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5 Things You Need to Know Before You See ‘Rogue One’

We now live in a world where there’s a new Star Wars movie coming out every single year. What a time to be alive.

But this year’s movie, which hits theaters December 16, isn’t like the ones that have come before. To help prepare you for “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” here are five things you need to know before grabbing your lightsaber and heading to the theater.

1. It’s Not “Episode VIII”
Though “Rogue One” is coming on the heels of 2015’s “The Force Awakens,” it’s not a sequel to that film. There’s actually been some confusion in this regard, mainly because of the physical similarities between actresses Daisy Ridley and Felicity Jones and the fact that so many Star Wars movies feature a planet-destroying super-weapon.

If you want to see what’s next for Rey, Poe and Finn, you’ll have to wait until December 2018 and the release of the actual “Episode VIII.” Instead, “Rogue One” serves as a prequel to the original “Star Wars.” This film will showcase the brave heroes who defied the Empire, stole the technical plans for the first Death Star, and made it possible for Luke Skywalker to destroy the space station in the first place. Finally, these unsung heroes will have their moment in the spotlight.

2. It’s a Father/Daughter Story
“Rogue One” centers on a rebellious young woman named Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones). Jyn is reluctantly drawn into the war between the Galactic Empire and the Rebel Alliance, as she’s charged with leading a team to steal the Death Star plans and bring hope to the galaxy.

The odds of success aren’t great, but Jyn does have one major advantage — her father, Galen Erso (Mads Mikkelsen), helped design the Death Star and its planet-rupturing laser. The film will explore the troubled backstory between Jyn and her father, including how the two were separated years before as Galen was forcibly recruited to serve the Empire.

3. It Stars a Team of Rebels
Jyn may be the main heroine of “Rogue One,” but she’ll have an entire team of intrepid Rebels backing her up.

Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) is an experienced intelligence officer with a talent for keeping cool under pressure.
Chirrut Îmwe (Donnie Yen, above) is a very spiritual warrior who worships the Force (though he’s not actually a Jedi). He has a knack for defeating Stormtroopers — despite being blind and armed only with a staff. Basically, he’s the “Star Wars” equivalent of Zatoichi. He’s joined by his best friend, Baze Malbus (Jiang Wen), a much more pragmatic soldier and an expert marksman.
Saw Gerrera (Star Wars: The Clone Wars.”
And finally, K-2SO (Alan Tudyk) is the team’s resident droid assistant. K-2SO is an Imperial assassin droid who was reprogrammed by Cassian, a la “Terminator 2.”

4. Darth Vader Is Back
Expect both new and old faces when it comes to the villains in “Rogue One.” Fans will be happy to know that Darth Vader will make an appearance, with James Earl Jones returning to voice the Dark Lord of the Sith. Emperor Palpatine may or may not appear, but he’ll be looming large over this conflict.
However, the main villain in “Rogue One” is a new addition to the franchise. Director Orson Krennic (Ben Mendelsohn) is a high-ranking Imperial officer tasked with completing the long-delayed Death Star project by any means necessary. Krennic was responsible for forcing Galen Erso into Imperial servitude, and there’s little this brilliant (but desperate) man won’t do to complete his task and please his Emperor.

“Rogue One” will also introduce several new trooper types alongside the familiar Stormtroopers. The Deathtroopers are an elite squad of soldiers clad in black armor that serve as Krennic’s personal bodyguards. The colorful Shoretroopers are a specialized unit charged with patrolling the tropical world of Scarif, which will be a key location in this film.

5. This Isn’t Your Usual Star Wars Movie
Sure, it has spaceships and blasters and the Death Star, but it’s all rumored to be put through a gritty, “war movie” lens.

“Rogue One” is the first of many “Star Wars Anthology” films. Unlike “The Force Awakens” and its sequels, which will directly continue the original saga, the Anthology films aim to expand the larger Star Wars universe and focus on other characters and conflicts. For example, the next Anthology movie (due May 2018) will focus on a young Han Solo.

