UPDATE: Two New Potential Actors for Star Wars Anthology: Rogue One

Rogue OneWhile pre-production for Star Wars Anthology: Rogue One is still underway, an additional two cast rumors have popped up in addition to Felicity Jones.

 

From Variety:

Sources tell Variety that Nightcrawler actor Riz Ahmed is the top choice for the male lead in the Star Wars anthology film Rogue One.

 

Ahmed was among a group of young actors who had been meeting with Edwards for the last month in London while the director prepped for the film.

 

Sources say Ahmed’s chemistry test with Jones separated him from the pack for Edwards and production execs. Sources could not confirm Ahmed’s role, but it is likely he too would play a rebel soldier.

 

Gareth Edwards is directing and Ben Mendelsohn is also set to star as the main villain.

 

Riz Ahmed

 

This report backs up previous rumors that Ben Mendelsohn is being eyed for a role in the movie. They actually went even further revealing that Mendelsohn will be playing the main villain.

 

Rogue One takes place between Revenge Of The Sith and A New Hope (closer to the latter, by director Gareth Edwards’s own admission), and will be about a group of rebel fighters who steal the plans of the Death Star. Felicity Jones is set to play one of the rebel soldiers. The movie hits the big screens December, 2016.

 

 

 

UPDATE! 

 

 

Sam Claflin

 

The Wrap is also reporting that Hunger Games star Sam Claflin is being eyed for one of the roles in Rogue One.

 

From TheWrap:

While Claflin does not have the role yet, he is the frontrunner for one of the ensemble roles. He has a lot of experience as a supporting player in blockbusters ranging from “Snow White and the Huntsman” to “Pirates of the Caribbean” and “The Hunger Games,” but he is being eyed for a more substantial role in “Rogue One.” 

 

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Founder of SWNN, MNN and The Cantina forums.

Born on April 24, 1980.

Val Trichkov (Viral Hide)

Founder of SWNN, MNN and The Cantina forums.Born on April 24, 1980.

60 thoughts on “UPDATE: Two New Potential Actors for Star Wars Anthology: Rogue One

  • April 23, 2015 at 11:00 pm
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    It’s wishful thinking but I’d love a cast photo reveal like they did with TFA.

    • April 23, 2015 at 11:11 pm
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      Maybe we’ll see something on May 4th or 5th? I imagine that they’ll keep announcements on the low, due to the whole MI5 embargo going on, but those dates could work.

    • April 23, 2015 at 11:39 pm
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      I wish we they would release the teaser online for those of us that weren’t at Celebration!

    • April 24, 2015 at 1:31 am
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      When does principal photography begin for Rogue One? When does it begin for Episode 8? Anyone know or have heard any rumored dates?

      • April 24, 2015 at 2:14 am
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        Sometime this summer for Rogue One. I’m guessing June/July. Episode VIII I have no clue. I know they’ll most likely overlap though.

    • April 24, 2015 at 2:59 am
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      done a teaser trailer here splicing some footage from both of the trailers together, just playing but it came out well, have a look if interested
      https://youtu.be/1kP4aecATkU

  • April 23, 2015 at 11:03 pm
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    Looks to be a pretty diverse group for Star Wars moving forward. I didn’t mind having mostly males and whites in the first 6 movies, but I think, at least in Star Wars sense, people of all colors, races and species are what makes Star Wars truly special.

    • April 23, 2015 at 11:11 pm
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      I’m actually hoping for more aliens to represent the rebellion as well. We get to caught up in the human aspect (for obvious reasons of course.) I’d like to see that more explored.

