'Rogue One' brings viewers farther into the galaxy far, far away
The newest 'Star Wars' movie centers on mostly new characters and could influence plans for the 'Star Wars' franchise. How will audiences respond?
The newest 'Star Wars' movie centers on mostly new characters and could influence plans for the 'Star Wars' franchise. How will audiences respond?
鈥淩ogue One,鈥� the latest tale set in the 鈥淪tar Wars鈥� fictional universe, is now in theaters 鈥�听and how much it succeeds could help shape Disney's听plans to expand the range of 鈥淪tar Wars鈥� stories.
The new movie 鈥淩ogue鈥� takes place before the story seen in the 1977 film 鈥淪tar Wars鈥� and centers on Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones) and her companions, who have been given the task of obtaining the plans for the Death Star.
It鈥檚 set during a time that 鈥淪tar Wars鈥� fans know well 鈥� viewers remember the fight between the rebels, which included Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, and Han Solo, and the evil Empire. But it鈥檚 a story that鈥檚 mainly Skywalker-free, except for reportedly brief appearances by Darth Vader and any cameos we don鈥檛 know about yet. This time, Darth Vader鈥檚 son isn鈥檛 learning the force, and Han Solo isn鈥檛 serving as wisecracking mentor.
How audiences may respond could give Disney an idea of what to expect for future installments. Actor Alden Ehrenreich is set to star in a movie about a younger Han, but that鈥檚 based on a globally famous character. And, of course, more movies about 鈥淔orce Awakens鈥� characters like Rey and Finn, which got a hefty launch from Han Solo and include (sorry if this is a spoiler, but you鈥檙e a year late) Han and Leia鈥檚 son, Kylo Ren, are on their way. But can more movies about new characters, ones with little if any connection to past ones, come after 鈥淩ogue鈥�?
鈥淭here are [possible movies] that we have been talking a lot about,鈥� Kathleen Kennedy, the president of Lucasfilm, told Entertainment Weekly. 鈥淏ut we are planning to sit down in January, since we will have had 鈥楾he Force Awakens鈥� released, now 鈥楻ogue One,鈥� and we鈥檝e finished shooting 鈥楨pisode VIII.鈥� We have enough information where we can step back a little bit and say, What are we doing? What do we feel is exciting? And what are some of the things we want to explore?鈥澨�
Nick Statt of The Verge writes that it will be a tricky balance going forward with the series. 鈥淭he biggest challenge is figuring out what ingredients in 鈥楽tar Wars鈥� comprise its true identity, while the biggest fear is finding out that the magic can wear off if the recipe is wrong,鈥� Mr. Statt writes. 鈥溾�楻ogue One鈥� is the testing ground for that experiment.鈥