Star Wars Rebels Season 3 trailer shot by shot

Disney revealed at the Star Wars Celebration a new trailer, clips and details for Star Wars Rebels season 3, set to return in the fall of this year. If you have not watched the trailer yet, here’s another chance:

Now, grab your lightsaber and let’s take a look shot by shot at the Star Wars Rebels Season 3 official trailer.

Source: Chris Miller from StarWarsReport.Com

Over the Lucasfilm logo we hear lightsabers ignite, Darth Vader breathing, and Ezra yelling Ahsoka’s name, immediately evoking the end of Season 2 and the mysterious fate of Ahsoka.

“Battles leave scars. Some you can’t see.”

Kanan meditating… while levitating Loth-cats? Note the design on his mask. It is the same design as Captain Rex’s helmet. Dave Filoni said this represents Kanan’s growth in accepting Rex as an ally since Season 2.

“I will never let my friends get hurt again!” – Ezra

Ezra is still in pain from leaving Ahsoka behind and it is having a dangerous effect on him. Note that the red eyes of the center mask begin to glow (that is where he keeps the Sith holocron and perhaps it is reacting to his dark thoughts).

“I’m afraid it’s changing him.” – Kanan

Ezra with the Sith holocron from the end of Season 2. Like Anakin, Ezra is being tempted to the dark side through the desire to save the ones he cares for.

“What if there are secrets we can learn from it that will help us destroy the Sith?” – Ezra

“Ezra, the secrets in that thing almost destroyed you.” – Kanan

“There are Imperial cadets at the Skystrike Academy who wish to defect to the rebels.” – Fulcrum

It looks like a new “Fulcrum” (still using Ahsoka’s symbol) is contacting the rebels. I’m guessing Filoni will do more to hide the voice this time.

The Skystrike Academy.

“This is TIE SS25. You can call me Wedge.”

Wedge Antilles is introduced in the Rebels universe and given a new backstory. In Legends he was never a TIE pilot, but joined the Rebellion when his girlfriend was killed.

The guy on the right could be Tycho Celchu, a character created by author Michael A. Stackpole for his X-Wing series of novels. This theory was suggested by Mark Hurliman in his recent recap article.

“Still can’t believe we’re here to break this guy out of prison.” – Sabine

In a lighter moment, the Ghost crew frees Hondo Ohnaka, presumably to get some vital information from him.

“My friends! My friends!” – Hondo Ohnaka

“I give to you, Reclam Station.” – Hondo

“If we could steal a squadrons worth….” – Hera

Hondo gives them information on where they can find Y-wings.

“…They would be key to building a strike fleet.” – Jun

“Let’s go get em!” –Ezra

“Everybody ready?” – Kanan, Ezra and Rex prepare for battle.

The return of the battle droids. I wonder if this place is a holdover from the Clone Wars.

Cham Syndulla fighting alongside Hera, Zeb, and Sabine.

“One last glorious day in the Grand Army of the Republic.” — Captain Rex

Captain Rex preparing for what he believes could be his last battle?

A mysterious pilot hammering through a TIE fighter in a YT-2400 light freighter. Dave Filoni clarified during Celebration that this isn’t Legend favorite Dash Rendar or his ship, the Outrider,just the same ship type.

Kanan and Ezra working together, jumping from a roof (back on Lothal?), and in disguise, punching out stormtroopers.

A return to Concord Dawn.

“Flying stormtroopers?” – Ezra

Dave Filoni said that the white armor is a reference to the original design of Boba Fett’s armor, initially a design for special forces stormtroopers. The line “flying stormtroopers” is probably a reference to this as well.

Note the triangle symbol on their helmets. There is also a triangle design on Kanan’s chest. I don’t know if this is a known design or what possible connection they have.

“Worse. Mandalorians who serve the Empire.” – Fenn Rau

Sabine and Ezra taking on the Imperial Mandalorians. They seem to be alone on this mission. Is Sabine doing this unsanctioned?

“You haven’t forgotten our ways. That has earned my respect.” – Fenn Rau

Fenn, a former enemy of the Rebels, seems to have changed his attitude on the Empire and Sabine.

Ezra and Zeb fighting Dark trooper inspired droids?

Lothal’s Governor Pryce, seen here for the first time.

“Governor Pryce, these rebels have proven particularly stubborn. How do you intend to solve this problem?” – Tarkin

“I need someone who sees a bigger picture.” – Governor Pryce

“The Empire is getting better at anticipating our moves. I underestimated the commander.”

“This attack was swift… precise.” – Cham

“To defeat an enemy, you must know them. Not simply their battle tactics… but their history, philosophy, art.” – Thrawn

In arguably the biggest announcement to come out of Celebration, Grand Admiral Thrawn is now canon. We see Thrawn studying the Ghost crew. As Thrawn fans know, he infamously learns how to defeat his enemies not only by studying their battle tactics, but by studying the art of their cultures. Note what looks to be the mask of a Jedi Temple Guard on Thrawn’s desk. There is also a nod to the ysalamiri lizards with the two figures behind Thrawn.

