‘Rogue One’ Releases Stunning New Trailer
Rogue One, the first non-saga entry into the Star Wars franchise, released its new trailer today, and it’s a doozy. The Gareth Edwards (Godzilla) directed film is a stark departure from what we’ve come to recognize as a Star Wars film, not only in terms of plot and focus, but in terms of look as well. Unlike the first seven movies, there’s nary a Skywalker to be found (well…technically, but whether or not Darth Vader, such as he is, counts as a Skywalker, at least at this point, is a question of some philosophical merit that is, perhaps, better suited elsewhere) and gone are the bright, glossy exteriors of which Star Wars has come to be known. The palette here is somewhat muted, giving the film a gritty, dirty look more befitting that of a world torn by war—even though the world in question is, in fact, the galaxy.
The new trailer offers plenty of goose-pimple inducing moments, perhaps none greater than Jyn Erso’s (Felicity Jones) inspirational monologue to her crew. “We have hope,” she says. “Rebellions are built on hope.” Thematically, that plays well into the movie’s chronological follow up in the Star Wars franchise, A New Hope. The events of Rogue One lead directly into the plot of that film, with Erso and her rogue squadron leading the covert operations to steal the plans for the Death Star, which Luke and his cohorts use to destroy the station in the original movie.
We also get the final reveal of Mads Mikkelsen’s character, who’s revealed to be Jyn Erso’s father, and a key figure in the construction of the Death Star. Whether or not he helped build the “super weapon” of his own volition seems to be up in the air, and will probably be central to the overall plot of the movie. Being that it’s a Star Wars movie, however, there are sure to be other secrets to be revealed after the film’s release, currently scheduled for December 16.
(LucasFilm)
‘Rogue One’ One Sheet Recalls ‘Star Wars’ Glory Days
A day ahead of the new trailer, LucasFilm revealed the new poster for Rogue One, which recalls the glory days of Star Wars artwork. Jyn Erso’s cold visage draws the immediate eye as she looms over her rogue squadron crew. Her blank expression belies the hint of hope in her eyes as she looks beyond the immediate towards some unseen future (a future we know well, thanks to our experience with the franchise). Behind her lurks the Death Star, the mega-weapon Jyn and her team are trying to sabotage on behalf of the rebellion, with the face of Darth Vader imposed faintly upon it, looking over Jyn’s shoulder menacingly. It’s really a beautiful work that almost stands on its own, indicating the hope of the rebellion in the face of the danger they face. If the trailers released so far haven’t intrigued you, the poster might be enough to sell it.
(LucasFilm)
‘Rogue One’ Star Felicity Jones Talks Jyn Erso, Downplays Reshoots
Felicity Jones recently spoke to The Hollywood Reporter for an in depth interview which delved somewhat into some of the controversies surrounding Rogue One, specifically the much ballyhooed reshoots which sent ripples of concern through the fandom earlier this year. “Obviously when you come to the edit, you see the film come together and you think, ‘Actually, we could do this better, and this would make more sense if we did this.’ I’ve done it so many times. I mean, you wouldn’t just give your first draft on this story, would you?” Reshoots are pretty standard these days, especially with big budget tent poles like Rogue One. From the sound of things, it seems as though the reshoots were an effort to ensure the best possible version of the story hits the screens.
Jones also spoke a little about playing Erso. Her performance, she says, was inspired in part by watching Florence Welch of Florence + The Machine, specifically the way she moves on stage. “So much of Jyn is movement. It became a very important part of finding her. She walks almost a bit like a caged animal. Her fight sequences become like dances.”
