Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
(Via Star Wars / YouTube)

Fans of gritty, classic war footage like that in “Saving Private Ryan” will be inspired by what they see in a new behind-the-scenes teaser video for the spinoff film “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.”

The footage — featuring gunplay and explosions and beach warfare alongside the usual intriguingly odd Star Wars characters and droids — was unveiled Friday at the Star Wars Celebration event in London.

 

“It’s like the fantasy you always have as a kid,” director Gareth Edwards says in the video. “Everywhere is an amazing shot with amazing characters.”

Edwards also admitted that the pressure of releasing a film into the Star Wars family is “so high.”

“We’re making a film that is right touching my favorite film of all time,” Edwards said. “But then if you’re too respectful of it, that you dare not doing anything new or different or take a risk, than what are you bringing to the table?”

Actress Felicity Jones, as Resistance fighter Jyn Erson, figures heavily in the new video and in “Rogue One,” in which rebels are on a mission to steal the plans for the Death Star.

Rogue One
Actress Felicity Jones holds up her action figure for her “Rogue One” character Jyn Erson. (Ben A. Pruchnie / Getty Images for Walt Disney Studios)

Jones had the distinct pleasure of revealing the first action figure from the new film, a 6-inch toy from Hasbro for her character. In true all-consuming fashion, the “Rogue One” toy-aisle rollout will happen later this year with a variety of products from the film

A new poster for the film was also unveiled. “Rogue One” will be in theaters in December.

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