ANAHEIM, Calif., Aug. 16, 2015 (UPI) — Principal photography has begun on the standalone “Star Wars” film “Rogue One,” Lucasfilm announced this weekend.
Directed by Gareth Edwards, the movie is set for release Dec. 16, 2016. It tells the story of “resistance fighters who have united to steal plans to the dreaded Death Star.”
The film will star Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Ben Mendelsohn, Donnie Yen, Jiang Wen, Forest Whitaker, Mads Mikkelsen, Alan Tudyk and Riz Ahmed.
“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,” producer Kathleen Kennedy said. “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.”