      • April 24, 2015 at 12:18 am
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        Chances are, felicity jones will have her skin dis colored or have her entire face obscured… While the men are allowed to play themselves. (Like that x men movie with Jen Lawrence)

      • April 24, 2015 at 1:37 am
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        “We get to caught up in the human aspect (for obvious reasons of course.)”
        You are implying that simply because we are humans ourselves then it is justified to focus on humans primarily. But if you explore that rationale and extend it to its logical ends you would see that it is no more acceptable than implying that simply because someone is a particular race then focusing on said race is justified. So for instance if a white male said “we get caught up in the white male aspect (for obvious reasons of course)” we would find that to be distasteful, yet you are doing the same here in regard to species. In short, the implication is that “of course” it is justified to focus on one group just because you belong to that group —you realize this is wrong when it comes to race or gender yet do not realize the same when it comes to species; just because other species don’t communicate with us does not make that acceptable, the mentally disabled or babies also do not; for some reason you can’t seem to realize that is wrong when it comes to species. We are not the only species on this planet that is sentient.

        • April 24, 2015 at 2:30 am
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          The disabled and babies are still human beings. And both should be protected for that matter. If an alien species were to find their way here and populated the planet with us than you could have an argument. The fact is, there is no talking animal reasoning animal. To say otherwise is foolhardy. Humanity is at the top for a reason. What I said makes perfect sense with what we get in film. Human characters. Or in regards to Star Trek/Wars humanoid characters. I simply want to see more alien characters in a scifi setting. As far as the race thing goes. That actually is a problem with a lot of people still. I actually had to question people elsewhere who seemed upset that the Finn character was black. So, yes, there are still those that simply want to watch a film with people that look like them out there. In fact a lot more than you realize. It is distasteful though, that you and I agree on. I will also admit we could be talking around each other as well in regards to everything else. In the end it doesn’t matter. I can be quite argumentative in the end much to the chagrin of my fiance. I’ll stop myself now before things get out of hand. Good day.

        • May 4, 2015 at 1:51 am
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          “We are not the only species on this planet that is sentient”
          What? Are you referring to dolphins? Please enlighten me about what you mean by other intelligent, reasoning, moral, sentients on Earth.

    • April 23, 2015 at 11:30 pm
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      Yeah, we’re are focusing on skin color. But…wait a minute…I thought we weren’t supposed to do that anymore??

      • April 24, 2015 at 12:16 am
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        ^just so everyone is aware, Retrotek started the argument.

    • April 23, 2015 at 11:37 pm
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      Yep. We didn’t even have to scroll down to the photo of the newly announced male lead to find out the roll wouldn’t be going to a white male.

      • April 24, 2015 at 6:37 am
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        Yea with only Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Domhnall Gleeson, Max Von Sydow, Andy Serkis and Adam Driver, white males are dangerously lacking in Star Wars.

  • April 23, 2015 at 11:04 pm
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    Chemistry test? I was never any good at that, better at Biology/Science. I wonder if he took his own Bunsen Burner.

  • April 23, 2015 at 11:11 pm
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    Kyle Katarn?

    • April 24, 2015 at 2:32 am
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      Now that I think about it in the old legends timeline he was the one that got the plans initially. I wonder if they’ll bump him up to canon as some commando type? If so, I want my Dark Forces anthology film!

      • April 24, 2015 at 7:17 am
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        Yes!! This would be awesome! Kyle was always one of my favorites growing up. We know that his and Jans ship the hwk-290 is canon from the mobile games as are dark troopers, so it would be really awesome to see Kyle return to canon in any form. Even if they want to ignore the Jedi part of dark forces (though face it- Jerec would make an AWESOME inquisitor on rebels) they could just make him a rebel agent character.

    • April 26, 2015 at 4:39 am
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      Confirmed Legends, Kanan has replaced Katarn.
      Think of it as his Doppelganger in one Star Wars Universe split by Canon side and Legends side.
      Watch the latest Tested episode entitled Good Times, Norm from Tested mentions Katarn being part of Legends and is not canon, he was not in the clone wars either norm mentions his source. Tested is You Tube channel.
      I doubt they will pull Katarn from Old EU when they created Kanan so similarly.
      Unless Kanan survives rebels TV show or crosses over.

  • April 23, 2015 at 11:15 pm
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    Is it official that Ben Mendelsohn is set to be the villain? Or is that still a rumor?

