Ben Mendelsohn Talks Rogue One, The Most Anticipated Movie of 2016!
Ben Mendelsohn has just received a Golden Globe nomination for his work on the TV series Bloodline. Deadline caught up with the actor and discussed what we can expect from his current projects Bloodline season 2 and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.
Rogue One began production back in August 2015, and apart from the official cast photo and rough plot outline, we don’t know much more. This article confirms that Mendelsohn has already finished filming his scenes. As we know Episode VIII starts filming in a few weeks time and I am pretty sure that very soon we will get official confirmation that Rogue One has wrapped filming. Probably after The Force Awakens breaks a few more box office records.
From Deadline:
You’ve now concluded shooting on Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. How would you describe your personal relationship to the Star Wars franchise?
I’m a child of it. So it was, like, 1977, and I was there—big time. What can I say? I bought it. I bought it lock, stock and barrel. I’ve been a fan of it forever. It’s Star Wars, and there’s nothing more that you can say about that, because anyone that actually knows what that means, they get it.
What does it feel like to find yourself involved with the biggest franchise in the history of cinema?
It’s a great honor and it puts a lot of things in perspective. I am but a small part of that entire world. That’s an extraordinary world to feel like you’ve got the chance to put a brush stroke or two on. It’s a beautiful thing.
Was it a bit of a shock to suddenly be involved with a huge blockbuster? You’ve acted in so many great indie films over the past several years that have been critically lauded but have not performed at the box office in the way they should have.
I am right there with you on that. It was a big shock when I first became aware that that’s how things were looking. Shock is the wrong kind of word. It’s more like a big jolt. It’s a bit stupefying. However, I’ve been at the fringes of some of this stuff before, so I’ve experienced a bit of that dimension. But then again, the thing of it is, once you get over the dimension then you get down to the work. And that’s where it gets wonderfully doable, and you get your scale back on it. It’s just an absolute joy to look up when you’re spending a day acting and see that Star Wars world in front of you. You can’t really have a bad day when you’re doing that.
What can we expect from this Star Wars spin-off?
I wouldn’t want to spoil anything for anyone on those levels. That’s always the same, whether it be Bloodline or Star Wars or Neighbors, for that matter, which is an Australian soap. I wouldn’t tell. But you can expect something pretty special, I’d like to think. I was in the audience for number seven and it was delightful. It exceeded my wildest hopes and dreams for what it might be. It’s a beautiful film. So we’ve got something to reach for and that’s a good thing.
Fan Art
Speaking about Rogue One, Deadline also posted a curious survey conducted by Fandango, according to which Gareth Edwards’ movie is the most anticipated movie for the year. That was really surprising to me considering that the regular viewer (non Star Wars fans) doesn’t even know that there will be another Star Wars movie between Episode VII and Episode VIII. Probably they gave the participants a list of movies to pick from. Here’s the list:
Most Anticipated Movie:
1. “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” (December 16)
2. “Finding Dory” (June 17)
3. “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” (March 25)
4. Untitled Jason Bourne Movie (July 29)
5. “Captain America: Civil War” (May 6)
6. “Star Trek Beyond” (July 22)
7. “Independence Day: Resurgence” (June 24)
8. “X-Men: Apocalypse” (May 27)
9. “Zoolander No. 2” (February 12)
10. “The Jungle Book” (April 15)
Founder of SWNN, MNN and The Cantina forums.
Born on April 24, 1980.
Surprised Deadpool isn’t on that list
I guess most people would rather watch a politically correct superhero, than some potty mouth freak! Don´t get me wrong, I’m all for the freak! It´s my number 2 movie for 2016.
This…
For me…I dunno. Not excited due to Ryan Reynolds. Blech…
How does this beat Zoolander 2 for more anticipated???
Not being Zoolander 2?
…attempted sarcasm on my part
I know. That’s why I upvoted it.
I have started a new blog about Star Wars so if you want, go to check it out: https://resistancebase.wordpress.com
Dawn of Justice I thought would have been higher but I guess that god awful recent trailer they put out scared away some viewers.
This. With every new trailer, my excitement is waned less and less. Now, to the point where I don’t think the movie looks good. THey spoiled important plot points in the trailer. they’ve shoehorned in characters that didn’t need to be. Such a shame really.
Loved DOFP, but not really excited for Apocalypse. :/
No offense to Rogue One, but although I personally want to see it more than BvS and think that it will be better than that film as well, it seems to me bthat Civil War and BvS are bothb much more hiughlky anticipated than Rogue One.
I would agree… I get it being more anticipated than some of the others (another Bourne movie?), but Civil War I would expect to be more hotly anticipated, at least considering how little coverage Rogue One has gotten. X-Men would probably be higher on the list, as well, and of course BvS (even if it’s just morbid curiosity).
Or maybe people just saw it on the list and said, “Oh hey, another Star Wars? Sign me up!”
Remember the poll a few months back that said Mockingjay was the most anticipated film of 2015? I’m sure this one is just as accurate.
That’ll probably change once the teaser drops in February/March. Bet your house on it.
Believe me, I do.
