The new trailer for Star Wars spin-off Rogue One has been released and despite some fans' fears that a happy-clappy adventure was on the cards, the movie looks dark and epic - with an appearance by the most (in)famous heavy breather in the galaxy, too.
The trailer premiered during Olympics coverage on NBC in the US overnight, and the response from the Force faithful has been overwhelmingly positive.
Directed by Godzilla helmer Gareth Edwards, Rogue One is set before the events in the original Star Wars movie and tells the story of a band of Rebel fighters tasked with stealing the plans for the Death Star. It stars The Theory of Everything's Felicity Jones as hero Jyn Erso alongside Oscar winner Forest Whitaker, Hannibal's Mads Mikkelsen and Y tu mamá también's Diego Luna.
The new trailer gives fans a better look at Jyn's fellow Rebels, with Donnie Yen particularly impressive as blind warrior Chirrut Imwe. One insider has described Rogue One as "a war film", and the latest teaser certainly supports that assertion.
The trailer also offers some breathtaking wide shots that rank with the best in the franchise's history.
There was much concern among fans earlier this summer after reports of major re-shoots on the movie because of a disappointing response from test screenings. However, US publication Entertainment Weekly was subsequently told by "high level" sources at Lucasfilm that there had been no test screenings and that claims that up to 40 percent of the film would be re-shot were very wide of the mark. Re-shoots are common on big budget movies - last year's Star Wars: The Force Awakens also had re-shoots during the summer months - and were reportedly written into Rogue One's schedule before the cameras even started rolling.
During its research into the re-shoots, Entertainment Weekly learned that The Bourne Legacy writer-director Tony Gilroy had written material for Rogue One and was reportedly serving as second unit director when the cameras started rolling again.
Earlier this week, trade publication The Hollywood Reporter said it had been told that Gilroy was now heavily involved in the editing of director Edwards' movie. "There are not two separate editing rooms; they are all in there with their ideas," one source said. "Tony's a strong force, but they're all working together." Star Wars makers Disney Lucasfilm declined to comment.
All will be revealed when Rogue One opens in cinemas on December 16 - 'only' four months until we get a better look at the Dark Lord of Sith himself.
Some of the responses to the trailer:
I'm so very in. #RogueOne https://t.co/FZdox2KJ6H
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) August 12, 2016
Me after seeing Darth Vader at the end of the trailer #RogueOne pic.twitter.com/wW39IJI4Ni
— Josh Smelser (@josh_smelser) August 12, 2016
Dear God #RogueOne looks AMAZING!!! 🙀🙀🙀
— Joseph R. Shenk (@josephrshenk) August 2, 2016
#RogueOne is just a commercial combination of the Hunger Games and Star Wars..
— Remy (@Musicisremylife) August 12, 2016
there's few movie trailers that make me lightheaded and dizzy but if I wasnt already laying down watching #RogueOne I might have blacked out
— Fletcher Perkins (@fletchasketch67) August 12, 2016
I like everything about the #RogueOne trailer, except maybe Felicity Jones' 'non-plussed-ness'.
— Joshua Murray-Nevill (@JoshuaMurrayNev) August 12, 2016
#RogueOne looks like another by the numbers movie, boring and predictable. Main character seems like generic strong female without character
— Mr Critical Teatime (@CriticalTeatime) August 12, 2016
I hope #RogueOne is similar in tone to films like The Longest Day and Saving Private Ryan, I basically want it to be a serious war film.
— Rob (@Rob_Dann) August 12, 2016
Here's the new #RogueOne One #StarWars trailer 😏 pic.twitter.com/vArQ71rsW3
— SonsOfHalifax (@DukesterHFX) August 12, 2016