    • April 23, 2015 at 11:21 pm
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      Nothing has been confirmed, I believe, so the nature of his character is still up in the air 🙂

  • April 23, 2015 at 11:19 pm
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    Why isn’t the short teaser they showed at the Celebration available to the general public yet? Wats up wit dat?!?!

    • April 23, 2015 at 11:23 pm
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      You didn’t miss much 😛 It really didn’t show footage from the movie or anything

      • April 24, 2015 at 12:11 am
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        I saw a shitty copy on YouTube, I just don’t understand why they won’t release the mf.
        I know it doesn’t show much but ya know, as a SW fan, we wanna see everything that’s official!
        Love the retro-style logo, not digging the “Anthology” in the title though. We’re not idiots, we know it’s separate from the numbered episodes.

        • April 24, 2015 at 3:42 am
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          you’d be surprised…

    • April 24, 2015 at 2:51 am
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      An agreement between Disney and Paramount that Disney would not do any promo on this one until after MI5 premiers.

  • April 23, 2015 at 11:22 pm
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    Looks great! I like both of them as actors.

  • April 23, 2015 at 11:50 pm
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    When I saw Ahmed my brain went to Ahmed Best and I nearly cried

  • April 24, 2015 at 12:13 am
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    What is going on with that dude’s hair

  • April 24, 2015 at 12:22 am
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    If it wasn’t for the existence of “Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation”, we would up to our kneecaps in Rogue One info. Maybe shins.

  • April 24, 2015 at 12:25 am
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    wow i was not expecting that. i loved Riz in Ill Manors. this is going to be sick

  • April 24, 2015 at 12:29 am
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    I wonder if they’ll cast any American actors for any of the lead roles. If yes, here’s a wacky suggestion. Cast Dwayne “THE ROCK” Johnson as a rebel pilot who punches Darth Vader right in the face plate, and then runs away in fear.

    • April 24, 2015 at 12:42 am
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      I think we won’t see many Americans in SW because they shoot all the movies in the UK. It’s probably cheaper than flying Americans over there. Plus, all the Brits can do American accents, so in the end, it won’t matter to audiences.

      • April 24, 2015 at 5:13 am
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        They have also filmed here in Australia in the past too. and other places around the world.

        would like to see a twilek lead once. maybe as a cop type

    • April 24, 2015 at 2:25 pm
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      Rock is a franchise saver, give it a few years and we will smell what star wars is cooking…

  • April 24, 2015 at 1:13 am
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    No,….there is another.

  • April 24, 2015 at 1:32 am
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    I thought Felicity Jones was the lead 🙁

    • April 24, 2015 at 1:48 am
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      Maybe she still is. 🙂

  • April 24, 2015 at 2:19 am
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    Excellent choice with Sam Claflin. I’d be happy to see him as a Jedi. He did well in Hunger Games. This guy has great charisma, I hope that that he will starr in the star wars saga – it’s a perfect role for him.

  • April 24, 2015 at 2:22 am
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    I really love star wars, no arguments there. But I`m starting to get worried now.

    This star wars boom and hype everywhere is really making me neglect my love for other sci-fi and fantasy franchises/storys. The mystery and hype surrounding it all makes it even worse.

    I may have to put some filters on something, or put up some posters around the place to remind myself they are still there, and exist. Time to consider re-connecting with that world outside of star wars. And yes no one forces me to look, but the hype has a certain magnetism about it, pulling you in. Quite difficult to resist. There could be some sub-conscious conditioning behind it too, shaping us into the perfect star wars consumers. More willing to blow money on something, that will be classed as clutter later on and end up on ebay months or years down the road.

    • April 24, 2015 at 2:54 am
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      If that’s the sort of thing you have to worry about mate, life is good.

      • April 24, 2015 at 11:50 am
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        Yes mate, no mortgage, no bills(paid by someone else), no debts, good health, youth. And summer holidays approaching. Not much I can disagree with you on.