The Anthology films will also shake things up in terms of style and presentation. Don’t expect all the familiar Star Wars tropes to be on display here. For one thing, John Williams didn’t compose the score (that responsibility instead fell to Michael Giacchino), and we’ve learned that “Rogue One” won’t even feature the iconic Star Wars title crawl.

For another, this movie will break from tradition by featuring flashbacks to Jyn’s childhood.

Basically, don’t expect a 100% traditional “Star Wars movie” this time. But with all the complaints about “The Force Awakens” rehashing familiar tropes, maybe that’s a good thing.

December 13, 2016
These Jedi Disney Princesses Are ‘Star Wars’ Perfection

It’s become a popular internet pastime to re-imagine Disney princesses as other characters/ethnicities/genders/artworks, and for good reason: The artists behind them often produce some amazingly creative work. That’s the case for the latest mashup, which combines Disney’s newest property, “Star Wars,” with some of its classic princesses, in a series that artist Tom Hodges has dubbed “Once upon a long time ago.”

The series transforms our familiar heroines into Jedi knights, many of whom closely resemble Rey (Daisy Ridley), the newest star of the “Star Wars” universe in “The Force Awakens.” (And depending on how you look at it, Rey could be considered a Disney princess in her own right.) Elaborate ballgowns and dresses are transformed into the Jedi’s traditional robes, while some (like Aurora’s familiar cape) have their existing outfits stylized a bit more to fit the theme. Each comes equipped with her own lightsaber, as well as a personalized Rebellion/Resistance emblem to complement her personality. (Snow White gets an apple, for example, while Belle’s design bears a rose.)

We’re especially fond of Merida’s transformation, which includes a bow/lightsaber hybrid that perfectly suits the young archer. Jasmine also gets a pretty awesome weapon: a double-sided lightsaber, like Darth Maul’s in the “Star Wars” prequels.

Check out some of our favorites below, and head over to Hodges’s Facebook page for the rest. The designs will be available for purchase through Tee Fury, on shirts or a poster.

[via: Tom Hodges, h/t HitFix]

Photo credit: Tom Hodges/Facebook

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January 12, 2016
Anakin Skywalker Almost Appeared in ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’

WARNING: This post contains SPOILERS about the plot of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.” Read on at your own risk.

“Star Wars: The Force Awakens” featured plenty of characters from previous “Star Wars” films, including some in well-concealed cameos. But according to a new book, there was one more familiar face originally slated to make an appearance, which was ultimately scrapped.

Concept artist Iain McCaig revealed in the book “Art of Star Wars: The Force Awakens” that he was commissioned to create some images of Anakin Skywalker for the flick, though the artwork he designed never actually made it onto the big screen. The book indicates that the character was set to appear as a Force ghost (like the glowing Obi-Wan and Yoda at the end of “Return of the Jedi”), though the context of that appearance is never explicitly explained — nor is it determined if Anakin would appear in his Jedi form, or as Darth Vader.

McCaig is quoted in the book as saying it would probably have been a mixture of both, to play on the duality of the Dark Side and Light Side of the Force, a differentiation that new villain — and Anakin’s grandson — Kylo Ren struggles with in “The Force Awakens.” Would this shapeshifting Anakin have appeared only to Kylo? Or perhaps he would have popped up in Rey’s Force fever dream (which also featured the voices of Yoda and Obi-Wan)?

Whatever the specific part Anakin would have played (and we assume that Hayden Christensen, who portrayed him in the prequels, would have been asked back to reprise the role), that obviously didn’t pan out, and that could be because filmmakers didn’t want to give too much away about Rey’s parentage. Many moviegoers have guessed that she’s the secret daughter of Luke Skywalker, but that revelation may be slated for another film, hence the decision to do away with Anakin’s inclusion for the time being.

Fans will have to wait until “Episode VIII” or later to have that specific question answered. For now, they can just see “The Force Awakens” for the fifth time, like the rest of the world seems to be doing.

[via: Screen Crush]

Photo credit: StarWars.com

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December 29, 2015