Just when we finally got a handle on Luke, Leia, Anakin, Padmé, Finn, Rey and more, in comes a whole new class of “Star Wars” characters. You’d better grab a pencil.
The latest entry in the 39-year-old movie franchise is “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” out Thursday. The prequel takes place during the years between “Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith” and “Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope,” as the fiendish Empire gets to work on the Death Star.
“Rogue One” is a one-off. That is, it’s not the start of a new trilogy, but there will be some familiar faces along for the ride in addition to a freshly minted galactic gang.
Like all “Star Wars” films, “Rogue One” is shrouded in secrecy, but here’s what we know so far.
Jyn Erso
Meet your new hope. This badass fighter with a sordid past holds the key to stealing the Death Star plans from the Empire. “The Rebellion has found her a little bit difficult,” actress Felicity Jones said in a video feature. “But they need something very specific from her.” That “something” could be her scientist father, Galen (Mads Mikkelsen).
Cassian Andor
Diego Luna plays this cool-headed Rebel captain tasked with being the yin to Jyn’s yang. He’s considered a loner, as evidenced by his BFF: a robot named K-2SO. “He’s around so many people and he chooses not to connect because he is protecting them and he is protecting himself,” Luna told SlashFilm. “So the only relation he can build is with a droid he reprogrammed!”
Orson Krennic
The main baddie is Imperial Director Krennic (Ben Mendelsohn). This weapons expert was recruited by the Emperor to get the menacing Death Star up and running. Krennic also butts heads with Darth Vader. “His perspective obviously is that of a person who doesn’t understand the Force,” Kiri Hart, Lucasfilm’s senior vice president of story development, told Entertainment Weekly. “Darth Vader comes at everything from the perspective of understanding the Force.”
Bail Organa
The last time we saw Prince Organa (Jimmy Smits), he was holding a baby Princess Leia, his newly adopted daughter, at the end of “Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith.” Organa is a senator from Alderaan (introduced in “Star Wars: Episode IV – “A New Hope”), and here he secretly aids the Rebellion.
Darth Vader
The Vader you know and love (a k a the one not played by Hayden Christensen) is back. Entertainment Weekly reports that 85-year-old acting legend James Earl Jones will return to voice Luke’s complicated papa. And although producer Kathleen Kennedy says he gets little screen time, it’s been suggested we’ll get a Vader battle.
K-2SO
It wouldn’t be “Star Wars” without a catty droid. Taking the reins from C-3PO is K-2SO, played by Alan Tudyk (“Firefly” and Broadway’s “Spamalot”). During a panel at Star Wars Celebration, Tudyk says his robo role is a crotchety free spirit. “He’s very honest,” the actor said. “If you know any old people, he’s like that.”