'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story' recently had its trailer footage leaked, although it is unknown if this is official. Darth Vader, the franchise's major villain, may get a significant role in the upcoming spinoff despite earlier reports.
According to The Mirror, new trailer footage for Gareth Edwards' first film in the planned 'Star Wars' anthology made waves online. The trailer, first shown in Disney's annual shareholder's meeting, was leaked online somehow and featured new characters as well as the actors who will be playing them. The footage opened with a narration from an old male voice, possibly Ben Kenobi's from 'Star Wars: A New Hope'.
It also introduced two new kinds of Stormtroopers - black ones possibly named Death or Shadow Troopers and chrome ones reminiscent of Gwendoline Christie's Captain Phasma in J.J. Abrams' 'Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens'.
The upcoming 'Star Wars' spinoff boasts a powerful ensemble cast including Oscar-nominee Felicity Jones, Donnie Yen, Alan Tudyk, Mads Mikkelsen, Ben Mendelson, Forest Whittaker, Diego Luna and Riz Ahmed. According to Metro, Jones will take on the female lead as one of the rebel soldiers in the film. The other actors' roles are yet unknown.
Edwards hinted at his film's new storyline saying, "It comes down to a group of individuals that don't have magical powers that have to somehow bring hope to the galaxy... It's about the fact that God's not coming to save us. The absence of the Jedi hangs over the movie."
Disney chairman and CEO Bob Iger also explained that 'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story' will follow a group of Rebels troops tasked at stealing the plans for the Death Star. It is set before the events of 1977's 'Star Wars: A New Hope'.
It was previously speculated that the franchise's most popular villain, Darth Vader, may have a minimal role in the film. However, according to The Week, the saga may present an opportunity for Darth Vader to put all his maliciousness into action and not just be some kind of hologram giving orders. The spinoff will also feature the return of the character Grand Moff Tarkin, played by Peter Cushing.
'Star Wars: Rogue One' is an upcoming science-fiction action-adventure film intended as the first film in the 'Star Wars Anthology' of standalone films. It is directed by Gareth Edwards based on the screenplay by Chris Weitz. It is scheduled to debut in theaters on December 16, 2016.