Darth Vader Confirmed and More Rogue One Details

Darth Vader Confirmed and More Rogue One Details

Life on the Dark Side

By Alex Burns

Entertainment Weekly have the goods on Rogue One and the mysterious new instalment to the Star Wars Saga just got a lot more context! Check out some brand new images from the magazine plus some sweet new character details.

First up we have the confirmation that Forest Whittaker will be portraying Saw Gerra, a character that will be remembered for his appearance in the Clone Wars animated series fighting alongside a Jedi Anakin Skywalker.

“Consider him kind of a battered veteran who leads a band of Rebel extremists,” Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy stated. “He’s on the fringe of the Rebel Alliance. Even [they] are a little concerned about him.”

Next up is the exciting news that Darth Vader will be returning to cinema screens in Rogue One and James Earl Jones is back on hand to lend his signature voice to the iconic villain.

“He will be in the movie sparingly,” Kennedy comments. “But at a key, strategic moment, he’s going to loom large.”

“Within the Rebellion, it’s not commonly spoken about,” director Gareth Edwards adds. “Within the Empire, there is the culture of knowing of the existence of Darth Vader. There’s definitely an underlying feeling that there is a power – a dark power – available to the Empire and that if you overstep your mark, you will suffer the consequences.”

Following the foundation of the Galactic Empire, a wayward band of Rebel fighters come together to carry out a desperate mission: to steal the plans for the Death Star before it can be used to enforce the Emperor's rule.

Edwards stated that the style of the film will be similar to that of a war film, stating, "It's the reality of war. Good guys are bad. Bad guys are good. It's complicated, layered; a very rich scenario in which to set a movie."

The film's cast is peppered with upcoming talent as Felicity Jones takes the lead role as Jyn Erso alongside Mads Mikklesen who plays her father, Galen Erso. Diego Luna stars as Captain Cassian Andor with Donnie Yen as the blind spiritual warrior Chirrut Imwe, Jiang Wen as his heavily armored best friend Baze Malbus,, Alan Tudyk as the droid K-2SO, Riz Ahmed as the Rebel pilot Bodhi Rook and Ben Mendelsohn as the film’s main antagonist, Director Orson Krennic.

Directed by Gareth Edwards, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is set for release December 16, 2017.