New 'Rogue One' Droid C2-B5 Could Be R2-D2's Evil Brother

R2-D2’s dark doppelganger is going Rogue. Along with the slew of new toys previewed over the past few hours, we now have the official reveal of a previously unknown character who will be introduced in the new Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Meet the Imperial astromech C2-B5.

The droid was formally introduced this afternoon on the weekly Star Wars Show on YouTube (you can see the announcement at the 2:10 mark of the video below).

Here’s what we learned:

“As you many know the Galactic Empire relies on astromech droids to maintain its machinery, but unlike the Rebel Alliance, Imperial technicians do not grant their droids independence and subject them to frequent memory wipes to keep them subservient.”

Did C2’s memory not get wiped? Did the little droid suddenly become independent? No one’s saying.

Other than its black paint job, the droid bears a striking resemblance to the most heroic astromech in Star Wars, R2-D2. And while we don’t know exactly what role C2 plays in the forthcoming film, it is worth remarking that it’s R2-D2 who is entrusted by Princess Leia with protecting the Death Star plans in A New Hope — the same plans that are stolen during the course of Rogue One.

Related: Sneak Peek at Disney’s ‘Rogue One’ Action Figures and Role-Play Gear

However, we do know that C2 plays a large enough role to have a presence in the upcoming toy lines. Hasbro initially unveiled the droid at San Diego Comic-Con in July as part of its upcoming AT-AT playset. However, at the time the toymaker didn’t identify the 3.75-inch droid, who is packaged along with Jyn Erso and the walker’s pilot.

Imperials are big on dark-hued droids. One of Rogue One‘s breakout characters appears to be K-2SO, an Imperial security droid captured and reprogrammed by the Rebellion’s Captain Cassian Andor (Diego Luna). The towering, gangly, ill-mannered droid (voiced by Alan Tudyk) was described as “the antithesis of C-3PO” by Rogue One director Gareth Edwards during the film’s panel at Star Wars Celebration Europe in July.

Meanwhile, just-released toy images highlight a couple of characters you might have seen in Rogue One sizzle clip released at Star Wars Celebration. Rebel (Yell?) Commando Pao and the Yeti-channeling Moroff.

Expect more toys of C2-B5 and the other exotic new Star Wars denizens to roll out as we get closer to Sept. 30, when all the new Rogue One merchandise hits stores. The film, meanwhile, takes off in theaters on Dec. 16.

[This story was updated on Sept. 1 with official images from Hasbro.]