We're about to see the Star Wars franchise delve into some seriously unprecedented territory. With Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, the series will veer away from the drama of the Skywalker family and give fans something entirely new. It's an exciting prospect, but we still don't know how the upcoming standalone film will set itself apart from the original trilogy. As it turns out, Rogue One actor Riz Ahmed has just opened up regarding the answer to that pressing question. He said:
The feel of this film is quite rough and ready, and so is the mission and so are the characters, and so is the coming together of the characters. So the idea of people having special ships that they spit-shine and say, 'Hey, this is my ship called the XYZ,' that's not of this world. This world is more about 'Grab what you can, and let's roll.' Everyone in this Star Wars movie has got quite a complex past. They have a lot of baggage and history to it. That's part of what makes it an interesting, nuanced movie. It's taking characters with interesting backgrounds, whether it's warrior monks, or ex-assassins, or long-distance truck drivers, and you're assembling this pack of misfits.
During a recent interview with EW, Rogue One actor Riz Ahmed gave the above statement to highlight the fundamental differences between the first Star Wars anthology film and the trilogy films. The film doesn't feature a Millennium Falcon or unique trademark weapon for each of the characters. Rogue One's ensemble, as well as their equipment, feels much more cobbled together and far more complex than any Star Wars narrative to date. He uses the word "rough," which definitely hammers home the dark and gritty style that we have seen from much of the film's marketing materials.
Based upon this quote, it basically looks as though the Star Wars series has begun to move away from using archetypes to construct its characters. Every Star Wars film until now has more or less relied upon easily identifiable storytelling constructs -- the lovable scoundrel, the princess, the hero, etc. -- but Rogue One will set itself apart for offering us complex characters with dark histories. In that regard, Rogue One will present audiences with a story that centers less on the idea of light vs. dark, and more on real, relatable people doing their best to survive in an objectively bad situation.
Star Wars fans have grown up, and it looks like the movies will soon evolve to match that increasing maturity. We will say this: the closer we get to Rogue One's release, the more excited we become. Stay tuned for more details related to the upcoming release of Rogue One; the first official standalone Star Wars movie will hit theaters later this year on December 16.
