'Rogue One' Returns to IMAX with Exclusive Look at 'Andor'
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story returns to select IMAX theatres later this month with an exclusive first look at Disney+’s upcoming show, Andor. This limited, one-week engagement begins August 26th at 150 IMAX theatres across the United States and Canada.
Originally released in 2016, Rogue One acts as a bridge between the Star Wars prequels and the original trilogy. The film follows a ragtag team of ordinary, unlikely heroes as they steal the blueprints of the Death Star. The team is led somewhat begrudgingly by Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) and Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones). It’s these schematics that Leia (Carrie Fisher) has in the 1977 Star Wars. The stolen design reveals a weakness in the thermal exhaust port which allows the Rebel Alliance to destroy the Death Star. This flaw was built into the Death Star by Jyn’s father, Galen Erso (Mads Mikkelsen), as a means of rebelling against the Empire.
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story remains one of the most expensive movies ever made and was an undisputed success with $1 billion earned at the box office worldwide. The new IMAX release will be digitally re-mastered into The IMAX Experience® quality. The updated sound, images, and the optimized geometry of IMAX theatres will make Rogue One: A Star Wars Story’s limited return to theatres an unforgettable experience.
Andor, the upcoming Lucasfilm series for Disney+, takes place five years prior to the events of Rogue One. Luna will reprise his role as Cassian Andor. The 12-episode series will give audiences a look at how Cassian went from thief to the accomplished rebel leader he is in Rogue One. Andor will show the beginnings of the rebellion forming against the Empire and will explore planets and people not previously seen in the Star Wars Universe.
Luna is not the only actor from Rogue One reprising his role. Forest Whitaker will appear as Saw Gerrera, a Clone Wars veteran, and Genevieve O'Reilly will once again take on the Mon Mothma role. O'Reilly has been portraying Mon Mothma, a senator, since Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, though many of her scenes were cut from the theatrical version. Stellan Skarsgård, Adria Arjona, Denise Gough, Kyle Soller, and Fiona Shaw are all making their Star Wars Universe debut.
Andor is helmed by Tony Gilroy who co-wrote Rogue One: A Star Wars Story with Chris Weitz. Gilroy will also have a hand in writing the series with his brother Dan Gilroy, Stephen Schiff, and Beau Willimon. These writers give off the impression that Andor will follow Rogue One’s dark tone. Previous credits for these writers include The Americans, House of Cards, and Nightcrawler. These works all have darker themes that fit in well with the shocking, gut-wrenching way that Rogue One ended.