"Rogue One" teaser gives us new Star Wars #squadrongoals - CNET

Starring Felicity Jones ("The Theory of Everything"), "Hannibal's" titual cannibal Mads Mikkelsen and Alan Tudyk of "Firefly" fame, "Rogue One" is a prequel to "Episode IV: A New Hope" that centres on a plucky band of rebels on a mission to steal the plans for the Empire's galactic superweapon, the Death Star.

Gareth Edwards, the director behind the 2014 "Godzilla" reboot, will be helming the standalone Star Wars movie. It's the first in a new series of spin-offs from the episodic "Saga" films which tell the story of the Skywalker family. Two more spin-offs, focused on alleged Nerf herder Han Solo and Sarlacc-fodder/bounty hunter Boba Fett, have also been announced since Disney took ownership of the franchise.

"Rogue One" is due to hit theaters on December 16, 2016. If nothing else, it'll tide over the long wait between now and the delayed follow-up to "The Force Awakens."