Disney chairman and CEO Bob Iger shed some new light on the expanding Star Wars cinematic universe’s first spin-off movie today during an investors presentation at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco, California.
The first Star Wars film is now officially titled Rogue One and is based off a story by ILM visual effects chief John Knoll. Simon Emanuel (The Dark Knight Rises, Fast & Furious 6) and Jason McGatlin (Tintin, War of the Worlds) will executive produce the film alongside Knoll, while Kathleen Kennedy, Tony To (Band of Brothers, The Pacific) and John Swartz (Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens) will produce.
As rumored for several weeks now, Academy Award-nominated actress Felicity Jones (The Theory of Everything) is now confirmed as the female lead in Rogue One. Her role, and any information regarding the film’s plot, are being kept a secret for now.
Gareth Edwards is directing Rogue One based on a script by Chris Weitz (Cinderella, About a Boy, Antz) that Gary Whitta had started. Production on the film will commence on the film this summer in London, England. Expect more casting announcements to be made at either Star Wars Celebration next month or in the weeks leading up to summer.
In the former Star Wars expanded universe, Rogue One — or Rogue Leader — refers to an elite squadron of rebel fighters. Disney has already rebooted the Star Wars canon expanded universe so the name Rogue One in the cinematic universe could literally mean anything, and could take place parallel to Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens or as far back as before Star Wars – Episode IV – A New Hope.
Rogue One is the first of at least two planned Star Wars spin-off films currently in the works at Lucasfilm and Disney. The second film is being developed by Josh Trank (Chronicle) and is widely expected to be released in 2019.
The Rogue One release date is December 16, or almost exactly one year after the release of Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens later this year.
Source: StarWars.com
