- This is an action adventure story
that's a little bit different than what they've seen
in the episode films.
I think it's a little grittier.
I think there's a genre we're playing with here,
that steps a little bit outside of what people are used to
with Star Wars films.
So, I think that's gonna be exciting,
to not only the fans but to the audience,
because I think they'll recognize
that there are things that are just familiar enough,
but it really becomes a new kind of experience.
(dramatic music)
- There's very little to know about Cassian Andor,
because he's Captain of the Rebel intelligence.
He's been fighting for the Rebellion for all his life,
but there is very little you can know about this man,
because he's very secret.
Very mysterious, very quiet.
You're gonna have to see the film.
- He is a droid who was reprogrammed by Cassian
by Diego Luna's character.
He belongs to Cassian,
and he comes along with them on the journey
and on the adventure.
He's kinda like a 7'1"
child in a way.
Because when he reprogrammed him from an imperial droid,
it changed him.
He kind of maybe took away a little too much here and there,
from his previous programming,
or hasn't replaced it all, yet.
I don't know.
So, he's very genuine,
and also candid.
He'll just say whatever he thinks,
which is fun.
- [Voiceover] What kind of villain can we expect
in the new Star Wars movie?
- A superior villain.
A villain of culture and breeding.
A villain of intelligence, of drive,
dignity,
planning.
A fine villain, I hope.
(deep cello music)
Oh, I love that costume.
I mean, that costume is beautiful.
I feel very lucky to wear that costume.
It is an Imperial intelligence officer's costume.
It's quite high ranking.
You can tell that by the badge's there,
and it has a cape.
Which means, you're kind of a hero.
You know what I mean, if you're wearing a cape in a movie,
you're kind of a hero.
Either that, or you're Sherlock Holmes.
I'm not Sherlock Holmes.
I am a hero of the Empire.
That's my job that I'm charged with.
I'm doing my best to make sure that is fulfilled.
- You all know he's blind, right?
But, you can tell.
You all know he can, he's a bad ass.
He doesn't have a lightsaber,
but you better not give him a lightsaber,
'cause Darth Vader would be in trouble.
(dramatic string music)
- He's a freedom fighter, he's a guerrilla fighter.
He's been fighting against the Imperial forces for years.
He has a group of fighters that he's personally trained,
that he wants to help them do it.
They're on the extreme side of fighting,
so he's on the outside of the other Rebels.
The other Rebels don't all think that he's a good thing.
- It's called the opening crawl, exactly.
So it's a group of unlikely heroes, who band together
to steal the plans to the Death Star.
(triumphant orchestral music)
- [Voiceover] What makes this Star Wars movie different
from all the other Star Wars movies there are?
- Oh, wow.
Well, firstly it's not following the Anakin storyline.
It's an offshoot, because it's essentially based on
the opening crawl of the New Hope,
about stealing the Death Star plans.
I think stylistically, as well, that the approach we took,
trying to give it some realism.
Make it feel like a real world that really exists.
When we built the sets, we'd build them in 360 degrees,
so you could look any direction.
All the extras, who were normally told, "Okay, on action
"you start here and you walk to here."
And then we'd go cut.
They were told, "This is who your character is.
"This is what you're doing.
"We're not gonna stop for an hour.
"Just start doing it."
So, everyone was existing and living in these environments
and we started trying to do our scene amongst it all,
and find the beautiful moments we could within it.
So, there's a realism to it,
but also, we were also itching to do Star Wars.
There's a more classical style that Star Wars always had,
which is very 70s and 80s,
in terms of the original trilogy.
We sit and analyze the vocabulary of those shots,
and it's a very considered, you know,
like stable thing that's not this more documentary style.
So, we mix the two and I'm really pleased
with the way the two contrast each other.
It feels really good.
I feel excited about it,
so yeah.
It was a very organic thing.
We didn't put marks down.
Whenever we could, we didn't put marks down for the actors
and say, "Stand there, say that line."
They could say that line wherever they wanted,
however they wanted,
and we tried to get a bit more
of a natural performance out of it.
- [Voiceover] What can you tell us about Darth Vader's
presence in the new movie?
- Well, Darth Vader is needless to say, even if you're
not a Star Wars fan,
you know who Darth Vader is.
So, he's a very, very important character in the film.
He's not in it a huge amount,
but he's very important to the story.
(dramatic orchestral music)
- [Voiceover] Will there be an action figure of you?
- Yes, there will be.
- [Voiceover] Are you excited?
- Yes, absolutely.
It's gonna be great.
I'll hand them out like business cards.
Give me a call and just have my number scrawled on the back.
There ya go.
That's me, that's me, whatever, it's cool.
- May the force be with us.