  • April 24, 2015 at 3:51 am
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    My knowledge of the EU is limited to Mara Jade exists, and the plotlines of Jedi Outcast and TFU 1 and 2.
    That considered, there’s about a total of ONE thing that I actually LIKED about the games: Kyle Katarn. IDK, Something about the way that man acts just sits right at home in the GFFA.

    Galen Maryk needs to just join a boy-band already…

    But Kyle Katarn had it where it counts, his attitude, his unspoken, self-evident toughness, he was just a cool dude. He might not look cool at first glance, because he doesn’t NEED to look cool, Starkiller needs as much “cool” looks as he can get! Kyle? give him a weapon and an Empire to fight and you’re set.

    Star Wars Anth: Kyle Katarn? I’ll watch that, especially if they cast someone like Tom Hardy or even Aaron Paul.

  • April 24, 2015 at 3:55 am
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    Well neither of those guys look like they could play Biggs or Porkins so that sucks. I hope one of them is playing an alien. What’s up with all these human-centric movies?

  • April 24, 2015 at 5:01 am
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    Hmmmmmm! Ben Mendelsohn, I wonder how tall he is? Going as far as to mention that he will be playing the main villain, this would clearly have to be Lord Vader himself! no need to hide a character as we already know I say. It would be awesome to see Darth in action, like we have never seen him before. I don’t mind the absence of Jedi, that would be a refreshing change, particularly following the dogmatic view of the Jedi from the PT and besides, not many Jedi around in the time line lol I know Rouge One revisits some old theme’s, like the Death Star n all but can you imagine! “I’m afraid my mission to bring you to Alderaan has failed. I have placed information vital to the survival of the Rebbellion into the memory systems of this R2 unit”. Wow! for me as a 13 year old kid back in 77, lifechanging lol starting to feel excited with Rogue One and with production ramping up, the community engaging and the abuse flying hahaha December 2015 will be here in no time! Yeah! Yeah!

    • April 24, 2015 at 12:47 pm
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      Googled “Ben Mendelsohn height” = 5’11”

  • April 24, 2015 at 5:33 am
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    Jimmy Smits as Bail Organa has to be in this movie, right? At least I hope so.

  • April 24, 2015 at 5:42 am
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    Anyone see the leak on Star Wars leaks reddit? About kylo and luke? I hope it’s wrong.

    • April 24, 2015 at 2:48 pm
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      Nope, have you got a link to it?

      • April 24, 2015 at 7:34 pm
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        If you google “star wars 7 leaks”, there is a reddit page with a bunch of the leaks and links to different links and pictures, including this website. Someone posted that they knew the whole movie, and they posted some interesting spoilers about Luke and Kylo. It was quickly deleted, and it did not sound like the typical made up fan spoiler. Feel free to check it out, but it was disturbing. Its still on there, but the account of the writer was deleted.

  • April 24, 2015 at 7:33 am
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    What about Riz Ahmed as Boba Fett? Kinda looks like the kid in clones

    • April 24, 2015 at 12:49 pm
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      I hope Riz is a brand new character.

  • April 24, 2015 at 5:31 pm
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    Do humans come from a certain planet?

    • April 26, 2015 at 4:42 am
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      No, and not all that appear human are.

  • April 24, 2015 at 5:37 pm
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    All right, folks. Enough with the “white power” shit. Okay? I can absolutely guarantee you that you’re not going to see Star Wars movies coming out featuring all white male casts. It’s just not going to happen.

    The other thing that I can absolutely guarantee is that our staff is not going to stand by and let the comments fill up with bigoted nonsense like we’re starting to see here.

    Let it go.

  • April 25, 2015 at 1:31 pm
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    All I want from this film is that Ashoka leads the team and her final confrontation with Vader is on the big screen,that and lots of badass rebel commando action.

    • April 26, 2015 at 4:46 am
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      Then some pilot steals the plans and says Yippee!!!
      Then the film ends?

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