The big movie news today hails from a galaxy far, far away. During a Lucasfilm shareholder meeting, Disney chairman and CEO Bob Iger announced the official title for Gareth Edwards’ standalone Star Wars film. Dubbed Rogue One, the flick will be the first “in a unique series of big-screen adventures that explores the characters and events beyond the core Star Wars saga,” the official press release outlined.
In addition, the jam-packed news continues as The Theory Of Everything‘s Felicity Jones is finally confirmed to star. No word yet on who she is playing, but it’s expected that she will be a member of the Rogue Squadron (aka Rogue One).
The central story idea for Rogue One originated from John Knoll, an Academy Award-winning visual effects supervisor and chief creative officer at Industrial Light & Magic, who will executive produce with Simon Emanuel (The Dark Knight Rises, Fast & Furious 6) and Jason McGatlin (Tintin, War of the Worlds). Lucasfilm brass Kathleen Kennedy and Tony To (Band of Brothers, The Pacific) are also on board to produce alongside John Swartz (Star Wars: The Force Awakens), who will co-produce.
Today’s news also firmed up a long-suspected rumor concerning the Star Wars movie poised to follow J.J. Abrams’ forthcoming Star Wars: The Force Awakens. At long last, Looper‘s Rian Johnson is confirmed to write and direct Star Wars: Episode VIII. The sequel, set to follow on from the events of Abrams’ movie, has Kathleen Kennedy attached to produce along with Johnson’s Looper and Brick producer Ram Bergman.
Gareth Edwards’ Rogue One starts shooting this summer in London, and is expected to land in cinemas on December 16, 2016. Rian Johnson’s Star Wars: Episode VIII will arrive five months later on May 26, 2017.