When you’re facing a military machine that controls the galaxy itself, hope is pretty much in short supply. But the final trailer for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is dripping with the stuff. There’s no doubt that the Rebellion is outmanned, outgunned and severely lacking the fly fashion that primary antagonist Director Krennic wields to devastatingly swag effect, but there’s still a spark here in this final trailer.
A dream of a free galaxy, that refuses to die. And while the final Rogue One trailer may not be dropping any spoiler-bombs, it’s still filled with some tasty new scenes and footage. Let’s break it down like a Degeneration X entrance.
No idea which planet this new trailer opens on, but it is very much home to Galen Erso and his family. There’s a nice nod here, right before Director Krennic shows up.
Along with those kickass elite Deathtroopers of his.
“Whatever I do, I do it to protect you. Say you understand,” Galen says to his young daughter, just before he leaves to begin work on a weapon which makes finding parking in the galaxy a little bit easier. According to the Star Wars prequel novel Catalyst, Krennic and Galen have a history together, which he’s exploiting to get his former friend to join the Empire’s secret project.
Fast forward a few years, and Felicity Jones’ Jyn Erso has apparently been rumbled, rotting in an Imperial jail. Fortunately, the Rebellion clearly has need of her connection to her father.
Now here’s an important shot, as a U Wing flies over what appears to be the crumbling remains of Jedi statue. If earlier reports line up properly, then it looks like we are indeed on the Jedi and Sith holy planet of Jedha, the Mecca for all Force-wielders.
Genevieve O’Reilly is an uncanny stand-in for the Mon Mothma of this generation, who seeks help from Jyn for the growing Rebellion. But it’s Cassian who is blunt right here: They need to know where Jyn’s dear old daddy is.
Cut back to Galen hard at work for the Empire on the Death Star superlaser, a task that has him rewarded with swanky Imperial clothing at least.
Needing a callsign before they depart from Yavin, Imperial defector Bodhi Rook (Riz Ahmed) reveals why the film is called Rogue One
WHOAH. Even when he’s not in view, Darth Vader still cuts a fearsome presence as Director Krennic waxes lyrical about the “immeasurable” power of the Death Star. Yeah, we all know how well that worked.
And really, the Death Star looks fantastic here. We barely saw it in Episode IV, while the Deux Star in Return of the Jedi was only half-built. But seeing this fully-armed and operational battle station in all of its glory as it hovers above planets? It is simply a gorgeous design that has stood the test of time.
Another short glimpse at Forest Whitaker’s Clone Wars veteran Saw Gerrera, while Jyn rallies the troops behind her in juxtaposition to Saw’s robotic leg. “We have hope. Rebellions are built on hope!”
Meanwhile, Donnie Yen’s Chirrut Imwe is also doing a bit of promo working, optimistically telling the Rebels to “Take hold of this moment” as he applies his Jedi lessons to the skulls of stormtroopers. Good thing he has Jiang Wen’s Baze Malbus to keep an eye out for him, seeing as he does happen to be blind.
And the galaxy tour continues! We’re now on Scarif, an Imperial planet that is home to the technology that was used to develop the Death Star as Rebels sneak up on a facility.
Which also explains the Imperial uniform that Jyn was sporting in the first trailer: It’s a disguise, as she sneaks in an incognito Cassian and his repurposed Imperial battle-droid K2-SO.
Now here’s another great action scene that we can expect, as Rebel X-Wings and Y-Wings engage in a canyon dogfight.
Which of course escalates to a space battle that takes place above an Imperial location.
And then a huge explosion on the surface of Jedha, possibly a result of the Death Star testing out some of its new firepower as Cassian and Jyn flee the scene in a U-Wing.
Another shot of Vader, as he moves surprisingly quickly towards Krennic. There’s clearly some animosity between the two brewing here.
And then a final moneyshot, as Rebel U-Wings take the fight to the Empire and its massive Imperial Walkers on the surface of Scarif while Saw Gerrar rallies the troops one last time: Save the Rebellion! Save the dream!
Last Updated: October 17, 2016
