The Star Wars-related news keeps on coming out of Disney’s D23 Expo as the first official set photo from Star Wars: Rogue One has been released. With the film’s new image, came the official confirmation on the movie’s cast — which Variety is reporting — including Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Ben Mendelsohn, Donnie Yen, Jiang Wen, Forest Whitaker, Mads Mikkelsen, Alan Tudyk, and Riz Ahmed.
The mission is underway. #StarWars: #RogueOne has begun principle photography! pic.twitter.com/62pJaMOHHP
— Walt Disney Studios (@DisneyStudios) August 15, 2015
Gareth Edwards is helming the new Star Wars Anthology film which, as the tweet indicates, has begun principal photography. The story in Rogue One takes place before Star Wars: A New Hope and will follow a group of resistance fighters who band together to steal plans to the Death Star.
Producer Kathleen Kennedy was on hand to talk about the film’s overall scope and feel:
“‘Rogue One’ takes place before the events of Star Wars: A New Hope and will be a departure from the saga films but have elements that are familiar to the Star Wars universe,” said Kennedy in a statement. “It goes into new territory, exploring the galactic struggle from a ground-war perspective while maintaining that essential ‘Star Wars’ feel that fans have come to know. Gareth is such an innovative director and I’m so excited to be working with him and the extraordinary ensemble cast he’s selected for ‘Rogue One.’”
Joining this announcement was news that Jurassic World director Colin Trevorrow will be helming Star Wars: Episode IX as well as Disney’s plans to build a Star Wars-themed land at both of their theme parks.
As for Star Wars: Rogue One, the new Anthology film is set to hit theaters on December 16, 2016.
(Via Variety)
