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An explanation of everything in the first trailer for 'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story'

Kirsten Acuna
2016-04-07T15:43:00Z
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star wars rogue one felicity jones
"Star Wars: Rogue One" will be led by another female protagonist. Disney/Lucasfilm

Disney and Lucasfilm released the first teaser trailer for its next "Star Wars" movie, "Rogue One" Thursday morning.

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"Rogue One" will take place before the events of 1977's "Star Wars: A New Hope" as a group of rebel fighters and pilots go on a mission to steal the plans for the Death Star. It will kick off the first of three standalone "Star Wars" stories. 

If you haven't watched the trailer, check it out here.

Good? Keep reading to see what's in store when "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" comes to theaters December 16, 2016.

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We're introduced to Jyn (Felicity Jones) at the trailer's start.

jyn rogue one
Disney/Lucasfilm

According to the French "Star Wars" YouTube channel, her full name is Jyn Erso.

We quickly learn that she may not be the most trustworthy woman. We hear a man list off a few criminal charges including forgery, aggravated assault, and resisting arrest.

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In other words, you shouldn't mess with her.

felicity jones rogue one

In her defense, we hear Jyn say they're living during a rebellion. That makes sense as "Rogue One" takes place in between "Star Wars" Episodes III and IV, during the reign of Darth Vader.

star wars rogue one felicity jones
"Star Wars: Rogue One" will be led by another female protagonist. Disney/Lucasfilm
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We also learn she's been on her own since she was 15. So that probably didn't help her unruly behavior.

jyn rogue one
Disney/Lucasfilm

We get a quick flash of Mexican actor Diego Luna. He should have a big role to play in the film.

diego luna
Disney/Lucasfilm
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The big surprise of the trailer was seeing the return of Mon Mothma who was previously in "Return of the Jedi" and briefly in "Revenge of the Sith."

mon mothma
Disney/Lucasfilm

Mothma is a notable political leader in the "Star Wars" universe. She helped plan the Battle of Endor and it looks like she'll be behind another big plan in "Rogue One."

Mothma describes Jyn as "reckless, aggressive, and undisciplined."

rogue one star wars jyn
Disney/Lucasfilm
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Jyn's explanation? She can't help it. She rebels.

jyn rogue one
Disney/Lucasfilm

Knowing that Mothma is a master planner, I think that's exactly what she wants to hear.

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Maybe as a pardon for her crimes, or as a punishment, we hear Mothma describe a mission they want Jyn to undertake.

jyn rogue one star wars
Is it just me or does this look like a shot out of "Mad Max"? Disney/Lucasfilm

The Empire is working on a massive experimental weapon.

star wars rogue one
Disney/Lucasfilm

"We need to know what it is and how to destroy it," says Mothma.

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If you've seen "Star Wars," I'll give you one guess what that is.

star wars rogue one destroyer
Disney/Lucasfilm

Yup. It's the Death Star.

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But Mon Mothma and the rebel team don't know that, yet. It's up to Jyn and her team of resistance pilots and crew members to figure that out.

resistance star wars rogue one
Disney/Lucasfilm

As an eerie overture starts playing, we get glimpses of a few big players. There's Ben Mendelsohn ("Bloodline") who looks like he's with the Empire.

ben Mendelsohn rogue one
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Hi Stormtrooper.

stormtrooper rogue one
Disney/Lucasfilm

I'm quite partial to this one flying through the air.

stormtrooper dead rogue one
Disney/Lucasfilm
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But take a closer look at that vehicle there. It looks like there's another kind of Stromtrooper riding atop it.

stormtrooper rogue one
Disney/Lucasfilm

Academy Award winner Forest Whitaker will be in the movie, too.

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Here's that first shot we saw in the teaser for the trailer Wednesday.

star wars rogue one
Disney/Lucasfilm

It doesn't look like the mission will go off without a hitch. We see some of the rebels in cuffs.

resistance rogue one
Disney/Lucasfilm
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We see Jyn on the run.

felicity jones rogue one
Disney/Lucasfilm

With good reason.

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Now, we see Hong Kong action star Donnie Yen, and he is rocking an awesome outfit.

donnie yen
Disney/Lucasfilm

These Stormtroopers have some cool-looking blasters.

stormtrooper blaster
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Ah look at that explosion!

star wars explosion
Disney/Lucasfilm

We get another shot of Mendelsohn's menacing character surveying the damage. Plenty of fallen Stormtroopers, here.

mendelsohn rogue one
Disney/Lucasfilm
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We also get this creepy shot of a possible Sith lord. Who could it be? Palpatine?

star wars mystery man rogue one
Disney/Lucasfilm

Here's Jiang Wen. It's not clear what his role will be, but he should also be working with Jyn's "Rogue One" squadron to take down the Empire.

jiang wen star wars
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We get a shot of some AT AT walkers. And they're not just any AT ATs. They look like they're inspired by some drawings from "Star Wars" concept artist Ralph McQuarrie.

at at rogue one
Disney/Lucasfilm

Take a look at one of his early pieces of art, here.

The trailer closes on a shot of Jyn, asking, "Who will you become?"

jyn rogue one
Disney/Lucasfilm
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"Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" is in theaters December 16, 2016. Check out the trailer below.

 

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