New Rogue One: A Star Wars Story Images and Trailer Break-Down

April 7, 2016

"State your name for the record" a unseen man asks at the start of the first teaser trailer for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. And then she introduces herself, to this unseen man and to us—Jyn Erso—the rebel spy who will become such a huge part of the Star Wars story we have come to know and love. Erso is played by Felicity Jones with what appears to be total ease and command of a role she looks born to play.

Felicity Jones is Jyn Erso. Courtesy Walt Disney Pictures/Lucasfilm

Next comes the listing of all Erso's transgressions: Forgery of Imperial documents, possession of stolen property, aggravated assault, and resisting arrest. She sounds fun, I like her already. Then we see her two interrogators and come to realize these aren't Imperial officers looking to charge and execute the young Erso, but clearly members of the Rebel alliance, the very group where we assume Erso's loyalties lie.

"On your own since the age of fifteen, reckless, aggressive and undisciplined," says her female questioner, in a tone that suggests less hostility than, perhaps, maternal concern. That is until we realize this list of offenses and personality disorders are actually going to be an asset to the Rebels. We realize this as Erso utters the line that will likely make her, and the woman who plays her, a fan favorite; "This is a rebellion, isn't it? I rebel." Erso says this while we see her take out a group of Stormtroopers, on her own, with some seriously quality rage. Now that's how you start a teaser trailer.

Breaking Down the Trailer

What we get in this brief teaser is the set-up—Erso is your classic rough-around-the-edges rule breaker who happens to be perfect for a very dangerous mission, one in which she'll be teamed with a colorful cast of characters, each likely with their own specialty, in order to pull of a heist of epic proportions. It sounds a little like Oceans Eleven in space, which is entirely fine by me and, frankly, by most anybody. The heist is the Death Star plans, of course. You know, the one mentioned in the opening crawl to A New Hope.

We get a glimpse of Diego Luna (0:26), a member of the Rebel alliance who will join Erso in trying to steal the Death Star plans.

Diego Luna. Courtesy Walt Disney Pictures/Lucasfilm

Okay, what's the deal with that alarm (0:58)? Have you ever heard an alarm that also sounded like some sort of wounded mallard? It's actually kind of brilliant.

Felicity Jones and Diego Luna play Rebel spies, here responding to the world's strangest sounding alarm. Courtesy Walt Disney Pictures/Lucasfilm

We get a glimpse of Ben Mendelsohn (1:02) as some kind of higher up in the Empire with a killer white cape. Ben Mendelsohn can totally pull off this cape, because he's an incredible actor.

Ben Mendelsohn. Courtesy Walt Disney Pictures/Lucasfilm

We get a glimpse of Forest Whitaker (1:07), who appears to be in a grizzled mentor role here, using a walking stick because he lost a leg, no doubt fighting the Empire in battles past. This film was cast well, was it not?

We get a glimpse of Donnie Yen (1:14) as a kind of Rebel Samurai. How many Stormtroopers does it take to take down Donnie Yen? Way more than four, I can promise you that.

Donnie Yen. Courtesy Walt Disney Pictures/Lucasfilm

Another shot of Mendelsohn's caped bad guy again (1:18), walking through a pool of dead Stormtroopers. Some very striking images in this little teaser.

Ben Mendelsohn. Courtesy Walt Disney Pictures/Lucas Film

We're also hearing Whitaker's character questioning Erso throughout the final 20-seconds: "What will you do when they catch you? What will you do when they break you? If you continue to fight, what will you become?"

And a final shot on Erso, having clearly answered that last question by becoming the Rebel's best looking and perhaps most badass spy. Note the two katans on her back. And the cool insignia on her right shoulder. And the shiny bit on the front. Okay, Rogue One, you win.