If by some force of The Force you’ve avoided spoilers for what Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is about, well you might want to avoid this latest peek. The extended version of the teaser released on Friday basically lays out the entire plot. It’s definitely a change of pace from The Force Awakens, which kept us largely in the dark until opening day.
Rogue One is a make-or-break moment for the Star Wars franchise. It’s the first stand-alone film in what Disney hopes is a new series of Star Wars spinoffs, to keep us focused (and spending money) when the main films are in their off-years. If Rogue One doesn’t land, that could spell trouble for future Star Wars spinoffs. Well, except the Han Solo one, because that has Donald Glover.
Rogue One hasn’t had an easy time of things, with extensive reshoots and changing composers three months before the release date. The promos have taken on a different tone over the past several months, possibly thanks in part to the reshoots. The first trailer was dark and mournful, while later trailers and TV spots have been all about the power of hope.
As we’ve gotten closer to opening day on December 16, we’ve seen so much of the movie it’s a little alarming. Every mystery we hoped to solve is already out there. Darth Vader’s appearance. Jyn Erso’s father’s role. Whether K-2SO can throw a decent grenade (spoilers: he can). Anything we didn’t see in the teasers was spilled in Rogue One: Catalyst, the prequel book. There’s just not a lot of mystery left, and that’s a little disheartening. I’m hopeful this movie will be good, and I’m going to stay hopeful, but I don’t anticipate being surprised.
Really, the only thing left on the table are any shocking deaths. Though honestly, would any death in this movie surprise us as much as the one in TFA? Well, maybe if all of them die, that would be kind of unexpected. But, given the “new hope” angle, I doubt Disney would want the entire cast to kick the bucket.
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