The first official trailer for "Star Wars: Rogue One" was released just in time to binge watch this weekend (admit it, you probably will after reading this story), and fans have already begun to speculate on what's to come in the Gareth Edwards-directed flick. The highly anticipated first "Star Wars Anthology" film is set to be released this December 16, marking a year after "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" debuted in theaters last holiday season.
So what lies beneath the imagery of the first official trailer of "Star Wars: Rogue One?" First of all, audiences are given a glimpse of the Force's "holy land" called planet Jedha. A sweeping view of the city shows something very desert-like: dry and hot, flanked by bare land forms and plateaus. We're also reintroduced to Felicity Jones' Jyn Erso, a criminal who is recruited to save the world, or at least, Jedha. If that sounds familiar to you, it's probably because you've seen the same concept play out in "Guardians of the Galaxy" or "Suicide Squad." Anyway, Saw Gerrera (Forest Whitaker) tells Jyn about the evils of the Empire and thus is recruited to form a group of defense.
Jyn is posed a question: would sheep run away now that she's technically out of a prison cell? She is then told that her services are needed in the face of a weapons test. Diego Luna's Cassian Andor asks her if she is ready to take on the mission, and she seems to reply affirmative, as the two are next seen embarking on a journey while on a U-wing. Does anyone else sense a "ship" between these two? It's too early in the game to hint at any romance, since this is the first official trailer for "Star Wars: Rogue One," but there's no harm in hoping.
"I've been recruiting for the rebellion for a long time," Andor admits. We then see Jiang Wen's Baze Malbus, who according to The Verge has some grudge against the Empire because they detroyed his home. But even more badass than Malbus is Donnie Yen's blind Chirrut Îmwe, who single-handedly takes down several Storm Troopers and shows Jyn and Andor how it's done. Hopefully more of that once "Star Wars: Rogue One" gets released.
Jyn then meets Alan Tudyk’s K-2SO, who seems to have a dry sense of humor, something that Andor finds very amusing. The trailer shows a lot of intergalactic imagery (how gorgeous is that solar eclipse?) once more before focusing on some battle scenes, and one very climactic scene where Jyn approaching a TIE Fight. At the very end is a glimpse of a brooding Darth Vader, whose all-too-familiar breathing is audible above the background music.
"Star Wars: Rogue One" debuts on December 16. Check out the five best moments from the trailer via Gamespot below.