We're now in the midst of December, which means one thing: a new Star Wars movie is almost upon us. With Disney now having control over the property, we can expect a new installment every December for the foreseeable future. This year's movie will be Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, which is also the first standalone film in the franchise history. While this return to the original trilogy is exciting for diehard fans, skeptics are wondering if Rogue One will carry the same emotional weight- especially considering that it's the first movie not focused on the Skywalker legacy. But actor Diego Luna actually thinks that audiences will still relate to the movie in a big way.
The cast of Rogue One assembled last night at Lucasfilm headquarters in San Francisco for a live interview about the upcoming movie. When addressing the social relevance of the standalone movie Diego Luna (via EW) said the following:
It sends a clear message of people very different from each other that apparently have nothing in common... Their differences are on the side and they work together and achieve great things. It's a great message for the world we're living in. Let's celebrate our differences and recognize that makes us richer and stronger.
Who would have thought that an occasionally goofy space opera would hit so close to home? Rogue One seems like the perfect movie to unite folks who are perhaps feeling isolated given the current political climate and holiday season.
The diversity and inclusion of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is part of the reason that the standalone movie has been receiving such positive attention ahead of its release. Rogue One features an ensemble cast that is by far the most diverse in Star Wars history. While the original and prequel trilogy casts were almost exclusively white, Rogue One represents a melting pot that is more inclusive. The lead is female, and there ragtag group of rebels is is made up of black, asian, and latino performers. This casting follows Star Wars: The Force Awakens, which featured a trio of leading characters that were decidedly non-white.
The cast and their differences is sure to be a major plot line in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. As we can see from the most recent clip, trust is going to be a major issue for the group of rebels. They're all scoundrels who live in the morally grey, and they have no prior experience with each other. This is likely to echo the theme of Suicide Squad, which is choosing your family and accepting people's differences.
That, and they have to go steal the plans for The Death Star without getting force choked by Darth Vader.
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story will fly into theaters on December 16th. Stay here at CinemaBlend for updates on all things Star Wars.
