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Surprising 'Rogue One' Cameo Confirmed, New Trailer Drops Thursday
As we draw ever nearer to the release of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, speculation remains sky high about the first spin-off movie in the Star Wars cinematic universe, which will star Felicity Jones (above). Back in June, we heard that reshoots were planned “to “lighten the mood, bring some levity into the story and restore a sense of fun to the adventure.”
How different will the spin-off movies prove to be? Simon Kinberg, who served as a creative consultant on Star Wars: The Force Awakens, is an executive producer on the animated series Star Wars Rebels, and will be writing and producing his own Star Wars spin-off movie, recently spoke with SlashFilm. He says: “I think it’s not necessarily freedom narratively but maybe a little more freedom tonally, because those anthology movies can have a different tone than the mainline episodes. Honestly, I’m involved in one capacity or another in almost everything over there and I love it all.”
Who else might show up in the adventure? Because Rogue One: A Star Wars Story revolves around events that take place just before Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, we wondered early on if characters like Darth Vader, Princess Leia or Han Solo would be making an appearance. The return of the villainous Vader (to be voiced by James Earl Jones) was confirmed, though “he will be in the movie sparingly,” according to Lucasfilm chief Kathleen Kennedy. However, Han Solo “will not be in the movie at all,” says director Gareth Edwards. Kennedy also ruled out the possibility that Hayden Christensen will be reprising his role as Anakin Skywalker.
But now we’ve heard confirmation that another actor from the prequels will be returning. In an appearance on The Talk, actor Jimmy Smits was presented with visual evidence of his apparent presence in a sizzle reel recently presented at Star Wars Celebration in London. “Can you say the word cameo? Can you say small part?” he said.
Smits played Senator Bail Organa in Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones and Star Wars: Episode III – Return of the Sith (below). He was a founding member of the Rebel Alliance and later became Leia Organa’s adoptive father. The character recently showed up in Star Wars Rebels.
Smits says he’ll be playing a small part, but it confirms that the citizens of the planet Alderaan will be represented in the story, which hints at the tone of the movie, since the fate of the planet is determined in Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope. We might get more hints in the next full trailer, which will debut on Thursday during the Rio Olympics.
See the premiere of the new #RogueOne trailer during Olympic coverage this Thursday. pic.twitter.com/xkQIIvoYu3
— Star Wars (@starwars) August 7, 2016
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story hits theaters on December 16.