'Star Wars: Rogue One' Plot Revealed at Star Wars Celebration

Those who predicted a Boba Fett or Han Solo origins story will be disapppointed to know that neither one of those beloved Star Wars characters will be the focus of the next two movies after STAR WARS EPISODE VII: THE FORCE AWAKENS. LucasFilm's Kathleen Kennedy and Kiri Hart were the first on stage Sunday mornig at the Anaheim convention to put to rest all the rumors surrounding which character the new movies would focus on. Kennedy and Hart called the new films "anthologies" and both would focus in the world of the Star Wars saga, "exploring other areas that might exist inside that universe." Kennedy credits picking up the saga to George Lucas.  The new films will not have episode numbers, and will vary in genre, according to Kennedy.

Once Gareth Edwards, who helmed last year's Godzilla movie, took the stage we found out more about Rogue One. Edwards put together some footage at Lucasfilm as a tease to what we can expect. The footage opens with Obi-Wan Kenobi's voice over as we're getting an aerial view of a planet that looks like Endor:

"For more than a thousand generations, the Jedi knights were the guardians of peace and justice in the Old Republic. Before the dark times, before the empire... "

Once we clear the forest, we see a faint view of the Death Star in the sky. Then we hear voices over an intercom in panic as they come under attack.

The panel revealed Rogue One will focus on the rebel spies who go on a mission to steal the blueprints to the Death Star. “It comes down to a group of individuals who don’t have magical powers that have to somehow bring hope to the galaxy," says Gareth.

If it sounds familiar its because it is. Edwards says it takes place between Episode III and IV, but closer to IV. In Star Wars: A New Hope, after Darth Vader captures Princess Leah's ship, the Dark Lord accuses the Princess of being part of the rebel alliance. Of course we know it to be true, and she hid the blueprint of the Death Star in R2-D2. Rogue One will tell of the rebel spies who set out to find the Death Star's secrets.  Felicity Jones is the one cast member to be confirmed, and she may be the one leading the group. At least we hope so.

STAR WARS: ROGUE ONE is set to film this summer in the UK and around the world which Edwards says they'll keep secret since they don't want a million unwanted extras. The film's release is set for Christmas of 2016.

VIDEO: Meet the new cast of THE FORCE AWAKENS at Star Wars Celebration, and Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Anthony Daniels and Peter MayhewVIDEO: Meet the new cast of THE FORCE AWAKENS at Star Wars Celebration, and Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Anthony Daniels and Peter Mayhew

VIEOIVDsss

Watch Interviews

Latest Trailers

Meanwhile On Instagram