The Internet was ablaze Thursday morning as the first teaser trailer for the highly-anticipated Rogue One: A Star Wars Story premiered on Good Morning America.
The Star Wars spinoff movie centers on a a group of Rebel spies on a mission to steal the blueprints of the under-construction Death Star. In official Star Wars canon, the action in Rogue One takes place after Episode III but before Episode IV: A New Hope, before Luke, Leia and Han Solo ever got together to save the galaxy.
The new trailer is loaded with teasers for hardcore Star Wars fans. Felicity Jones plays Rebel spy Jyn Erso, who joins up with Diego Luna, Donnie Yen and Mads Mikkelsen’s characters in the plot to steal the plans for the Death Star.
The trailer gives us a look at a young Rebel leader Mon Mothma, and also at Forest Whitaker’s as-yet-unnamed character. Fans also get to see a return of some AT-ATs and a sword-wielding Donnie Yen giving a hapless Stormtrooper the business.
Rogue One is the first in several planned spinoffs from the official ennealogy (the nine-part official series). A spinoff planned for 2018 will give fans a look at a young Han Solo, while another rumored film will explore the backstory of the infamous bounty hunter and fan favorite character Boba Fett.
Rogue One is directed by Gareth Edwards (Godzilla) off of a script from Chris Weitz (The Golden Compass). The film is out in theaters on December 16.
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