Phil Roberts 
The journey to Gareth Edwards’ Star Wars blockbuster starts here. It’s time to welcome Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.
It’s time to go rogue and welcome Gareth Edwards’ Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.
When The Force Awakens arrived to return the Star Wars Saga to its original source material, no one could have anticipated the power the saga still held. It is a power that would allow fans from all corners of the world to unite like never before. The key difference between the releases of “Revenge of the Sith” and “The Force Awakens” is the rise of social media. This platform allows fans from all corners of the galaxy to connect and share their passion with one another.
With a new social format for fans to engage with, the primary concern for the deeply loyal and passionate followers of the greatest space saga of all time was whether J.J. Abrams, the director chosen to succeed George Lucas, could truly bring the saga back to its roots and revive the emotional nostalgia we all feel for the Original Trilogy. Many of us were skeptical.
RISE OF THE FIRST ORDER
And then we witnessed the tyrannous First Order Stormtroopers emerge from the Transporter landing ramp, just as they did thirty years previous when the pressure door of the Tantive IV exploded to reveal a swarm of Imperial Stormtroopers intent on capturing the rebel crew and regaining the stolen plans to the dreaded Death Star. The iconic image instantly transported us back to a universe where the white-suited warriors commanded by the villainous Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine threatened to march across the stars and enslave the galaxy. Within moments of the seventh chapter’s opening sequence, Abrams had expertly reinstalled the vintage feeling of the saga. An essence diluted so despairingly throughout the release of the prequel trilogy.
With the return of iconic characters such as Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, and Princess Leia Organa, fans were treated to a long-awaited return to form for the saga. Despite having many doubters, the blockbuster went on to become a $2 billion juggernaut. The majority of the fan base enjoyed a degree of instant gratification. In contrast, others, including myself, required several screenings of the film to truly dissect the quality of the content presented so vividly on the screen. Almost a year later, the Star Wars saga has been thoroughly rejuvenated, and as a result, the fan base has been promised an abundance of new content for us all to look forward to.
ANTHOLOGIES
It was then that Lucasfilm announced the creation of a new series of movies, an anthology of stories separate from the traditional episodic format to which we have become accustomed. The first of the new Star Wars Anthology movies was announced to be a tale of heroics set amongst the backdrop of the war torn years between Episode III Revenge of the Sith and Episode IV A New Hope. The movie was announced as Rogue One, a story set to relay the tale of how the Rebel Alliance came to be in possession of the plans for the Empire’s first dreaded Death Star. Not only was the movie announced to be a return to the era of the galactic civil war from the original trilogy, but we also discovered a rumor that the dark lord of the Sith himself, Darth Vader, would make a special appearance.
JAMES EARL JONES RETURNS!
With legendary actor James Earl Jones returning to reprise his iconic role in the popular Star Wars Rebels television series, the door appeared to be opening for his epic return to the movie franchise. But the confirmation of his involvement was kept under wraps. However, in the aftermath of his stunning debut in the series’ season finale and engrossing presence throughout season 2, Darth Vader’s Rogue One participation was confirmed. Now, the fans have an Original Trilogy-themed Star Wars movie to look forward to, with their favorite villain stalking the rebellion threat once again.
In addition to this amazing news, we were treated to a new teaser trailer for the movie, which unveiled several of the new characters that we will be joining when the blaster fire erupts on December 15th. For the Empire, alongside the established hordes of armored Imperial Stormtroopers, are three new troops destined to enter the annals of Star Wars fandom. Their new armor, designed to be as foreboding as it is unique, gives us the impression of a much darker time in the Star Wars timeline, reflecting the struggles of that period.
1. THE IMPERIAL DEATH TROOPER
The elite soldiers of Imperial Intelligence, Death Troopers, have been designed to be encased in specialized Stormtrooper armor with a dark and foreboding gleam. These new, lethal-looking soldiers serve as both bodyguards and enforcers for our new villain, Director Krennic, an ambitious officer in command of the Advanced Weapons Research division of the Empire.
