Star Wars: Rogue One News: Ben Mendelsohn Joining Cast

We finally know the title of the first Star Wars standalone movie: Star Wars: Rogue One. Bob Iger confirmed the title at a shareholder's meeting where Felicity Jones was confirmed as the first member of the cast.

The Wrap now reports that Ben Mendelsohn may be the male lead opposite Felicity Jones in the film. You may remember him as John Daggett from The Dark Knight Rises, for example. As with Felicity Jones, there are no character details to report yet.

Star Wars: Rogue One is set for release on December 16th, 2016. Production begins this summer in London. Alexandre Desplat will provide the music, making this the first Star Wars movie not to feature John Williams. 

The official statement from Disney reads "Rogue One is the title for the first film in a unique series of big-screen adventures that explores the characters and events beyond the core Star Wars saga." The fact that Felicity Jones may very well be the lead character in this film, and the wording "characters and events beyond the core Star Wars saga" now leads me to believe that making these into origin stories for established characters like Han Solo isn't much of a priority.

If nothing else, this apparently puts to rest the dubious"leaked" Star Wars release schedule which listed the 2016 standalone movie as a Boba Fett film. What's more, the Rogue One title seems to indicate that this is a fighter pilot movie, rather than the bounty hunter/heist film that's been floated around the internet lately. Then again, this isn't muchto go on.

John Knoll, Industrial Light & Magic's chief creative officer, is behind the Rogue One concept, which is written by Chris Weitz, from a draft by Gary Whitta. Gareth Edwards (Godzilla) is directing. Knoll will serve as executive producer, alongside Simon Emanuel, Jason McGatlin. Kathleen Kennedy is on board as producer with Tony To and John Swartz.

That isn't the only big news, though...

Star Wars: Episode VIIIwill be released on May 26th, 2017, almost the fortieth anniversary of the release of the original Star Wars. We imagine late night showings will even that out just fine. Rian Johnson (Looper, BreakingBad) will write and direct.