By the time you read this, the hype will have already begun. Dec. 16 marks the day "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" starts showing in cinemas around the world. Promotional campaigns began in Japan weeks ago.
This new chapter of the successful "Star Wars" franchise tells the tale of a group of rebels on a mission to steal plans for a giant weaponized satellite called the Death Star. Sound familiar? It should if you're a "Star Wars" fan — those plans were what the good guys used in the first movie in the sci-fi series, "Star Wars: A New Hope" (1977). If "Rogue One" does well then expect it to be the first of many standalone films that build upon the "Star Wars" universe (a film depicting the backstory of Harrison Ford's Han Solo character is currently in the works).
"The 'Star Wars' world that George Lucas opened up is far from finite," "Rogue One" director Gareth Edwards tells The Japan Times. "It contains its own galaxy of stories, characters and conflicts. The triad (of films) becomes a sextet, but it's not enough. There's more to be told. Equally important, the fans want more."