The film is the first in the "Star Wars Anthology," a series of standalone films, which will include movies dedicated to Han Solo and bounty hunter Boba Fett.
Gareth Edwards, known for the 2014 "Godzilla" reboot, will direct the film.
The script was written by Chris Weitz ("About a Boy"), based on an idea from visual-effects supervisor John Knoll. Gary Whitta ("After Earth") was originally hired to write the screenplay, but he left the project after writing the first draft.
The film will take place before the events of 1977's original "Star Wars" film, also known as "A New Hope," and focus on a group of Rebel fighters who attempt to steal the plans for the Empire's newest weapon, the Death Star.
next slide will load in 15 secondsSkip AdSkip AdKnoll got the idea from a line in the opening crawl of "A New Hope." The line reads: "During the battle, rebel spies managed to steal secret plans to the Empire's ultimate weapon, the Death Star."
Gareth Edwards confirmed that it would be a "war movie" and Jedi would be absent from the film.
Felicity Jones will be a Rebel soldier and was the first person cast in the film. The rest of the cast was announced during Disney's D23 expo and includes Riz Ahmed, Diego Luna, Jiang Wen, Ben Mendelsohn, Forest Whitaker, Mads Mikkelsen, Donnie Yen, and Alan Tudyk.
In the trailer, Jones' character is introduced as Jyn Erso.
Her introduction includes a list of crimes she has apparently committed. She's also apparently an orphan, on her own since she was 15. When described as "reckless, aggressive, and undisciplined," she responds, "This is a rebellion, isn't it? I rebel."
next slide will load in 15 secondsSkip AdSkip AdThe person she meets with is none other than Mon Mothma, the political leader from "Return of the Jedi."
Diego Luna's character and Jyn Erso will work together.
Not much is known about the characters, but Donnie Yen described his role to The Hollywood Reporter as "good and benevolent." He takes out some stormtroopers with a staff.
Ben Mendelsohn plays an Imperial admiral.
Forest Whitaker looks like a tough survivor. In a voiceover, he says, "What will you do when they catch you? What will you do if they break you? If you continue to fight, what will you become?"
next slide will load in 15 secondsSkip AdSkip AdAlan Tudyk will play a motion-capture character in "Rogue One."
Mads Mikkelsen seems to have let a spoiler slip when he revealed that he plays Jyn's father. He's not seen in the trailer.
The Imperial walkers, AT-ATs, will be used in what appears to be a beach battle.
JIang Wen is a fighter, unafraid to run into battle.
Academy Award-winning composer Alexandre Desplat ("Argo," "The King's Speech") is composing the score.
next slide will load in 15 secondsSkip AdSkip AdThe film was primarily shot at Pinewood Studios in the UK.
Mads Mikkelsen also confirmed that the film would partially be shot in Iceland, where parts of "The Force Awakens" were shot — particularly for scenes on the Starkiller Base.
The film began principal photography in August 2015 and is slated for release December 16, 2016, almost exactly a year after the premiere of "Star Wars: The Force Awakens."
"Rogue One" was named the most anticipated movie of 2016 in a survey conducted by Fandango earlier this year.
TMZ leaked photos of what appears to be a classic X-wing on the set of "Rogue One," similar to the fighter Luke Skywalker flies in the original trilogy, which also happens to be used to destroy the Death Star.
Since the film takes place before the events of "A New Hope," reverting back to an older version of the X-wing makes sense.
Source: TMZ
next slide will load in 15 secondsSkip AdSkip AdRUMOR: Diego Luna will play Biggs Darklighter, Luke Skywalker's childhood friend who perished during the Battle of Yavin in "A New Hope."
RUMOR: One theory says the young Han Solo — who is getting his own anthology film — will make a cameo in the movie.
Casting choices for the young Solo have been narrowed down, and since the Han Solo film isn't coming out until 2018, some folks think we might get a glimpse sooner rather than later.
Source: Variety
RUMOR: Darth Vader, Boba Fett, and Grand Moff Tarkin will appear in the movie.
Peter Cushing, the actor who portrayed Tarkin, died in 1994, so rumor has it that he could be resurrected through CGI and archive footage. Or he could simply be recast if they do include him.
As for Darth Vader, Brian Muir, the sculptor behind Vader's helmet in the original film, is working on "Rogue One," prompting many to believe the character will play a role in the film. James Earl Jones, the voice behind the villain, has not been confirmed.
Sources: Cinema Blend, The Daily Mail, Cinema Blend, Tech Insider
Watch the first trailer for "Rogue One" below.