In Legends, the ysalamiri were Force negating creatures used by Thrawn against Force users.

Dave Filoni confirmed that this is just a nod to Thrawn’s origins and that the Force negating creatures will not be canon. He and George Lucas had already determined during the making ofThe Clone Wars that they did not really fit Lucas’s universe. Lucas told Filoni that since the Force is within all life, no natural creature would negate it.

“Grand Admiral Thrawn!” – Hera

Though blind, Kanan diverts a missile with the Force.

“Embrace your destiny.” – Maul tempting his “pupil.”

Ezra being drawn to the power of the Sith holocron.

Several ghostly entities emerge from an alter before Ezra.

Maul and Ezra combine the Jedi and Sith holocrons. What will this do, and what is the purpose?

“Jedi and Sith… The light and the dark… I’m the one in the middle. The Bendu.”

The Bendu is a being said to represent the middle way of the Force, between the light and the dark. How Kanan came to him, whether it is a vision or reality, and what the purpose of the visit is remains a mystery (except to those who have seen the season premiere at Celebration).

The word “Bendu” was part of the original name George Lucas gave to the Jedi in his original drafts: the Jedi Bendu.

“Once a secret is known… it cannot be unknown.” – The Bendu

“Your anger gives you strength.” – Unidentified female voice

Ezra drawn deeper towards the dark side.

“I will pull the rebels apart, piece by piece.” – Thrawn

I believe this is Nightsister “magick” that is possessing Kanan. The green mist certainly matches.

Could this be Mother Talzin herself? She was supposedly killed in the Son of Dathomir comics, but she also possessed Count Dooku before that in the same comic. If you look closely, Talzin’s hood and shoulder pads seem to match this entity. And that looks to be an unconscious Sabine in front of Kanan!

Pics from The Clone Wars.

Maul using the Force on Hera.

“I must become more powerful.” – Ezra

Ezra fighting Maul. And more of that Anakin vibe coming through in Ezra’s dialogue.

“They’ll be the architects of their own destruction.” –  Thrawn

Kanan possessed by the green mist from the alter. Did Ezra unleash this by messing with the holocrons, or did Kanan choose this? Is he the one ultimately drawn to the dark side?

Sabine holding the darksaber, an ancient Jedi weapon that was stolen by Manalorians centuries before the Clone Wars. The saber was then handed down to members of House Vizsla. Darth Maul killed Pre Vizsla, then leader of the terrorist group Death Watch. Maul took the saber and became leader of Death Watch for a time. Sabine is a member of House Vizsla, so she may be reclaiming the blade for her family. Is this a dark turn for Sabine?

Hera in the clutches of Thrawn?

“Ezra, turn away before it’s too late!” – Kanan

The combining of the Sith and Jedi holocrons has an explosive effect.

Star Wars Rebels season 3 will air on Disney XD in fall 2016.

Star Wars Rebels Season 3: The Force will be challenged

Source: ScreenRant.Com

The Star Wars Rebels season 2 finale found Ezra Bridger, Kanan Jarrus and Ahsoka Tano visiting a Sith temple in Malachor for knowledge. The finale featured the return of Darth Maul, a major Ahsoka-Darth Vader fight and Ezra’s temptation towards the dark side getting deeper. However, the episode ended with the collapse of the Sith temple with Ahsoka still inside, while Kanan, who was blinded by Darth Maul, managed to escape with Ezra. The fate of Ahsoka and Darth Maul was left hanging as season 2 came to an end.

Well, Star Wars Celebration revealed a new trailer, clips and details for Star Wars Rebels season 3, set to return in the fall of this year. As fans were left wondering if Ezra was being swayed by the power of the Dark Side, the trailer for Star Wars Rebels also confirms the debut of Grand Admiral Thrawn and highlights Ezra’s ongoing struggles with the Sith Holocron (which is beginning to turn him mad). Darth Maul also tries to make Ezra his apprentice, as the Sith Lord notices how much Ezra is being pulled towards the Dark Side of the Force.

In season three of Star Wars Rebels, the Force will be explored in completely new ways. The Force itself is the energy that flows through all living things, connecting and binding the universe, but it can also be manipulated by those who are strongly connected to it. Rebels season 3 will introduce a new ancient being, The Bendu (who lives with both the light and dark side present), and explore how different sides of the Force either clash or combine through main characters like Ezra, Darth Maul, and Kanan.

In a recent interview with Comic Book at Star Wars Celebration, showrunner Dave Filoni explained how the Force will affect Star Wars Rebels:

“I’ve gone as far as to say, when you’re a great pilot [in the Star Wars galaxy], are you using the Force? Probably! You’re in the moment. You can’t push and pull things to you – you don’t have that discipline – but you’re kinetically dodging a bunch of asteroids, which the odds of doing according to Threepio are almost impossible. What does that mean, when Han has this lack of faith, that he’s doing things [like that]?”

“Having the Force doesn’t mean you’re a superhero. It’s not that at all; it’s just being in the moment and being very true and flowing through the Force to do great things. Athletes talk about being ‘In the zone.’ They’ll say they’ve only been ‘in the zone’ twice in their entire sports professional career. Jedi are in the zone way more often than that, but they’re exceptional.”

He went on to explain that just because one has a connection with the Force, doesn’t mean they need special training:

“It takes training and discipline. Without these things, it’s dangerous. When don’t you need training and discipline? When you’re gifted; it comes easy, like Anakin, thus if it comes to you easy, you might not value it as much as somebody who has fought hard to win that skill, to earn that skill. When that happens, you can unfortunately become corrupted. You see gifted people become arrogant, they think they’re special and better than anyone else because they’re powerful and gifted – Anakin. These are the things I just relate it to real life, and I’m always interested in the Force.”

And as far as Bendu is concerned, he refers to himself as “the middle” in the trailer:

“He’s one of those guys who is outside the realm of that ‘clash of light and dark.’

I like to think of Bendu as just being very tired. You heard him in the episode yesterday say ‘You woke me up from a deep slumber,’ and part of Bendu’s thing is he’d like to go back to sleep, but the Rebels keep making all this noise, there’s all this torment over there. They’re young compared to him, and they’re like babies crying in the background. He respects their use of the Force, and respects that they have their own discipline, but he could get tired of it and curl back up and say ‘don’t bother me!”

Star Wars Rebels, the acclaimed animated series, takes place during an era when the Galactic Empire is securing its grip on the galaxy. Imperial forces are hunting down the last of the Jedi Knights while a fledgling rebellion against the Empire is taking form. The storyline follows crew of the Ghost (including a couple that are force-sensitives) as they fight against the Empire. After The Clone Wars was cancelled, Rebels picks up fourteen years after Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith and five years before Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope. Since the shocking finale of Star Wars Rebels season 2, fans have been eagerly awaiting these details concerning season 3.

Star Wars Rebels season 3 will air on Disney XD in fall 2016.

GIF Set: Star Wars Rebels Season 3 Official Trailer

Star Wars Rebels season 3 will air on Disney XD in fall 2016.

All animated gifs were made by me with Adobe Photoshop CS6 from the Star Wars Rebels Season 3 Official Trailer.

Star Wars Celebration 2016 highlights

Well, the Star Wars Celebration 2016 it’s over, but there are many videos on Internet when you can view or review some of its best moments. I’m sharing some of them. All videos from Disney Experience Channel on YouTube.

Rogue One A Star Wars Story Panel (hosted by Gwendoline Christie)

An Hour with Mark Hamill Panel

Carrie Fisher: The Princess Diaries Panel

Star Wars Rebels Season 3 Panel (hosted by Warwick Davis)

Star Wars Rebels Season 3 Trailer Grand Admiral Thrawn Reveal

Rogue One won’t have an opening crawl

Source: ScreenRant.

Few things in pop culture are as instantly recognizable as the Star Wars opening crawl. To date, the seven films in the franchise have all started this way; three paragraphs in yellow font soar up the screen as John Williams’ rousing musical score booms through the speakers. It’s an efficient way to set the context for the movie to follow, establishing the basic conflict and state of the characters before the adventure truly starts.

The crawl is such a part of Star Wars‘ DNA that even the books and comics feature a variation of the idea to guide readers into the narrative. However, fans may soon see a piece of Star Wars media that comes without a text crawl. Lucasfilm is looking for ways to differentiate the Skywalker family saga films (the numbered episodes) from the new standalone Star Wars Story label, which kicks off this December with Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. After some discussion, it appears that the opening crawl is getting axed for the spinoffs and won’t be a part of Gareth Edwards’ film.

Speaking with ET during Star Wars Celebration 2016 this past weekend, Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy addressed the matter, citing the first moments of the Rogue One panel (in which the New Hope text crawl was cut off – and you can watch in the video above) as an illustration of what’s to come:

“You know, we’re in the midst of talking about it, but I don’t think these films will have an opening crawl. I think that’s what we kind of telegraphed at the beginning of the event today.”

Edwards was more mum on the subject, expressing amusement over the high level of interest in the text crawl’s hypothetical appearance:

“I think basically there’s a lot of things that I probably can’t talk about, is probably the safest way to answer that. The idea is this film is supposed to be different than the saga films…the whole crawl of it all — it’s funny people are fascinated on that.”

Rogue One presents something of an interesting challenge for Lucasfilm, being the first live-action spinoff that is disconnected from the main narrative people have been following for nearly 40 years. Some casual moviegoers are a little confused about where in the timeline it takes place, meaning the studio has to put together a killer marketing campaign that clearly states this is a prequel. As revealed by EW last month, Rogue One‘s events primarily take place 34 years before The Force Awakens, featuring another cast of all-new characters for fans to familiarize themselves with. Once Darth Vader starts popping up in trailers and TV spots, things should become clearer, but this will still be a great test to see if Disney’s plan to annualize Star Wars is viable longterm.

Simply put, Lucasfilm had to do something to divide saga from standalone. Removing the text crawl is perhaps the easiest way to accomplish that. Edwards has repeatedly said it was his intention to make a war film in a galaxy far, far away – a departure from the typical space opera/adventure tone of the main episodes. There’s no denying that the Star Warstheme invokes a particular feeling for the audience, one that could be at odds with what Edwards is trying to achieve. What makes the idea of the spinoff films so appealing is that they can blend multiple genres and put a different spin on the property, so there shouldn’t be an obligation to stick so strictly to the formula. The Rogue One team has the freedom to go off in a new direction if they so choose.

If this indeed the case, it will be interesting to see how Edwards sets the stage for his film. Even the Clone Wars TV series featured old school news reels to give fans updates. If Rogue One just began with its opening sequence, it would be a truly unprecedented move for the franchise. Should the movie include a fresh take on the concept (i.e. just a title card with some text), it wouldn’t be all that surprising. Either way, Rogue One will probably create the template that the future anthologies follow, completing the important task of separating the saga films from the standalone projects.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story opens in December 16, 2016, followed by Star Wars: Episode VIII on December 15, 2017, the Han Solo Star Wars Anthology film on May 25, 2018, Star Wars: Episode IX in 2019, and the third Star Wars Anthology film in 2020.

Star Wars Rebels Season 3 trailer to feature Grand Admiral Thrawn

Source: ScreenRant

The trailer for Star Wars Rebels season 3 premiered at the ongoing Star Wars Celebration in Europe, with Rebels show-runner Dave Filoni (who also worked on the animated Star Wars: Clone Wars TV show) there to present the preview. Longtime Star Wars fan-favorite actor Warwick Davis (Wicket from Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi) hosted the panel, as Filoni and the Rebels voice actors Tiya Sircar (Sabine Wren) and Sam Witwer (Darth Maul and Emperor Palpatine) discussed what lies ahead for characters such as Sabine, Darth Maul, Ezra, and more in season 3.

Said Rebels season 3 trailer is now online and starts off by recapping events from the Rebels season 2 finale – including, Ezra’s (Taylor Gray) close encounter with Darth Maul and the Sith Holocron. The rest of the trailer contains many an exciting reveal about the episodes ahead on the Disney XD animated series, including an action scene that involves Mandalorians (one screened as an extended clip during the Rebels panel at Celebration). However, none of those reveals are quite as exciting as the confirmation that Grand Admiral Thrawn (Lars Mikkelsen) will make his debut on Rebels during season 3.

You can watch the full-length trailer for Star Wars Rebels season 3 above – and then check out the new poster, below.

The Rebels season 3 trailer confirms that Thrawn will serve as the primary antagonist for the Ghost and its crew this season, as far as the Imperial side of things is concerned. However, as the above Rebels poster suggests, Ezra and Kanan (Freddie Prinze Jr.) – the latter now blind from his encounter with Darth Maul in the Rebels season 2 finale – will do battle with Maul in one way or another throughout Rebels season 3.

In the trailer, we see the Sith Lord attempting to make Ezra his “apprentice”, recognizing that Ezra (who looks noticeably older and more mature with his new haircut) is already being pulled towards the Dark Side. During the Star Wars Rebels panel at Star Wars Celebration, a clip was shown featuring another encounter between the show’s heroes and Maul… one that ended on a cliff-hanger where Kanan was placed in mortal danger, much to the Celebration crowd’s frustration. Filoni indicated that Kanan will become something akin to a blind samurai warrior during Rebels season 3. The trailer supports that idea, showing that Ezra’s mentor has now grown a beard and must rely on his connection to The Force (as well as his still-functioning senses) more than ever before.

There are other fun teases in the Rebels season 3 trailer, including a brief appearance by Wedge Antilles: the legendary X-Wing pilot and Rogue Squadron member, who here is shown as just a young Imperial pilot ready to defect from the Galactic Empire. Suffice it to say, Rebels season 3 is already making good on the show’s promise to continue expanding the Star Wars universe – while at the same time, bringing in other characters and connecting to key events from other Star Wars movies, TV shows, and novels alike.

Meet Grand Admiral Thrawn

Source: ScreenRant

The Rebels season 3 trailer revealed several intriguing tidbits about the episodes that lie ahead. However, the most exciting reveal in the footage was that of season 3’s main antagonist: beloved Star Wars Expanded Universe (now Star Wars Legends) villain, Grand Admiral Thrawn. In addition, Thrawn’s creator, Timothy Zahn, is confirmed to be writing a new canon novel featuring the character that will be published in 2017.

Zahn appeared during the Rebels panel at Star Wars Celebration by way of a pre-recorded video message, saying it was an “incredible honor” for him to work with Filoni and the rest of the Rebels crew to adapt Thrawn for the animated TV show. You can check out the official cover artwork for Zahn’s upcoming Star Wars: Thrawn book, below:

Thrawn, a blue-skinned alien (who belongs to the race known as the Chiss) and tactical genius who serves the Galactic Empire, was introduced in Zahn’s Heir to the Empire book trilogy (set five years after the events of Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi). The character took command of the Empire’s forces following the death of Emperor Palpatine in the Star Wars Legends continuity, but will presumably serve a different role in the newly-established Star Wars canon. Thrawn’s addition to the Star Wars Rebels ensemble in season 3 has been rumored for some time now, based on the idea that “this time he will be using his evil brand of genius against the heroes of the starship Ghost.”

Here is what Filoni had to offer the crowd at Star Wars Celebration, with regard to Thrawn’s legacy as part of the Star Wars EU (prior to Disney’s acquisition of Lucasfilm in 2012):

“You couldn’t have grown up a Star Wars fan without encountering Thrawn in Heir to the Empire. It was a dark time when there weren’t any more movies, and it blew our minds that there could be more.”

Grand Admiral Thrawn will be voiced on Star Wars Rebels by Lars Mikkelsen (House of Cards), the older brother of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story costar Mads Mikkelsen. You can check out screenshots of Thrawn from the upcoming Rebels season 3 above. That includes an image of Thrawn alongside the Planetary Governor of Lothal, Arihnda Pryce, who’s also making her Rebels debut in season 3 (after only being mentioned by name during the seasons past).

Star Wars Rebels season 3 premieres on Disney XD in fall 2016. Star Wars: Thrawn will be published in 2017.

Rogue One: Jedha, the Star Wars spiritual planet explained

Source: ScreenRant.

There may be no Jedi in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story but that doesn’t mean the Force doesn’t have a role to play. Darth Vader of course, has a key part as the returning iconic Imperial villain in the first standalone Star Wars Anthology spinoff, and as we learned during the Rogue One panel at Star Wars Celebration Europe, faith is central to the plot as well.

The livestream of the Rogue One panel at Celebration 2016 has been removed by Disney but during the presentation, several photos were shared highlighting the new planet known as Jedha – a spiritual location described as the “Mecca” of the Star Wars galaxy. It is here we meet several of the main characters of Rogue One and it is here where believers reside who have Faith in the Force and the historical lessons of the Jedi.

During the course of Rogue One, protagonists Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones) and Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) find themselves on a mission to Jedha and glimpses of these can be seen in the teaser trailer and new sizzle reel footage revealed yesterday.

Rogue One director Gareth Edwards at the Star Wars Celebration London 2016.

At the conclusion of day one of Star Wars Celebration London 2016, ScreenRant spent some time with director Gareth Edwards to talk about his unique take on the Star Wars universe and why a spiritual place like Jedha is a natural and logical fit for the universe.

“It came from the fact that the era that our film is set in doesn’t have any Jedi. So the idea of having a Star Wars film that doesn’t talk about the Force — if you look at what George was great at is although he got a story about one thing, he’s implying a million other things in the background and ideas that are much wider, and obviously our film is using that and telling a story within it. But for me it’s like if A New Hope is kind of the story of Jesus, there must be a whole religion beyond that, and so it felt like for a thousand generations the Jedi were kind of the leaders of the spiritual belief system.

So it’s like there’s gotta be like a Mecca or Jerusalem but within the Star Wars world. It felt very contemporary to have a situation where the Empire were imposing themselves on what means a lot to the spiritual side of Star Wars for their own reasons, their own goals, and within that area there’s a resistance that’s building, and they’re trying to fight back. Our characters end up having to go to Jedha and they basically end up getting pulled into their story a bit.”

Wen Jiang and Donnie Yen play characters from planet Jedha.

Wen Jiang and Donnie Yen play Baze Malbus and Chirrut Îmwe, respectively, and as we learned on panel, the latter – the “blind master” is a devout believer in the Force and what it represents – perhaps explaining how he’s such an effective combatant without sight and only using a staff.

Edwards continues, talking about just how much lore that can continue to be expanded upon, and that only so much can fit into a single film:

“As a fan, I wanted to go to these places. It’s gotta feel right, that’s what was a massive learning experience. There’s such a fine line in Star Wars, if you go just slightly to the left it’s not Star Wars, it’s another sci-fi movie that doesn’t feel right. And if you go slightly to the right, you’re just copying what George did. So trying to navigate this thing where it’s new but feels fresh was like the dance that was the process of making the film.

I really loved Jedha. The frustrating thing about it was that it looked so good and there was so much, I was dying because it can’t all fit in the film, it can’t all fit in the story, the film’s not about that but it’s an embarrassment of riches when you’re doing something like this. You just desperately want everything to be in everything all the time, and then you go back and look at the originals and you go, ‘Wait a minute, that guy I had the toy of that I used to play with all the time, he’s only in one shot.’ We were talking about droids and things at one point and it’s one of the weirdest things in the world when you’re getting paid to do a job and part of that job is, ‘Let’s all go and watch Empire Strikes Back.’ Someone gets out on their laptop and goes, ‘Quick quick, let me hit this scene’ and everyone’s trying to beat each other to it and then you get to this bit and you go, ‘Hang on, he’s only in one shot? I was obsessed with that toy as a kid.’ That’s the beauty of it is that the hope is there’s so much detail in this world—this film’s born out of that, like ‘What would that story be?’ It’s not a main event but it could be another film and that’s what exciting about Star Wars and I think that’s what, obviously, our film’s been born through. It never ends really, I think Disney are very smart.”

What we learned at Celebration about Jedha and its inhabitants obviously hints at interesting potential connections to the Lor San Tekka (Max Von Sydow) character from Star Wars: The Force Awakens who was part of the Church of the Force – and underground faith movement of sorts who believe the return of the Jedi Order is coming and that it’s required for there to be balance in the Force. From the official Star Wars Databank:

A legendary traveler and explorer, Lor San Tekka is a longtime ally of the New Republic and the Resistance. After the Battle of Endor, San Tekka helped Luke Skywalker recover secret Jedi lore that the Empire had tried to erase, and Leia Organa hopes the old scout can now help find her brother.
Of course, Episode VII takes place nearly four decades later so we’re curious how much of Jedha is shown in its Rogue One introduction and whether other media and films will further explore the location.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story opens in December 16, 2016, followed by Star Wars: Episode VIII on December 15, 2017, the Han Solo Star Wars Anthology film on May 25, 2018, Star Wars: Episode IX in 2019, and the third Star Wars Anthology film in 2020.

May The Force Be With Us: Rogue One sizzle video

Source text: ScreenRant. All animated gifs made by me with Adobe Photoshop CS6.

Last year saw a return to the quintessential sci-fi action adventure franchise with J.J. Abrams’ Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens – a new chapter of the Star Wars saga that was massively successful at the box office and won over long-time fans of the series. Additionally, with Lucasfilm – now under the Disney banner – returning to the Star Wars franchise, there are two more Episodes planned and three standalone anthology films set to be released in the coming years. The first of the anthology films, debuting this winter, is Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

This weekend in London is Star Wars Celebration Europe, celebrating all things Star Wars from the original trilogy and the prequels to the new movies and television series tied into the extended universe. During the panel for Rogue One, a making-of featurette was released, giving fans an inside look at the process, the people involved, and all the factors that came together to bring this particular Star Wars story into fruition.

Star Wars unveiled the featurette, which you can watch in its entirety above, that includes interviews with director Gareth Edwards, comments from the cast and fellow crew members about what it’s like to work on a Star Wars film, and plenty of new footage from the upcoming film – including the final shot of Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones) saying those all-too-familiar words: “May the force be with us.”

Many of the cast and crew, particularly Jones, praise the practical effects of Rogue One, with glimpses of the costuming, practical explosions, and various sets of the upcoming Star Wars anthology film also visible throughout the featurette. Additionally, bits of green (or, in this case, blue) screen are visible, while Alan Tudyk is also shown in his motion capture suit, so Rogue One will not be entirely produced with practical effects – as was the case with The Force Awakens as well.

The making-of video also features an interview with Edwards talking about the pressures of coming into the Star Wars franchise, especially as a mega-fan of the original trilogy and finding that balance between honoring George Lucas’ work while also adding something new to the series:

“The pressure’s so high… We’re making a film that’s right touching my favorite movie of all time, but then if you’re too respectful of it that you daren’t do anything new or different or take a risk, then what are you bringing to the table?”

Of course, Edwards has a point in that the pressure on any of the new Star Wars films is incredibly high, though especially for Abrams’ The Force Awakens as the first new chapter in the episode story and Rogue One as the first live-action Star Wars movie not set within the standard episodic trilogies. As the first anthology film, Rogue One will need to establish that Star Wars can be a profitable live-action sci-fi adventure franchise outside of the make series.

However, if everything we’ve seen from Rogue One is any indication, including this newest making-of video, Edwards and all those involved are genuinely invested in creating a compelling standalone addition to the Star Wars universe. Additionally, along with the fact that Lucasfilm and Disney hit a homerun with The Force Awakens, it seems fans have every reason to rest assured that Rogue One will be another hit in the Star Wars Franchise as well as the successful first step for the Star Wars anthology movies – hopefully building excitement for the next standalone following Han Solo.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story opens in U.S. theaters on December 16, 2016, followed byStar Wars: Episode VIII on December 15, 2017, the Han Solo Star Wars Anthology film on May 25, 2018, Star Wars: Episode IX in 2019, and the third Star Wars Anthology film in 2020.

