Last night, the internet patiently endured Olympics coverage waiting for the new trailer for “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story“ and were duly rewarded. The promo was almost all new footage, introduced a vast array of new characters, and teased Darth Vader (though I kinda wish Disney and Lucasfilm‘s marketing had the courage not to do that). But you might be wondering who all these new faces are. Well, over the past week, some details have emerged.
READ MORE: New Trailer For ‘Rogue One: A Star Wars Story’ Looks To Overcome Reshoot Rumors
As per usual, Entertainment Weekly has been given access to the cast and goods, including some new snaps and information on some of players who will be involved in Gareth Edwards‘ film that shows how the plans for the Death Star were stolen.
First up is Bodhi Rook, played by the excellent Riz Ahmed (seriously, you should be watching HBO‘s “The Night Of“), a former pilot for the Empire who defects and joins the Rebellion.
“A character like Bodhi is not born into the life of a soldier,” Ahmed explained to EW. “He’s a pilot working for the Empire, doing his job, getting on with it. But when you put ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances, it can freak them out. It can inspire deep passions. So I’m gonna defend Bodhi.”
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Meanwhile, another character familiar with the Dark Side is Forest Whitaker‘s Saw Gerrera. According to the magazine, he’s a former friend of Darth Vader himself, and it sounds like he’ll be dealing with a complicated past as he assists our heroes.
“I don’t think he’s regretful. I think he really believes that what he has done is right,” the actor explained. “He understands that the universe could be destroyed and worlds could be destroyed if he doesn’t succeed. And he’s one of the only people who will do everything to make sure the Imperial forces don’t.”
On a lighter note, there’s Alan Tudyk‘s droid, K-2SO, who rolls with Diego Luna’s Rebel captain, Cassian Andor, and has a tight bond with him.
“They’ve been around. They’ve been together for a while, a couple years,” Tudyk said. “He wants what Cassian wants. He loves Cassian, because he freed him. It’s also more paternal in that [Cassian] gave him life and took away the bonds of his programming.”
Indeed, there are other droids of K-2So’s make, but they are operating under different circumstances. “You do meet other Kaytoos and they don’t have as much free will. We see them, and…Yeah, that’s not him,” the actor teased.
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Meanwhile, the lead of the film, Felicity Jones, who plays Jyn Erso, revealed that in the world that ‘Rogue One’ takes place in, it’s not easy being female.
“I would say there’s a huge amount of respect for women in the Rebellion. Mon Mothma is ultimately, for Jyn, someone she looks up to,” she said. “So even as the film opens [Jyn] has a very strong female role model in front of her, and someone she respects.”
That’s the latest for now, but more is likely to come before “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” opens on December 16th.
The article reads as if the story and characters would make an improvement on “Force Awakens” (not a tall order) but the actual trailer makes the film seem small, stilted, and humorless.
The real test: If you stripped out the “Star Wars” title and iconography, would anyone be jazzed about seeing this as an original property? I am guessing no.