New 'Rogue One' TV Spot Hints at Major Character's Return, as Tickets Go on Sale
Fans eager for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story can now figure out exactly when they’re going to take their next trip to the galaxy far, far away, as advanced tickets have gone on sale. And to prep for that event, the prequel has debuted another new TV spot (watch it above), including hints at the return of a major character from the original series.
Related: ‘Rogue One: A Star Wars Story’ Tracking for huge $130M-Plus U.S. Debut
In the commercial dubbed “Breath,” a host of previously seen war-like scenes from the film are embellished with the heavy breathing of Darth Vader. The fact that the Sith Lord’s presence is so prominent in this promo suggests that Disney and Lucasfilm want to make sure moviegoers know that — despite being a one-off venture full of characters unlikely to reappear in the Star Wars movie universe — Rogue One will feature the franchise’s biggest villain.
Related: Sorry, ‘Star Wars’ Fans: You Probably Missed Boba Fett’s Very First Appearance
“Breath” also is inspiring chatter about a brief shot of the back of an Imperial officer’s head: As EW.com has already begun speculating, that figure looks eerily like Grand Moff Tarkin, the commander played in A New Hope by legendary actor Peter Cushing. Given that Cushing died in 1994, Tarkin’s appearance could only be the result of some clever CGI. However, as we know from the recently released Rogue One prequel book Catalyst, Tarkin is engaged in a bitter power struggle with Ben Mendelsohn’s Orson Krennic, and thus his ascension to Death Star commander in A New Hope may very well be a component of the upcoming film. Furthermore, considering that the villain had a brief cameo in George Lucas’s 2005 Revenge of the Sith (courtesy of a stand-in and some computer wizardry), it’s possible that, with today’s technology at his disposal, director Gareth Edwards has seen fit to include Tarkin in some capacity.
Related: ‘Rogue One’: What Admiral Raddus Owes to Winston Churchill
Such questions will have answers in just a few short weeks, as Rogue One finally lands in theaters on Dec. 16.
‘Rogue One: A Star Wars Story’: Watch the ‘Los Alamos’ featurette: