New Star Wars: Rogue One trailer sparks intrigue

There's something refreshing about a Star Wars movie that's set in a familiar universe but which doesn't involve any familiar characters of plot-points. Such is the case with Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, which is slated for a December 16 release and which received a longer and more intriguing trailer above.

Aside from a split-second of shot of Darth Vader, most if not all of the characters in this peripheral story are new or have just been alluded to in past films. Rogue One also takes place between Episode III and Episode IV, so it shares the 70's set design and aesthetic of the original Star Wars: A New Hope. Personally, I wasn't too excited about this movie, but the second trailer has me intrigued and I think this movie will surprise a lot of old and new Star Wars fans.

Third ‘Star Wars’ trilogy is heading our way

We’re not just getting Episode VIII in 2017 and Episode IX in 2019. There is the upcoming Rogue One anthology film coming out this December. But aside from this Gareth Edwards-directed Star Wars film, there is also the standalone Han Solo film coming out in 2019. These two movies look like they’re part of the bigger plans Disney and Lucasfilm has for the Star Wars universe. Bob Iger, Disney’s chief executive, confirms at the Goldman Sachs Communacopia conference that a new anthology film is coming out by 2020, too. And that upcoming film will form a trilogy with Rogue One and the upcoming Han Solo movie with Alden Ehrenreich taking the titular role.

After that, we’re all kept in the dark with what’ll happen in the galaxy far, far away. But Iger has said he’s already in talks with Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy on plans for the Star Wars beyond 2020.

Source: Rolling Stone

R2-D2's actor Kenny Baker passed away

British actor Kenny Baker, who has played one of the most iconic robot roles as Star Wars' R2-D2, has passed away on Saturday. He was 81 years old and succumbed to a long illness. He first got the role because of his height (he stands at three feet, eight inches). And he's been playing the beloved robot for most of the Star Wars films, he was even credited as "R2-D2 Consultant" in The Force Awakens. He was supposed to attend the premiere for said movie but was told he was too ill to travel. He's had problems with his lungs and was often in sitting in a wheelchair, according to his niece Abigail Shield.

Shield told The Guardian: "It was expected, but it's sad nonetheless. He had a very long and fulfilled life. He brought lots of happiness to people and we'll be celebrating the fact that he was well loved throughout the world. We're all very proud of what he achieved in his lifetime."

‘Star Wars: Rogue One’ release official trailer

In case you’ve missed it, the newest Star Wars film coming out at the end of the year recently got its first official trailer. And it’s a great thing we get to see a lot of the new characters from this movie as well as seeing one of the greatest villains in the Star Wars universe (and perhaps the whole cinematic universe): Darth Vader. And as The Verge points out, his reveal in the trailer comes in a similar vein as when Han Solo and Chewbacca came out in the trailer for The Force Awakens. Rogue One is led by actress Felicity Jones and it takes place just before the 1977 Star Wars: A New Hope film, which is just around the time that the Death Star was being built. Director Gareth Edwards calls this film a “war movie” and you can certainly see that here. Let’s just say we’re now more excited for it.