I really love TFA and have no words to explain my excitement for RO.
But yes, after the three official spinoffs i think they have to expand the SW universe with unknown stories.
Old republic times, the creation of the orders, darth bane times, more phylosophical stories about the force, i don’t know, something different.
Hope to see a great tv-series too, but set in ancient ages.
It be cool to have movies about the galaxy in between 6-7
Well, i agree. I would love that too. 😉 Luke and the new academy or the beginning of the first order, or knights of Ren or Snoke “awakening”. I think it’s a good idea, specially if actors are still there, like Mark and Harrison, interacting for the last time.
They still have time to do that later on. Right now, it’s nice to fill in these small gaps here and there.
are there any alieny aliens in this film or is it humans and humany looking aliens saving the day ?
This is a must! They’d be really stupid not to.
This could either be the best thing that happened to the saga or the worst. I find it very ironic that yet another prequel could do that and yet still be the most original entry in the series at the same time.
The quality cast and lack of Abrams involvement have me leaning more towards the former than the latter though.
Did you seriously reply to your own post? Do you love yourself that much? Obviously.
Funny, just after TFA launched, you were on this forum stating how you knew that Rogue One and the rest of the new movies were going to be so much better than TFA. Change your mind already?
I’m proud you found something new and original to troll about.
LoL.
Fantastic Beasts & Where To Find Them isn’t even on the list….
I expected to see Doctor Strange on it somewhere.
I really love TFA and have no words to explain my excitement for RO.
But yes, after the three official spinoffs i think they have to expand the SW universe with unknown stories.
Old republic times, the creation of the orders, Darth Bane times, more mystical/phylosophical stories about the force, i don’t know, something different.
Hope to see a great tv-series too, but set in ancient ages.
Is it me, or has Disney really tightened up their leaks since the filming of Episode 7? By this time last year, people had already managed to obtain enough leaked tidbits from a few sources to piece together a rough plot outline of TFA.
We’re now less than 1 year away from RO, the media machine hasn’t even started yet (no teasers, etc.), just a few location / set photos (only the cast photo is from an official source) and one cast photo is what we’ve seen. Nothing really in the way of spoilers or juicy plot tidbits, to match where we were last year when TFA was still a year away.
Don’t get me wrong…I’m going to try to stay unspoiled if I can resist it, but I’d like to see something more about this movie to keep the momentum going and get myself psyched about a movie I know absolutely nothing about.
I’m so excited to see Donnie Yen enter the SW mythos.
I feel like they are giving us a little room to breathe as we bask in the afterglow of The Force Awakens. Give it a couple months and that train will start rolling again. There was originally supposed to be a trailer attached to TFA for Rogue One and it was pulled late in the game. I’d expect to see it sooner rather than later.
I think the annual release schedule helps to stop leaks by simply flooding us with one movie after another. As long as the movies are good or better, I’m fine with that. Send the rains!
Not sure if I’d call it the Most Anticipated film of 2016. While it’s very exciting to finally see some expanded universe, I’m equally excited to see Civil War, X-Men and Suicide Squad.
I’m gonna have to say CA:CW is more anticipated than RO
Oh my. The only 2 movies I’m currently anticipating for 2016 is The Nice Guys and Triple 9. I’m sure I’ll feel differently to Rogue One once I see the teaser/trailer, I’m still too pumped from TFA, and want to see Episode VIII.
Could the fact that the Force Awakens was still going in theaters (and still is) have affected to the opinions of the people who answered to the survey made by Fandango?
Probably. I mostly agree with that list tho. The only movie I will 100% watch this year is Rogue one. Maybe also deadpool and the new batman movie if the early ratings will be positive. But judging by the trailer of BvS, it dosent look too promosing.
The trailer for BvS was indeed bad, but if some of the spoilers that have surfaced since the trailer are true, it will be epic. I am certainly more excited for many other movies before Rogue One, and I generally consider myself a SW fan. I just think those standalone SW movies will prove to be a bad idea in the long run and should be left to other media (books, comics, animated series, etc.).
Well, I have to agree with most of that list. Except I’d put Zoolander at #10 and STar Trek 3 at #999999999999999999999 because GOD THAT MOVIE LOOKS BAD.
I don’t think you don’t have enough 9’s.
Honestly, I doubt Rogue One will the most anticipated movie of 2016. I bet many people who picked Rogue One in the survey mistook it for a sequel to TFA. In fact, releasing Rogue One after TFA and before Episode VIII might trigger that type of confusion, which I think is problematic.
and profitable.
My concern is that it may hurt Episode VIII in the long run. It is already confusing enough for the causual viewer that TFA is set 30 years after ROTJ. Now, shorly after, there is a standlone movie going back 33/34 years in the past and totally unrelated to the characters and cliffhangers from TFA, but with the label SW still attached to it. Then, a few months after Rogue One, the true TFA sequel, probably fast forwarding again another 34 or 35 years from Rogue One, is released.
