Watch The First Teaser Trailer For Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

It's said that behind every successful man is a great woman, and true to form, we're seeing some fantastic female leads in the new Star Wars movies. Just as Daisy Ridley took the spotlight in Star Wars: The Force Awakens as Rey, it looks as though Disney's forthcoming Rogue One: A Stars Wars Story will also focus much attention on a capable female character.

The first trailer for Rogue One surfaced today and it doesn't take long to figure out that there's no 'damsel in distress' storyline taking place. Instead, we're introduced to Jyn Erso, a rebel in need of a cause and a bit of a spark plug played by Felicity Jones. She gets her cause—to investigate a major weapons test by the Galactic Empire and discover a weakness so the Rebels can destroy it.

That weapon, of course, is the Death Star, and though Luke Skywalker is credited with bringing it down by adeptly firing missiles into a comparatively tiny exhaust vent, it appears as though it might never have happened if not for Jyn Erso and the major role she plays in stealing the plans from the Empire.


Rogue One also introduces viewers to several other actors, a diverse bunch that includes Forest Whitaker, Riz Ahmed, Diego Luna, Donnie Yen, and others. This is something Force Awakens director J.J. Abrams was very conscious of, and though he didn't handle casting for Rogue One, it's clear the Star Wars universe will continue to be well represented.

"I think it's important people see themselves represented in film," Abrams sad at Comic-Con 2015 when asked about more Asian characters showing up in Star Wars films. "I think it's not a small thing."

Rogue One isn't a sequel to The Force Awakens, it's a side-story based on the events just prior to A New Hope. The plan is to release several of these standalone films that take place in the Star Wars universe, which will land in movie theaters in between the main Star Wars chapters.

As for Rogue One, it will land on the silver screen this December.