2. THE IMPERIAL SCARIF STORMTROOPER
These specialized Stormtroopers stationed at the top-secret Imperial military facility on Scarif patrol the beaches and bunkers of the installation, earning them the name Imperial Shoretroopers.
3. IMPERIAL HOVERTANK PILOT
Imperial Hovertank Pilots are the new Imperial combat drivers specialised in operating the Imperial Assault Hovertanks of Rogue One. Under Imperial occupation, the streets of desert moon Jedha are patrolled by Imperial Assault Hovertanks with these new sleek soldiers at the helm.
NEW CHARACTERS
Alongside these new additions to the Stormtrooper fraternity, we are set to be introduced to a whole new array of characters, ranging from a reprogrammed Imperial Security Droid to a Wookiee-like Gigioran mercenary, to name but a few. These almost certain iconic characters will soon be entering the vaults of our beloved Star Wars brethren to take their rightful place amongst the growing universe set in a galaxy far, far away…
If these new additions weren’t enough to hit home the nostalgic feeling of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, we have been indulged further by the return of one of our beloved childhood favorite vehicles from the Empire Strikes Back, the AT-AT. This time, however, the four-legged walkers have been outfitted to carry cargo containers across the harshest terrains the galaxy has to offer. The AC-ACT (All Terrain Armoured Cargo Transport) will surely prove to be another hit with the fans, a hit that will only be accentuated by the looming release of a Hasbro toy version that will undoubtedly be delighting the imaginations of our children for years to come.
THE ORIGINAL TRILOGY
With the soul of the Original Trilogy truly rejuvenated by The Force Awakens and with this new chapter bridging the gap between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope, the fans of the saga are set for an amazing few years. Following the release of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, we are blessed with an abundance of material to digest, beginning with Star Wars Episode VIII, an untitled Han Solo anthology movie, and Star Wars Episode IX, all set for future release. If that wasn’t enough, Star Wars Celebration Europe served as the perfect stage for Star Wars Rebels showrunner Dave Filoni to announce the involvement of an iconic character in the eagerly anticipated third season.
The announcement, which was greeted with an ovation of applause, was the confirmation that Grand Admiral Thrawn, the sinister villain from the Timothy Zahn expanded universe novels, would be joining the Empire’s quest to eliminate the Rebellion threat. Thrawn is a character that fans have been eager to see on screen for many years. If that wasn’t enough to please us, we glimpsed the Outrider, the modified YT-2400 freighter commanded by the steadfast Dash Rendar, as described in the excellent Star Wars novel Shadows of the Empire. Filoni confirmed that a version of this iconic ship would make a special guest appearance in season three; however, Dash Rendar would unfortunately not be at the helm.
THE FUTURE OF STAR WARS
With Darth Vader making his return to our screens and Grand Admiral Thrawn poised to threaten our struggling band of Lothal Rebels, one thing is certain: the nostalgic vibe of the Star Wars universe is alive and well. This “old is new again” approach has restored our faith in the saga, which owes much of its revival to The Force Awakens. This resurgence promises to stand the test of time, becoming a lasting legacy. The nostalgic feeling of the Star Destroyer pursuing the Tantive IV in A New Hope returns with a bang. However, only Lucasfilm knows what other surprises await us in the future. In fact, the only thing that goes beyond certainty is that the force is truly strong with Lucasfilm.
Set your chronometers for December 15th, the release date of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.
Meet Phil Roberts! He’s the dedicated owner, daily content manager, and editor-in-chief of The Future of the Force. Phil is a budding novelist who turned his passion toward writing about the franchises he loves back in 2016. He’s a huge fan of all things Star Wars, Batman, DC, Marvel, Star Trek, Indiana Jones, Ghostbusters, King Kong, and the Ray Harryhausen movies. Phil is a BFI-accredited journalist and a distinguished member of the Film Critics Association UK.
If he’s not catching a movie at the cinema, you can bet he’s streaming something just as awesome!