I think the forthcoming marketing strategy will be a bit of a nightmare for those involved. This is why I believe Rogue One will very much be a self contained movie, with its own unique identity. There will be minimal characters, if any, from the prequels or sequels. I think this will rule out Rey being Felicity Jones character’s daughter. It will also have its own distinct look and feel, I don’t believe there will even be an opening crawl or a John Williams soundtrack, so to distinguish itself from a saga movie, otherwise as you say it’ll be too confusing regarding the timeline. I’ll even be so bold and predict the Death Star will probably hardly even feature in it, as it sounds like it’s the movie’s mcguffin.
I don’t think it’ll impact Episode VIII, but Rogue One itself will most likely take a hit in takings, unless it turns out to be a really good film.
I think Rogue One, and every forthcoming Star Wars film for that matter, will continue to have the crawl. Tradition aside, there’s one big practical advantage to including it, and that is it’s a useful tool for exposition right at the outset.
My preference would be after Lucas Films, it goes straight into Act 1. No intro music or crawl. No pan down shot, with a space cruiser. Anthology movies should have their own feel. That’s my opinion.
If you look at the only real publicity photo we’ve seen so far, it looks very different to a saga movie, darker, and grittier. I like that.
I’d be absolutely fine with that…and I agree that it will be darker and have a different tone, especially seeing the people involved with the film. I’ll bet the Han Solo flick will also be a different animal, possibly the most comedic of any Star Wars movie with Lord & Miller at the helm. That kind of diversity will help keep things fresh going forward.
Am I the only one who has enough faith in the intelligence of your average moviegoer?
Plus, I’m sure Rogue One’s crawl or whatever will make it clear where it exists on the timeline.
Which is why the marketing for the ST should have not ditched the Roman numerals. It should of had VII in all posters and trailers..so that when VIII comes they know it’s the sequel.
Don’t underestimate the power of the casual Star Wars fan.
It’s a little ironic that the list comprises entirely of sequels, prequels, or reboots. People most anticipating for what they’ve mainly already seen.
They know what they like, so they want more of it.
More pumped for this than I was for ep7,clean slate from now on…can’t wait.
Right with you on that one mate !
No Jedi, no familiar characters (as far as we know) and while the title does has Star Wars in it but its going to take a lot for the general movie going audience to see this film.
I find your lack of faith disturbing.
no jedi, sure. but don’t worry, if vader is the movie at all(which i think he has to be, as well as tarkin) then will have him all over the marketing to get the casual fans excited.
If Vader is in the movie just mowing down Rebels, then that is a game changer. But we haven’t seen anything of the sort yet, so fingers are crossed.
The interview is great but the deadline list of most anticipated of 2016 finding dory is number two and suicide squad is not even in their if that was a survey finding dory in second and suicide squad isn’t in the list what?
as big of a star wars nerd as i am, i still have to say rogue one is only third on my list for 2016 and thats nothing against it. everyone has been waiting for BvS on the big screen forever and despite the most recent trailer it still looks awesome. and civil war is civil war, the marvel machine keeps destroying all its path with its great movies. now, episode VIII is a different story. i’ll say right now its my most anticipated film in 2017 without needing to look at the schedule. 🙂
I’m eager to see Rogue One because is a completely new take on the Star Wars Universe, something we never saw before
I was high on BvS but that second trailer destroyed my hopes, so the one that could be tied with RO for me is X-Men Apocalypse, i’m a huge X-Men fan and i think the apocalypse saga is the greatest one in the comics and in the 90’s cartoon
From this top 10, in my opinion, i’m only really excited for RO and Bourne. The rest is like meh, probably cgi parties with silly and pretentious dialogs and bad resolutions.
I am more kind of being excited for Midnight special, Free state of Jones, Kubo, Spotlight, Hail Caesar! or Anomalisa, or other films like The lost city of Z, The neon Demon, the witch or Tangerine. 😉
Disney will easily make 3+ billion at the movies this year.
In some ways this movie may actually have more pressure. It’s not a full episode installment… yet the average movie goer may expect it to be just as grand or connected.
Hopefully it manages to please everyone. I’m totally fine with it being completely different in tone.
Wow, the sheen is really off now that TFA was only so-so. I’m sure traffic will die down some now. I can only imagine how cool it would’ve been had TFA lived up to its hype. Which is why I’m at least looking forward to Rogue One. I want to see how they take the SW universe in a different direction, albeit guardedly this time…
First of all, that was very poor trolling. If you are serious, how pathetic are you to feel that strong a need to complain FOREVER to people? How starved for attention are you that you desire it, even if it’s people attacking you? How bad is your ego that you name yourself Captain? There. Did you get your fix?
93% on Rotten Tomatoes. Yoiu may now crawl back in to that Troll Hole.
Vader will be prominent in this movie. He is already one of the most popular characters in the franchise and this is a chance to bring him back on screen for the new generation of fans.
I transcribed this interview 🙂
I sure hope it gets released the same time in China. I’ve been living in China for five years now and this Force Awakens thing is killing me. January 9th release date! I’ve already been spoiled a little bit from just reading little tidbits by accident. Even the Yahoo headlines have spoilers now.
3 more days. Damn you China!