Rogue One - What We Know So Far

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, also known simply as Rogue One, is an upcoming live-action Star Wars film, the first in the Star Wars Anthology Series. The film, set for release on December 16, 2016, was directed by Gareth Edwards and produced by Lucas film president Kathleen Kennedy, among many others. The screenplay, written by Chris Weitz and Tony Gilroy, is based on a story by John Knoll and Gary Whitta. The film's score is composed by Michael Giacchino, marking the first live-action film in the official Star Wars canon to not be scored by John Williams.

Rogue One stars Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Ben Mendelsohn, Riz Ahmed, Donnie Yen, Jiang Wen, Forest Whitaker, Mads Mikkelsen, and Alan Tudyk. Genevieve O'Reilly reprises her role as Mon Mothma, the leader of the Rebel Alliance; O'Reilly portrayed the character for 2005's Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith, but her scenes were cut. The film also features the return of Darth Vader.

The film, which began production in August 2015, is set between Revenge of the Sith and Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope. It is set closer to the latter film and focuses on the formation of the Rebel Alliance and their efforts to steal the plans to the Death Star, an event that was referenced in the opening crawl of A New Hope. Jyn Erso, played by Jones, and a group of other characters band together to steal the plans from the Galactic Empire. Edwards has described the film as a grounded, war-based movie, one in which normal people have to come together to fight the Empire as opposed to relying on the Jedi or the Force.

Jyn Erso

Felicity Jones plays the lead role in Rogue One as rebellious Jyn Erso, she is daughter of Galen Erso who designed the Death Star and plays a key role in the theft of the plans to the death star.

"Jyn Erso was a human female soldier and former criminal who fought for the Alliance to Restore the Republic as a sergeant during the Galactic Civil War. She was recruited by Mon Mothma, a leader of the Rebel Alliance, to take part in what became the theft of the Death Star plans." - wookieepedia

Saw Gerrera

Saw Gerrera is a character from the Star Wars TV series "Rebels". He's portrayed by the incredible Forest Whitaker not much is known yet about the role he plays in Rogue One but I can guess he is some form of mentor for Jyn Erso.

"Following the Republic's transformation into the Galactic Empire, Gerrera fought against the Imperial Military, organizing a group that became known as the Partisans. During this time, he hired a Lasat mercenary and fought an Imperial platoon under ISB Agent Kallus when they were sent to Onderon to bring peace. His Partisan group become one of the many cells that would form the Rebel Alliance. At some point during this time, Gerrera's right leg was replaced with a prosthetic." - wookieepedia

Director Orson Krennic

Director Orson Krennic seems to be the main antagonist of Rogue One, played by the incredible Australian actor Ben Mendelsohn.

"Orson Krennic was a human male who served in the Galactic Republic as a Lieutenant Commander. After the Galactic Empire was formed, Krennic was promoted to Commander, and later served as Director of the Advanced Weapons Research division of the Imperial Military during the Galactic Civil War. He was responsible for the security of the Death Star project, and commanded a squad of Death Troopers, wielded as his personal weapon against the Rebel Alliance." - wookieepedia
Cassian Andor

Cassian Andor's role is to keep an eye on the rebellious Jyn Erso.

"Cassian Andor was a human male who served as a captain and intelligence officer in the Alliance to Restore the Republic's Intelligence branch during the Galactic Civil War. Andor joined a Rebel mission to steal the plans of the Death Star, a super weapon that was being built by the Galactic Empire." - wookieepedia
Galen Erso


Mads Mikkelsen's character in Rogue One is the father of protagonist Jyn Erso, he is the designer of the Death Star. Here's what wookieepedia says about the character.

"Galen Erso is one of the Core's most renowned polymaths. A theoretician, a mathematician, an engineer and experimental physicist. At present he is the preeminent authority on crystals and their use in supplying enhanced power." - wookieepedia 

K2S-O

K2S-O is a sarcastic security droid played by Alan Tudyk.

"K-2SO, sometimes spelled Kaytoo Esso or Kay-Tuesso, was a KX-series Security Droid originally created for use in the Galactic Empire's armed forces. At some point, however, the droid encountered Captain Cassian Andor, a member of the Alliance to Restore the Republic, a resistance movement that sought to overthrow the Empire and restore democracy. Andor was able to reprogram K-2SO to serve the Alliance. Along with a band of roguish Alliance operatives, K-2SO went on a daring mission to steal the plans for the Empire's moon-sized battle station, the Death Star." - wookieepedia

Chirrut Imwe

In my opinion Donny Yen's character "Chirrut Imwe" is by far the most interesting, there's a lot of mystery surrounding his character and I can't wait to see how he turns out.

"Chirrut Îmwe was a blind human male, born on the moon Jedha, and a spiritual warrior-monk who was active during the days of the Galactic Empire. Alongside his friend and protector, Baze Malbus, he and other members of a rogue group of Rebels fought in an effort to steal the plans of the first Death Star." - wookieepedia

Baze Malbus

Jiang Wen's character Baze Malbus is the arms of Rogue One, he wields some pretty big guns.

"Baze Malbus was a freelance assassin who was active during the days of the Galactic Empire. He was a devoted protector of his friend and partner Chirrut Îmwe, and fought alongside him and other members of a rogue group of Rebels during a mission to steal the plans of the first Death Star." - wookieepedia

I'm really excited for Rogue One, if you haven't been able to tell already, I'm counting down the days.

WATCH THE TRAILER HERE!

Are you looking forwards to Rogue One? What other anthology films do you want me to see? Let me know on twitter. - @TwmBurrows