After all the dust has settled after last week’s Star Wars celebration in Anaheim California and after the umpteenth viewing of the new STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS trailer, it’s also important to remember that the Gareth Edwards helmed STAR WARS: ROGUE ONE is also taking shape nicely.
Felicity Jones has already confirmed to star in the project, however today brings the news that Riz Ahmed (NIGHTCRAWLER, FOUR LIONS) and Sam Claflin (THE HUNGER GAMES, THE RIOT CLUB) are in talks to join the principal cast.
This isn’t the first rumoured casting announcement to come out ROGUE ONE, with Australian actor Ben Mendelsohn being apparently approached to play a villainous role within the film. It is expected that Ahmed and Claflin are both being considered for more heroic roles.
As to be expected with such high-profile projects such as STAR WARS: ROGUE ONE, this is merely a rumour for the time being. But with principal photography set to start within the next couple of months, expect to hear more casting rumours/official announcements over the next couple of weeks.
At last weeks Star Wars celebration, director Gareth Edwards has this to say about the project “It’s about the fact that God’s not coming to save us, and we’re on our own, the absence of the Jedi is omnipresent in the film. It hangs over the whole movie.”
Edwards also went on to confirm fan speculation that ROGUE ONE is to take place in-between Episodes III and IV and will focus on a group of rebel fighters who are attempting to take down and steal the initial plans for the first Death Star. Stating that his directorial vision for the film is not to tell a heist film but a war film, in a similar vein to SAVING PRIVATE RYAN, but obviously in the STAR WARS universe.
Excited for Rogue One? Or do you just want to see more episodic Star Wars films? For more news as it happens keep checking back with Film And TV Now.
