Get to know the characters of Lucasfilm’s “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” the first in a new series of Star Wars standalone movies. “Rogue One” tells the story of a group of unlikely heroes, who in a time of conflict band together on a mission to steal the plans to the Death Star, the Empire’s ultimate weapon of destruction. This key event in the Star Wars timeline brings together ordinary people who choose to do extraordinary things, and in doing so, become part of something greater than themselves.
Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones) is an impetuous, defiant young woman who lends her skills to the Rebel Alliance and undertakes a desperate mission. Jones comments on her character, “I wanted Jyn to be as human as possible. She’s strong when she needs to be, she’s incredibly determined and she has to be tough when she doesn’t feel it. But at the same time there is enormous vulnerability.”
Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) is a respected Alliance intelligence officer. Describing his experience making the film, Luna says, “The film has many layers. There are moments that are deep and dramatic and deserve a lot of attention and rigor as actors. Then there are scenes that are just fun and it’s like choreography. You’re enjoying and having fun with the beat.”
Chirrut Îmwe (Donnie Yen) is a blind monk who is a skilled and artful warrior. “Donnie Yen has so much wisdom like his character and he’s got great humor,” says producer Allison Shearmur. “He has a sense of artistry and performance that tells us so much about his character. There’s an elegance, a heroism, a nobility about both Yen and Chirrut.”
Baze Malbus (Jiang Wen) is a pragmatic soldier, who has grown up with Chirrut and will follow his closest friend to the ends of the universe. Of his character, Jiang Wen says, “Ultimately, he’s a good man at heart and very honest and is very loyal to his friend Chirrut. And Chirrut’s friends are his friends.”
Bodhi Rook (Riz Ahmed) is a cargo pilot who works for the Empire but changes course when faced with a harsh truth. Riz Ahmed says of his character: “Gareth described Bodhi as a guy in a war movie who isn’t supposed to be there. Everyone on the team is a soldier or warrior in some way and there’s this guy who is there by accident but realizes he has to step up and make himself valuable. He’s an everyman, someone audiences can relate to.”
K-2SO (Alan Tudyk) is a reprogrammed Imperial security guard now loyal to the Alliance. “Alan is like all great comic actors in that, as funny as he is, he can pull at your heart strings as well,” offers Gareth Edwards. “We didn’t want K2 just to be the comic relief. There is something slightly tragic about him trying to find his place in the world. There are moments of fun, but Alan gives him a soul.”
Saw Gerrera (Forest Whitaker) is an outlaw rebel, a man who believes that the Empire must be defeated, but at what cost? “Saw is very clear about what he believes,” says Whitaker about his character. “He’s willing to do things he thinks are necessary to save the people.”
Galen Erso (played by Mads Mikkelsen) is Jyn’s father and a brilliant scientist. On becoming part of the Star Wars family, Mikkelsen says, “It’s a big honor to be part of this legendary film universe. Something very interesting to me about Star Wars is that it’s quite human, even though we have Droids and different kinds of creatures that look very different from the human race.”
Director Krennic (Ben Mendelsohn) is the man behind the creation of the Death Star, a weapon he knows will allow the Empire to take full control of the galaxy through means of fear.
Opening across the Philippines on December 15, “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures through Columbia Pictures.