‘Rogue One: A Star Wars Story’ Trailer Puts Darth Vader Back On Top [Video]
Almost as anticipated as the film itself, Disney Studios has dropped the first full-length trailer for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and it’s already a big hit with fans worldwide. While many were excited to see the most famous Sith Lord, Darth Vader, in the trailer, there was much more in this two-minute long trailer to entice Star Wars fans, young and old. Even this brief glance at what Rogue One is about to deliver shows fans that there are new and original ideas for stories still to be told in the Star Wars universe, making way for daring new missions, brash young heroes, and a familiar villain re-invigorated with that mystical evil aura that once made him so frightening to young Star Wars audiences.
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story Brings Back Darth Vader And He’s Scary Again
Just as Los Angeles Times suggests in sharing the trailer for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, the biggest news coming out of the latest look at this Star Wars offshoot is that the Dark Lord of the Sith is back. Not only is Darth Vader back, but he’s frightening again.
There’s no denying that Star Wars: The Force Awakens was a big hit, but it was far from original, rehashing the same themes first made popular by George Lucas with Episodes IV-VI. Likewise, Episodes I-III were entertaining, but, in telling the previously mystified tale of Anakin Skywalker’s rise and fall, the deeper look took away the mystery surrounding the man behind Darth Vader’s mask and ultimately tamed the character of the galaxy’s most notorious Sith Lord.
It’s been said that fear isn’t provoked by what the audience sees, but by what the filmmaker doesn’t show. Gareth Edwards seems to be a dedicated student of that school of thought, because he deftly leads up to the big Darth Vader reveal with the finesse of a great white shark sneaking upon its prey. The haunting theme lets audiences know that, at some point, Vader will make his appearance, yet, as we are guided through three-quarters of the trailer, our hopes begin to wane and we give up on a Darth Vader sighting. Just then, at that last moment, the brilliant glare off of that polished black helmet reminds us why this Star Wars villain, much like that great white beast of the ocean, should be admired from afar yet feared.
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story Trailer Reveals Some Compelling Points
Certainly, Darth Vader is the central antagonist in Rogue One, as NME suggests, but the protagonists of Rogue One are really the key figures in this Star Wars story, as they launch an offensive to retrieve the plans for the newly constructed Death Star. Even casual Star Wars fans know that the success of this mission ultimately leads to the destruction of that weapon by one Luke Skywalker, but before that can happen, the Rebel Alliance has to locate some heroes brassy enough to steal those plans in the first place.
Enter Jyn Erso, played by Felicity Jones. Rogue One‘s Jyn seems unlikely as a hero, having been imprisoned for forging imperial documents, possessing stolen property, aggravated assault, and resisting arrest, yet there’s something about her that seems to suggest she’s just the hero we are looking for in this saga.
Rogue One will distinguish itself with new locales, planets we’ve not heard of in previous Star Wars films, and with a whole cast of new characters, both heroes and villains. There won’t be any Jedi Knights swooping in to save the day, so these new heroes will have to depend on their own gutsy moves and camaraderie to get the mission accomplished.
What is odd with Rogue One is the noticeable lack of alien creatures. In fact, K-2SO seems to be the only non-human Rogue One character assigned to help Jyn Erso and her mission.
“The captain says you are a friend,” the Star Wars droid tells Erso. “I will not kill you.”
Nice fella.
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story hits theaters on December 16.
[Image by Walt Disney Studios]
