Watch: The exciting ‘Rogue One: A Star Wars story’ trailer has caused a ripple in the Force

It may not have the Jedi in it yet but the first trailer for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story  has surely caused a ripple in the Force. The dust has barely settled from The Force Awakens, but audiences already have a new spin-off to get excited for with the first standalone Star Wars story. The trailer begins with the familiar John Williams theme, whetting our appetite for expanding Wars verse as we are introduced to Jyn Erso played by Oscar-nominated Felicity Jones (The Theory of Everything.) Her ‘rogue’ streak is introduced as well, as a voice narrates that she has been her own since the age of 15 and has notched up a string of convictions including forgery, assault and theft. And if there is any doubt of Jyn is a BAMF protagonist this dialogue should settle it.  “This is a rebellion isn’t it? I rebel.” via GIPHY The ‘rogue’ is then given a mission to help investigate “a major weapons test” — better known as the Death Star in development — and find out how to destroy it. The trailer also features a fan favorite — the Empire’s AT-AT military vehicles — as well as a smattering of Stormtroopers. The music includes a snippet of the infamous Imperial March, used to signify the approach of Darth Vader — perhaps a hint that cinema’s ultimate villain will make an appearance. [caption id=“attachment_2719394” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Felicity Jones in a screengrab from the trailer.[/caption] To clear the confusion several people seem to have due to the virtual time-travel in the cinematic universe, Rogue One is set just before the events before 1977’s A New Hope, aka Episode IV which kick started the popular Star Wars franchise. The movie looks back to introducing the ragtag group of unlikely heroes unite to undertake a daring and seemingly impossible mission to steal the plans for the Death Star, better known as the big, bad weapon Luke Skywalker, Han Solo and the Rebel Alliance destroyed in the original film. It’s the first in a series of spinoff films set in the Star Wars universe, disconnected from the more chronological main trilogy that kicked off with The Force Awakens and will continue with Rian Johnson’s Episode VIII, which arrives in December 2017. One of the anthology films will focus on a young Han Solo and casting is still in process for the space smuggler originated and made iconic by Harrison Ford. Rogue One  stars Jones alongside Mads Mikkelsen, Forest Whitaker, Alan Tudyk, Donnie Yen and Riz Ahmed. Directed by Gareth Edwards (Godzilla) is due for release on 16 December. Watch the trailer here:

With inputs from agencies