks at a slew of new creatures, droids, and characters.
More than sets and blank screens, there is an emphasis on actual locations.
With the characters responding to explosions and being blasted in the face by
wind and water, there’s a visceral texture that rings so much more authentic
and true.
Tonally, Rogue One is said to be much
different than the core Star Wars saga. Though there will be
elements of the Force, Force users are not the main focus. Described as a
gritty war movie, that certainly comes through in this footage, with the beach
invasion, the ground combat, and the like. Don’t worry, I’m sure there will be
plenty of space action to tide us over. But set just before A New
Hope—the plot revolves around the theft of the plans for the first
Death Star—this promises to focus more on the rank and file members of the
Rebellion.
While we don’t get much plot, this sizzle reel sets the
ominous mood and tone. This is a bleak time for the Rebels, one where the
future is very much in doubt, and that is readily apparent. But there’s also a
giddiness in the cast and crew that’s infectious—they feel like kids playing
with giant toys and living out childhood dreams. Donnie Yen looks effortlessly
badass, Ben Mendelsohn’s villain may give you chills, the creatures are
awesome, the action is intense, and with an all-star cast that includes
Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Forest Whitaker, Riz Ahmed, Alan Tudyk, Mads
Mikkelsen, Jiang Wen, and voice work by a guy named James Earl Jones, this
promises to be something special.
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story hits
theaters on December 16. While your killing time before the trailer reveal, there’s
also this gorgeous new poster to gawk at.
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