Rogue One: New poster, early concept art and Darth Vader

Source: ScreenRant.Com

Star Wars Celebration 2016 is happening in London now and Star Wars: The Force Awakens‘ Gwendoline Christie hosted a panel with Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy, director Gareth Edwards and the cast of the movie, including Felicity Jones, who plays protagonist Jyn Erso. Edwards shared a couple of special treats for fans: a brand new poster showing Rebels rushing into battle with Stormtroopers on a beach as the Death Star looms ominously in the background, and a piece of very early concept art for the movie, showing a Rebel team that looks rather different from the final lineup in the movie, but demonstrates that the war movie feel that we’ve seen in the trailers was present from the very beginning.

Check out both images below:

Based on the concept art, it looks like the plan for Rogue One included an android character and a mixed-gender team from a very early stage, though the final lineup doesn’t include any aliens (at least, not that we know of yet). The team that audiences will meet in the movie consists of Felicity Jones as Jyn Erso, Diego Luna as Captain Cassian Andor, Donnie Yen as Chirrut Imwe, Jiang Wen as Baze Malbus, Riz Ahmed as pilot Bodhi Rook, and Alan Tudyk as android K-2SO.

The poster shows a scene from what appears to be a centerpiece battle of the movie, which we saw glimpses of in the first trailer for Rogue One. Among the Rebel fighters running towards the Stormtroopers in the poster are the main characters of the movie – you can see K-2SO on the far left, with Cassian and Jyn closer to the water and Chirrut and Baze farther down the beach. During the panel it was also revealed that the name of the planet they’re on is Jedha, and that the battle scenes were filmed in Maldives. Given what we’ve already seen, this battle promises to be quite the spectacle on the big screen.

How much Darth Vader is there in Star Wars: Rogue One?

Source: ScreenRant

Although it has yet to be released publicly at the time of this writing, during Star Wars Celebration a second brand new teaser trailer for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story was played for attendees, and the biggest takeaway from it – in addition to it being a better trailer than the first one – is that it concludes with the reveal of Darth Vader. Appropriately so, he’s not shown in full form. Instead, his silhouette and vague details of his costume are seen in a reflection as the camera pans upward over a shiny floor, with something bright red behind Vader as we hear him breathe. It’s not a surprise, but as one of the most iconic film characters of all-time, it was no less exciting. But how much is Vader actually in Rogue One?

Gareth Edwards at Rogue One Panel during Star Wars Celebration Europe 2016

As the show floor came near its conclusion on the first day of Star Wars Celebration Europe 2016, ScreenRant had the opportunity to spend time with Rogue One director Gareth Edwards. So, how does Edwards and the creative team find the right balance in how much to use Darth Vader in Rogue One?

“He’s got such a gravitational pull, the second he shows up you just get sucked into Darth Vader. So it was a process to try and figure out how to pepper that in in a way that felt right. When I read the first document, which is ‘this is what we’re thinking of doing’ I was like ‘Oh my god, they’re going to do that film? Geeze.’ And at the time I thought they must have sent it to hundred other people and I accidentally got it by mistake. Then I realized they were going to do it, and I was like ‘I could never live with myself to be two years from then and it’s coming out and this is happening and there’s some guy here going ‘yeah, so we filmed in 360′ and I’d be going ‘God damn I could have been doing that!’ So you have to do it…and I’ve forgotten the question.”

Asked again if it difficult to figure out how much to use Darth Vader in the film…

“Sure. So hopefully, it was like… I got pulled into making the film through my love of the original films, but then what was a clear conversation that happened early on at Lucasfilm is that we’re doing new things here, this is not a karaoke number or just pure winks and fan service. That’s not going to make a good film. This has got to be characters that you care about and there’s an opportunity to create new people and events that pull you in, so hopefully the goal is that you come to the film for all the reasons that we love Star Wars and you get sucked in and start to care about the new people and when you’re in the midst of all that and that’s going on, familiar things start to pass you by, you start to remember ‘Oh yeah, oh yeah’ but the film should exist on it’s own terms.

If all these films are ever just ‘And here’s that character you love, Yay! Here’s that other character you love, Yay!’ all the time, that’s all they’re doing then they’re not really doing what George did – he tried to find stories that were about something, that were saying something, that you keep in your pocket forty years later, that stay in your head and are still affecting you.”

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story opens in U.S. theaters on December 16, 2016, followed by Star Wars: Episode VIII on December 15, 2017, the Han Solo Star Wars Anthology film on May 25, 2018, Star Wars: Episode IX in 2019, and the third Star Wars Anthology film in 2020.

