While some felt it strayed too close to the tried and tested formula – droid holds MacGuffin, Rebels lay siege to Death Star-esque weapon, cue credits – few would argue that The Force Awakens was crafted in such a way that it almost perfectly captured the look and feel of Star Wars.
It was a conscious decision from both J.J. Abrams and the Powers That Be at Disney, as all involved looked to turn a blind eye to the effects-laden duds known as the prequels. With Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, director Gareth Edwards takes that creative process one step further, constructing practical effects and dynamic sets that evoke memories of A New Hope in the best possible way.
And now, with the first Star Wars anthology movie barreling down on its December release date, Star Wars Aficionado (via /Film) has unearthed a series of Rogue One set photos. Embedded above, the behind-the-scenes snaps spotlight some of the action that takes place on Scarif, while there’s also an image of a cameraman capturing the saga’s famous lightspeed sequence. Finally, as if these images weren’t enough, a new poster has surfaced today that features our band of Rebels above the planet Yavin IV (the home of the secret Rebel Alliance base first seen in the original Star Wars).
Wow Mexico’s #RogueOne poster is heavy on the Yavin and appropriately gorgeous! (h/t @pepelo14) pic.twitter.com/Ol0t83xM5d
— Gary Whitta (@garywhitta) November 7, 2016
Starring Felicity Jones as rebel leader Jyn Erso, Gareth Edwards’ actioner also features Diego Luna, Alan Tudyk, Forest Whitaker, Donnie Yen, Wen Jiang, Riz Ahmed, and Ben Mendelsohn as Director Krennic. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story opens on December 16. To drum up excitement for the imminent rebellion, you can find yesterday’s spirited TV spot below.