Watch the Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (Not Sequel) Teaser Trailer

/ April 30, 2016

Mind the gap! Between the train and the platform? No, between the prequel trilogy and the original trilogy. While George Lucas may have bridged the three-year gap between Episode II and Episode III with two Clone Wars TV shows and a Clone Wars movie, the eighteen-year gap between Episodes III and IV remains relatively untouched. That’s where the “standalone” films come in. Since Disney bought Star Wars, they have come up with a pretty ambitious plan to both extend the story into the future with episodic releases and bridge the gap between III and IV with “A Star Wars Story” movies.

Here are the Star Wars movies that the future holds for us:

The Force Awakens (Episode 7) was released in December 2015. Rogue One (A Star Wars Story) will be released in December 2016. Episode VIII (8—title TBA) will be released in 2017. Han Solo (A Star Wars Story—official title TBA) will be released in 2018. Episode IX (9—title TBA) will be released in 2019. Rumor has it that, in addition to the Han Solo “origin” story, there will also be a Boba Fett origin story that could take Disney’s Star Wars franchise to 2020 and beyond.

To be very honest, I am far more excited about the “Star Wars Story” films than I am about the “Episode” films. I want to see the Star Wars universe right around (or right before) Episode IV. To me, that is the most fascinating time. Episode V is definitely my favorite film (because Yoda), but Episode IV comes in at a very close second, because my “firsts” are often my “favorites” and hold special places in my heart. I will always love the first Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings or Narnia book a little bit more than the others, for example, because they were each my first journey into a whole new world.

Enter Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, which tells about “a band of resistance fighters [who] unite for a daring mission to steal the Death Star plans” (official description). It is truly “a rebellion built on hope” (official tagline). Let’s watch the trailer:

After watching this trailer, what gets me excited more than anything is all that is immediately recognizable:

  • John Williams’ themes that come from another time—so ancient, yet so nostalgic
  • The location in the first few shots: Yavin IV, the rebel base at the end of Episode IV
  • The first Death Star, as it is first being assembled, surrounded by Star Destroyers
  • The clone troopers, the rebel uniforms and helmets, the AT-ATs in the last scene

Mon Mothma is the only character in this trailer who is immediately recognizable (we may or may not see Darth Vader’s back in one scene—there is debate as to whether he will be in this movie at all, as his character would “overshadow” all the new characters that Disney has created). However, I’m glad they chose to include Mothma. Her face is certainly recognizable, though everyone might not know who she is. Remember this line: “Many Bothans died to bring us this information”?

That’s Mon Mothma. Evidently, she will play a much more integral part in this movie than she did in Episode VI or III (especially in Episode III, because I didn’t even realize her character was in Episode III). I am definitely excited to see her in this movie! I am also intrigued by this new character, Jyn Erso, who bears a resemblance to Episode VII’s Rey. Personally, though many have theorized otherwise, I doubt they’re related. (Two strong female leads in the same universe? They must be related.)

What are you most excited to see in Rogue One? Share in the comments!

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