Star Wars Celebration: Rogue One Costumes & Props Image Gallery

Source text and photos: ScreenRant.Com

Star Wars Celebration 2016 in London is well underway with exciting panels, celebrity appearances, early screenings and much more for every Star Wars enthusiast. Screen Rant is there bringing fans unable to attend all the best that Star Wars Celebration offers. The Rogue One panel, with director Gareth Edwards is set to be a big one with sneak peaks of the Star Wars galaxy during a time when the Jedi had yet to rise again. In the highly-anticipated upcoming spin-off film set directly before the events of Star Wars: A New Hope, Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones) is tasked with gathering a crew of rag-tag rebels and stealing the Death Star plans much to the dismay of the Empire.

Rogue One is said to capture that classic Star Wars feel and style by using elements from the original trilogy. With a dash of nostalgia, fans finally get to see the galaxy during its darkest days when Darth Vader ruled and the Rebellion wasn’t yet operating in full force. The absence of Jedi will be felt, especially because the Darkside has the upperhand with Shoretroopers, Stormtroopers, and Deathtroopers and plans to build the galaxy’s most destructive weapon – the Death Star. Keeping close to the original trilogy, the character costumes and props reveal classic Star Wars vibe.

Have a look at Screen Rant’s exclusive images of Rogue One costumes and props below:

Imperial Stormtroopers are the faceless legions of soldiers serving the Galactic Empire. Encased in white armor, stormtroopers are loyal imperials who undergo rigorous training that strips them of any sense of indivuality. 

Shoretroopers are specialist stormtroopers stationed at the top secret Imperial military headquarters. Shoretroopers patrol the beaches and bunkers of the planetary facility.

Imperial AT-ACT Cargo Walker is a larger version of the standard combat AT-AT, the AT-ACT features a dedicated cargo bed for the transportation of heavy building materials or combat munitions. It was deployed at major Imperial construction projects, such as shipyards and sprawling research installations.

Krennic’s Imperial Shuttle, with its starkly geometric hull shape and folding bat-like wings, the approach of Delta-class T-3c shuttle is an imposing sight. Once it lands and deploys its passengers – the cruel Director Krennic and his squad of elite troopers, all sense of dread proves extremely warranted. 

A streamline variant of the classic TIE fighter design, the TIR striker is designed for atmospheric patrols over important Imperial ground-based installations. The versatile design can also soard in space, where it can accompany traditional TIE fighters in chasing down enemy starships.

Imperial Death Troopers, the elite soldiers of Imperial Intelligence, Death Troopers are encased in specialized stormtrooper armor with a dark, ominous gleam. These soldiers serve as bodyguards and enforcers for Director Krennic, a highly placed officer within the Advanced Weapons Research division of the Empire.

Another shot of Shoretrooper armor and weapons.

Jyn Erso, putting behind a checkered past by lending her skills to a greater cause, Jyn Erso is impetuous, defiant, and eager to bring the battle to the Empire. Used to operating alone, she finds her higher purpose by taking on desperate mission for the Rebel Alliance.

Chirrut Imwe. Deeply spiritual, Chirrut Imwe believes that all living things are connected through the Force. His sightless eyes do not prevent him from being a highly skilled warrior. Though he lacks Force abilities, this warrior monk has rigorously honed his body through intense physical and mental discipline. 

Bohdi Rook, a former Imperial pilot, he has strong piloting and technical skills that he will put to use for the Rebellion. Ever practical, but highly anxious, Bhodi must gather his courage to bring the battle to the Empire.

Baze Malbus, the harsh reality of his Imperial-occupied home world has hardened Malbus into a pragmatic soldier and a crack shot with his heavy repeater cannon. Baze has a bravado that provides a marked contrast to the spiritual centeredness of his best friend and moral compass, Chirrut Imwe.

An accomplished Alliance Intelligence officer with combat field experience, Captain Cassian Andor commands respect from his Rebel troops with his ability to keep a cool head under fire and complete his missions with minimal resources.

As director of Advanced Weapons Research for the Imperial military, Orson Krennic is obsessed with the completion of the long-delayed Death Star project. A cruel but brilliant man, Krennic has staked his reputation on the delivery of the functional battle station to the Emperor. 

Rogue One, directed by Gareth Edwards stars  Felicity Jones as rebel crew leader Jyn Erso, Mads Mikklesen as her dad Galen Erso, Diego Luna as Captain Cassian Andor, Donnie Yen as the blind warrior Chirrut Imwe, Jiang Wen as Baze Malbus, Alan Tudyk as the droid K-2SO, Riz Ahmed as Rebel pilot Bodhi Rook, Forest Whitaker as Saw Gerrera, finally and Ben Mendelsohn as Director Orson Krennic, the film’s main villain.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story opens in U.S. theaters on December 16, 2016, followed by Star Wars: Episode VIII on December 15, 2017, the Han Solo Star Wars Anthology film on May 25, 2018, Star Wars: Episode IX in 2019, and the third Star Wars Anthology film in 2020.